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CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. The organization
was founded in 1976 by Superior Court Judge David Soukup in
Seattle, WA, who saw a recurring problem in his courtroom:
he was not sure if he had all the information he needed to
make the right decision for children who are in court through
no fault of their own.
In 1982, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Association was formed. Today, there are programs in 35 parishes
in the state of Louisiana, serving children in need of care;
there are 900 programs across the country.
To ensure the long-term welfare of each child, most of whom
are victims of abuse or neglect, Judge David Soukup obtained
funding to recruit and train community volunteers to step
into the courtroom on behalf of the children. After being
named the “best example of citizen participation in
the juvenile justice system” by the National Center
of State Courts, the Seattle program was able to obtain grant
dollars from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation of New York
to replicate the program in court systems across the country.
CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and
the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
of the U.S. Department of Justice.
CASA programs are generally funded through a state’s
department of justice. Some programs are privately funded
through service organizations such as the Junior League and
the National Council of Jewish Women. CASA Jefferson is funded
and managed through the Juvenile Court for the Parish of Jefferson,
and also has a non-profit component with a board of directors.
The National CASA Association receives revenue from a combination
of public and private grants, as well as memberships and contributions.
A CASA volunteer researches the background of the child
to help the court make a sound decision about a child’s
temporary or permanent home placement, and his or her future.
The CASA volunteer investigates the facts of the case, facilitates
communication, monitors court orders and advocates verbally
as well as via written court reports. The CASA advocate recommends
whether it is in the child’s best interest to stay with
his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care,
or be freed for permanent adoption.
A CASA volunteer offers a child trust and advocacy during
complex legal proceedings. He or she explains to the child
what is happening and the reasons they are in court. The volunteer
encourages the child to express his or own opinion, but remains
objective about the best interests of the child.
While a CASA volunteer does not replace a social worker or
an attorney, he or she does provide crucial background information
that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
Each case is different; however, a CASA volunteer usually
spends about 10 hours conducting research and interviews prior
to the first court appearance. Once initiated into the system,
volunteers work about 10-15 hours per case, generally on no
more than one or two cases at a time.
If you are interested in volunteering as an Advocate
or perhaps assisting in some other way, call CASA Jefferson
at 367-3500, extension 330 to find out when the next orientation
and training sessions will be held. You also may visit CASA’s
national web site at www.casanet.org.
As with most social service agencies, contributions
are always needed and much appreciated. Donations can be sent
to the address noted below.
Other ways to help include volunteering in the office to answer
telephones, prepare mailings, or assist the staff in various
outreach and coordination projects.
You may also help identify and contact groups who would be
interested in hearing the CASA message.
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