image001Become a Volunteer!

Description of a Volunteer Child Advocate:

POSITION TITLE:  Volunteer Child Advocate (also known as a CASA Volunteer )image0013

REPORTS TO:  Program Director - Cass County Child Advocates

PURPOSE OF POSITION:  The volunteer is responsible for reporting to the Court and:

  • Provides advocacy services to children, who are involved in juvenile court proceedings as stated in the Purpose Statement.
  • Is administered in accordance with the national and State mission, goals, and policies.
Who May Volunteer?

The most important qualification for a prospective volunteer is the desire to help children. As a volunteer you will be the voice of an abused or neglected child who needs to be heard throughout the legal process. In order to be eligible, a potential volunteer must:

  • Be 21 years of age or older.
  • Have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED.
  • Have a clean criminal history
  • Obtain references (personal and/or professional).
  • Complete a screening interview with CASA staff.
  • Complete 30 hours of pre-service training.
  • Complete 12 hours of in-service per year.
Pre Training
1.    Pre-Training
  • Complete the Volunteer Application form that requires three (3) references.
  • Complete a criminal and Department of Children Services (DCS)background checks.
  • Complete a personal interview with the Program Director or otherwise designated representative.

 

Training Requirements
2.    Training Requirements
  • Completes the 30 hour  training program.
  • Upon completion of training, sign a confidentiality statement.
  • Complete 12 hours of  continued training per year
Volunteer Work

3.    Volunteer Work

* Complete an intensive independent investigation of the court-ordered cases by the doing the following:

  • Provide the child and relevant adults with information about the volunteer’s role and the process of advocate involvement.
  • Observe the child and relevant adults individually and when appropriate together.
  • Interview the child and relevant adults and gather as much factual information as possible.
  • Collaboratively and professionally work with other professionals involved in the case.
  • Review records and reports that provide “need-to-know” information.
  • Write a report to be submitted to the Court.  The report should represent factual information in a way that does not oversimplify information, include assumptions, or jump to conclusions.  The report should also include recommendations that are in the best interest of the child.  The volunteer will provide a written report to the Court in a timely manner.  The volunteer will submit all reports (or discuss oral recommendations) to the volunteer supervisor prior to submitting the recommendations to the Court.

 

Represent the Child
4.    Represent the Child in Various Settings
  • Department of Child Services (DCS) case conferences.  The volunteer advocate should advocate for the child’s best interests by presenting all relevant known facts and encouraging the development of case plan that reflects the actual strengths, barriers, and needs of the child.
  • Other collateral meetings that may include but are not limited to school, mental health, medical, and social service providers.
  • Court hearings, if at all possible the volunteer’s presence in the courtroom for the hearing is strongly recommended.  However, some circumstances may preclude the volunteer from attending.  However, if the volunteer receives a subpoena, then he or she must attend the Court hearing.
  • Monitor the case following a Court hearing for the compliance and progress within the family and with other service providers.  The volunteer will do so by continuing to maintain contact with children, parents, and service providers on a regular basis until a discontinuation of service notification is received from the Executive Director or other assigned staff.  Non-compliance should be immediately reported to the Executive Director or other assigned staff.

 

Additional Duties
5.  Miscellaneous Duties
  • Make the necessary time commitments to complete case obligations.  Inform the Executive Director or other assigned staff of absences or inability to attend meetings, etc.
  • Keep an accurate contact case log and submit a copy of the log to the DOCCA office on a monthly basis.
  • Consult with the Executive Director or other assigned staff regarding case progress at a minimum of one time a month or as directed by the Executive Director.
  • Keep all client and Court information confidential.  The case should only be discussed in settings that provide for confidentiality and only with authorized individuals.
6.    Other Concepts that the volunteer advocate must Include
  • Believe that each child is entitled to a placement that provides for the  best interest of the child.
  • Remain objective.
  • Avoid over-involvement with individuals involved with the assigned case.
  • Maintain a professional manner and appearance.
Record Keeping
7.    Record Keeping
The advocate will maintain the appropriate records of cases.

*    A case record will include, but not be limited to the following:

  • Biographical information of the child and family.
  • Background information.
  • All Court reports.
  • The original Court Order.
  • And any other information regarding the case.

*    These records will kept up to date with current contact entries;  progress notes; DCS reports and volunteer advocate court reports.  Any correspondence, notes, in-person, or telephone contacts will be of factual and pertinent information.  At the dismissal of the case by the Court, the volunteer will return to the DOCCA office all files, reports, notes, etc. pertaining to the case.  The volunteer’s files will be placed with the office in a locked archives storage file.

History of the Cass County Child Advocates

image001The first volunteer program serving abused and neglected children was organized in 1977 in Seattle Washington. In 1982, the National CASA Association was established to serve as an umbrella organization for the growing number of programs in the country.

The growth and development of the CASA movement in Indiana can be attributed to the initiation of the Law and Child Protection Project in 1982. The project was designed to promote, develop and implement county child advocacy programs, and to train the volunteers and attorneys who worked within the programs. The Indiana Office of Guardian Ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocates was created by statute in July of 1989.

The Cass County Child Advocates was officially formed in May 2008.  In January 2007, Judge Leo Burns saw the need for a CASA program in Cass County as the children of Cass County were not being adequately represented in child welfare proceedings. Without a CASA volunteer there was no one to stand up for the children or to ensure that all necessary services were being provided.  On July 31, 2008 the Cass County Child Advocates became a member of the National CASA Association.