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CASA of the 8th Judicial District of Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is someone who is trained and then appointed to advocate for the best interests of a Child in Need of Care (due to abuse and/or neglect).
What is the role of a CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers provide the court with reports that assist the court in making decisions in the best interest of a Child in Need of Care. The CASA volunteer helps determine if it is in a child's best interest to: stay with his/her parent(s)/guardian(s), be placed in foster care (temporarily or permanently), be placed with other relatives(temporarily or permanently), or be released for adoption.
How does a CASA volunteer investigate?
The CASA volunteer visits with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child: school, medical and caseworker reports, as well as anything else needed to make informed recommendations to the court.
What is the minimum age for a CASA volunteer?
A CASA volunteer must be at least 21 years of age in order to serve.
Does a CASA volunteer have to be an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation. In Kansas, a Child in Need of Care has a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) appointed to them to provide legal representation
How is a CASA volunteer different from a social worker?
Social workers generally are employed by state governments or are contracted out to agencies. These caseworkers can work on as many as 40 cases at a time. This makes it difficult for the caseworkers to be able to give each case their undivided attention. A CASA volunteer works just one case at a time and therefore has more time to dedicate to the case. The CASA volunteer also has more freedom to explore creative solutions or alternatives as the volunteer is not bound by the same restrictions that a social service caseworker.
How many cases on average does a CASA volunteer have at a time?
The number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the average and preferred caseload is one.
How effective is the CASA program?
Research suggests that children who have a CASA have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children, and that they and their families receive more services than children who have no CASA volunteer.
How much time does being a CASA volunteer require?
Although each case is different, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10-12 hours each month on their case.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain with a case?
Ideally a CASA volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. Child in Need of Care cases typically last 12-18 months, although some cases can be much shorter or longer. One of the major advantages that the CASA program/volunteer brings is that the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity for the child. It is not unusual for a child to have changes in placement and social service caseworks but the same CASA volunteer from the beginning to end of the case.
How is CASA of the 8th Judicial District funded?
CASA of the 8th Judicial District of Kansas is a non-profit 501c3 organization. As such 100% of our funding is through donations, grants and fundraisers.