HOW CASA VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS A CHILD'S VOICE IN COURT What is a
CASA volunteer? A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
volunteer is a trained citizen who is requested by a judge to
represent the best interests of a child in court. Children
helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement
is being determined in juvenile court. Most of the children are
victims of abuse and neglect. What is the CASA volunteer's role?
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched
background of the child to help the court make a sound decision
about that child’s future. Each home placement case is as unique
as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it
is in a child’s best interest to stay with his or her parents or
guardians, be placed in foster care, or be freed for permanent
adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement
to the judge, and follows through on the case until it is
permanently resolved. How does a CASA volunteer investigate a
case? To prepare a reco