What is CASA/Youth Advocates, Inc.? Our nonprofit agency trains community volunteers called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children placed in the Delaware County Court System. We are part of a network of 956 CASA programs throughout the United States. What are CASAs? Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers who research the best interests of children involved in Dependency Court proceedings. They submit reports to the Court that include recommendations reflecting each child's unique needs. They also help ensure that children's needs are met while awaiting permanent placement. What is the Dependency Court? The Dependency Court hears abuse and neglect cases involving families served by Children & Youth Services (CYS). The Court determines whether children can safely remain in their homes or need to be placed elsewhere, such as in foster care. The Court also issues orders relating to services offered, mandated treatment, and visitation. What type of people become CASAs? Our volunteers come from a variety of professional, educational, and cultural backgrounds. No special legal or human services background is required. More than 250 individuals have volunteered with CASA Youth Advocates, Inc. in the past 15 years. They've ranged in age from their early 20's to their 70's and hailed from more than 30 local communities. All have been caring, dedicated individuals willing to advocate passionately on behalf of some of the area's most vulnerable children. What training does a CASA receive? CASA volunteers undergo an initial 35-hour training where they learn about courtroom procedure, effective advocacy techniques, child abuse, child development, report-writing, and CASA responsibilities. They also observe Dependency Court hearings so that they better understand the legal process involved. How does a CASA research a child's case? CASAs talk to children, parents, friends, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers, foster parents, and others who know the child's history. They also review school, medical, casework, and other records. How much time to CASAs spent on their cases? Each case is different, so the amount of time required to get the job done varies significantly. Typically, a CASA spends an average of 10-15 hours per month working on a case. Our agency asks for a minimum of one year's commitment. Many cases last longer. The CASA's schedule and other commitments are considered when assigning them to a case. How does the role of a CASA differ from that of a Children & Youth Services caseworker? Caseworkers are employed by CYS, a county government agency. They are assigned 15 or more cases at a time, which limits their ability to conduct comprehensive investigations. CASAs can devote more time to the children assigned to them because they work on only one or two cases at a time. CASAs do not replace caseworkers. Instead, they compliment their activities and act as independent appointees of the Court. How does the role of a CASA differ from that of an attorney? CASAs do not provide legal representation in the courtroom. However, they do provide crucial background information that helps the children's attorneys, called guardians ad litem (GALs), better understand and present the children's cases. This is critical, since there are only two part-time attorneys to represent the 900-1000 children deemed "dependent" each year. Do lawyers, judges and social service caseworkers support CASA? Yes. CYS Legal Services refers most of the children we serve. Juvenile Court judges sign the orders appointing CASAs to cases. The Guardians ad Litem work very closely with our staff and volunteers. On a national level, 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. Research suggests that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of receiving needed services and finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.