Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers who receive special training to bring information about an abused or neglected child's welfare to the attention of the court. Different programs have varying requirements, but most CASAs visit their assigned children on a regular basis, write reports to the court, and inform the judge of what they consider to be in the best interests of the child. In some states they may be referred to as Guardians ad Litem, even though they are not attorneys.
Court Appointed Special Advocates. Non-attorneys who work in aid of children in foster care.
an independent voice, advocating on behalf of one particular child
a trained community volunteer who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of an abused or neglected child in court
a trained volunteer child advocate appointed by a judge of the juvenile court to represent the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse neglect or abandonment
a trained volunteer who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of a child in court by serving as an extra pair of eyes and ears for the Court and a voice for the child
a trained volunteer who represents the best interests of an abused, abandoned, or neglected child in the dependency system in court and spends time with the child each month
a voice for the child, one person who works with the system to ensure that the child receives necessary services, schooling, and a safe and permanent home
a volunteer from the community who wants to help find a safe, permanent, nurturing home for a child who has been a victim of abuse or neglect
a Volunteer trained to perform various duties including investigating cases, reporting observations to the court, and providing casework services
Many communities benefit from the Court-Appointed Special Advocates program. This is a national organization (CASA) with local chapters. These are usually volunteers who receive special training to serve as advocates for children. They work to ensure that the needs and interests of a child being met.
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, a research organization based at Columbia University.
Court Appointed Special Advocate
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is committed to education, prevention, and treatment of substance abuse and addiction. CASA established the Commission on Substance Abuse at Colleges and Universities to study and report on college drinking and tobacco use. http://www.casacolumbia.org
Court-appointed special advocates (usually volunteers) who serve to ensure that the needs and interests of a child in child protection judicial proceedings are fully protected.