Brief Overview
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Volunteer Information
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers are children involved in the Ingham County Family Court system because 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 case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in a child’s best interests to live with his or her parents or guardians, remain in long-term foster care, or be made available for 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 recommendations for the Court, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, caseworkers, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child – school, medical, caseworker reports and other documents.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?
In Michigan, caseworkers are generally employed by the state Department of Human Services (DHS) or private foster care agencies. They sometimes work on as many as 30-40 cases at a time. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload (an average of 1-2 cases at a time.) The CASA volunteer does not replace a caseworker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer can thoroughly examine a child’s case, has knowledge of community resources, and can make a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom; that is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases. It is important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a child’s wishes in court. Rather, they speak to the child’s best interests.
Is there a “typical” CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 38,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Local programs vary in number of volunteers they utilize. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 54% are employed in regular full-time jobs; the majority tends to be professionals. Nationwide, 83% of the volunteers are women; 17% are men.
How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they all are in court, and the roles the judge, lawyers, and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers. The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other court principals and caseworkers who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity for a child.
Do lawyers, judges, and caseworkers support CASA?
The Family Court judges implement the CASA program in their courtrooms and appoint volunteers. 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 of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Does the federal government support CASA?
CASA is a priority project of the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.
How many CASA programs are there?
Across the country there are over 1018 local and state programs in 50 states. Those programs represent more than 68.800 volunteers advocating for over 240,894 children. New programs start up at the average of 2 per month. In Michigan there are currently 22 CASA programs; 2 tribal courts that are assigning volunteers and new programs in development.
How effective have CASA programs been?
Studies have shown that children who are 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. Additionally, children with a CASA volunteer assigned to their case, on average, receive more services and have fewer changes in their placements during their time in foster care. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
How much time does it require?
Each case is different. a CASA volunteer usually spends about 15 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 15-20 hours a month.
Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests.
What is the background and role of CASA of Ingham County?
CASA of Ingham County began in January 1997, laying a foundation for the local program. Since that time, CASA of Ingham County, Inc. has trained and supervised over 175 volunteers who have advocated for over 380 children. Volunteer information nights are scheduled quarterly to recruit potential CASA volunteers. CASA of Ingham County, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization governed by a local Board of Directors and is funded through a variety of sources such as grants; individual, corporate and civic contributions; memberships, and fundraising events.
Member of the Michigan CASA, Inc. and the National CASA Association
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers are children involved in the Ingham County Family Court system because 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 case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in a child’s best interests to live with his or her parents or guardians, remain in long-term foster care, or be made available for 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 recommendations for the Court, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, caseworkers, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child – school, medical, caseworker reports and other documents.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?
In Michigan, caseworkers are generally employed by the state Department of Human Services (DHS) or private foster care agencies. They sometimes work on as many as 30-40 cases at a time. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload (an average of 1-2 cases at a time.) The CASA volunteer does not replace a caseworker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer can thoroughly examine a child’s case, has knowledge of community resources, and can make a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom; that is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases. It is important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a child’s wishes in court. Rather, they speak to the child’s best interests.
Is there a “typical” CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 38,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Local programs vary in number of volunteers they utilize. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 54% are employed in regular full-time jobs; the majority tends to be professionals. Nationwide, 83% of the volunteers are women; 17% are men.
How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they all are in court, and the roles the judge, lawyers, and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers. The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other court principals and caseworkers who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity for a child.
Do lawyers, judges, and caseworkers support CASA?
The Family Court judges implement the CASA program in their courtrooms and appoint volunteers. 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 of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Does the federal government support CASA?
CASA is a priority project of the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.
How many CASA programs are there?
Across the country there are over 1018 local and state programs in 50 states. Those programs represent more than 68.800 volunteers advocating for over 240,894 children. New programs start up at the average of 2 per month. In Michigan there are currently 22 CASA programs; 2 tribal courts that are assigning volunteers and new programs in development.
How effective have CASA programs been?
Studies have shown that children who are 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. Additionally, children with a CASA volunteer assigned to their case, on average, receive more services and have fewer changes in their placements during their time in foster care. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
How much time does it require?
Each case is different. a CASA volunteer usually spends about 15 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 15-20 hours a month.
Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests.
What is the background and role of CASA of Ingham County?
CASA of Ingham County began in January 1997, laying a foundation for the local program. Since that time, CASA of Ingham County, Inc. has trained and supervised over 175 volunteers who have advocated for over 380 children. Volunteer information nights are scheduled quarterly to recruit potential CASA volunteers. CASA of Ingham County, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization governed by a local Board of Directors and is funded through a variety of sources such as grants; individual, corporate and civic contributions; memberships, and fundraising events.
Member of the Michigan CASA, Inc. and the National CASA Association
Click here to download
File VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.doc uploaded on 5/2/2003 by Angie Smith
Requirements of Position
- Must be twenty-one years of age or older
- Must complete an application, pre-screening interview, training, and post-interview
- Must appear at court hearings
- Must attend a minimum of twelve (12) hours of additional training per year
- Must be able to commit to the program for 18-22 months
- Must be able to maintain confidentiality
A CASA's Prayer
As I dedicate my life today
To the care of children who come my way
Let me lend each one a helping hand
And the gentleness for which I stand
Then tonight, when day is done
Let me rest in peace...
If I've helped just one.
Contact us for more information or download our application and return it to the address below.
CASA of Ingham County, Inc.
Phone: (517) 483-6544
Address: 303 W. Kalamzoo St., 3R
Lansing, MI 48933
Email: casa2@ingham.org