BISInternshipSummaryPowerPoint

CreatedbyBISStudentRobertaBrassell

CourtAppointedSpecialAdvocatesforChildren(CASA)

Everyyear,morethanthreemillionchildrennaAonallyarereportedabusedorneglected.Despitethestates’aFemptstohelp,manyofthesekidsbecometrappedinthecourtandchildwelfaremazeandcanspendtheirchildhoodmovingfromonetemporarysheltertoanother.

Internship•  FormyInternshipIworkedwiththeGuardianadLitem’sofficeinLayton,Utah.•  Thereare9GuardianadLitemsinthisoffice.•  Eachisassignedroughly100casestooversee.

TheOfficeofGuardianadLitem(GAL)

TheOfficeofGuardianadLitemprovidesaForneystorepresentthebestinterestsofchildrenandteensincasesofallegedabuse,neglect,anddependencyinthejuvenilecourts."ItistheGuardianadLitem'sdutytostandintheshoesofthechildandtoweighthefactorsasthechildwouldweighthemifhisjudgmentwerematureandhewasnotoftenderyears."-J.W.Fv.SchoolcraY,763P.2d1217,1222(UtahCt.App.1988)

CASAsHelptheGuardianadLitemACASAvolunteerprovidesajudgewithobjecAveinformaAonaboutthechildtohelpthecourtmakeasounddecisionaboutthatchild’sfuture.Eachcaseisasuniqueasthechildinvolved.TheCASAvolunteerformsanopinionastowhatisinthebestinterestofthechildfortheirfuture,suchasbeingreunifiedwiththeirparents,livingwithrelaAves,gebngapermanentguardianoradopAon.TheCASAvolunteermakesarecommendaAononplacementtothejudgeandfollowsthroughonthecaseunAlitispermanentlyresolved.

GALshaveaheavyworkloadandsomecasesrequireaddiAonalmonitoring.WhenthisisthesituaAon,aCASAisassignedtoassist.

WhoCanBeaCASA?

ICanBeaCASA

IwasofficiallyappointedtobecomeaCASAinthiscourtroombytheHonorableJudgeIwasaki.

AsaCASA–“Iamforthechild”MissionStatementThemissionofCASAistospeakforthebestinterestsofabusedandneglectedchildreninthecourts.WepromoteandsupportqualityvolunteerrepresentaAonforchildrentoprovideeachchildasafe,permanent,nurturinghome.

WhatIdidasaCASA•  Tasks:•  GatherInforma4on:Reviewdocumentsandrecords,interviewthechildren,familymembersand

professionalsintheirlives.•  DocumentFindings:ProvidewriFenreportstotheGuardianadLitemaForneyinpreparaAonforallcourt

proceedings.•  Appearin/A>endCourt:Advocateforthechild’sbestinterestsandprovidetesAmonywhennecessary.•  ExplainWhatisGoingOn:Helpthechildunderstandthecourtproceedings.•  “BetheGlue”:SeekcooperaAvesoluAonsamongindividualsandorganizaAonsinvolvedinthechildren’s

lives.Asonevolunteersaid,“Bethegluethatconnectsthepiecesinacomplicatedchildwelfaresystem.”•  BeanEduca4onalAdvocate:Talkwithchild’steachersandadvocatefortheireducaAonalrights.•  RecommendServices:Ensurethatthechildrenarereceivingappropriateservicesbykeepingtheguardian

informedofanyneedscurrentlynotbeingaddressed.Bringconcernsaboutthechild’shealth,educaAon,mentalhealth,etc.totheguardianadLitem’simmediateaFenAon.

•  MonitorCasePlansandCourtOrders:AssisttheGuardianbyreporAnganydeviaAonfromwhatthecourthasorderedforthelifeofthecase.

•  KeeptheGuardianadLitemInformed:UpdatetheGuardianadLitemondevelopmentswithallparAcipaAngagenciesandfamilymembers.

•  VisitwiththeChild:maintainaconsistentandregularvisiAngschedulewiththechild.

OtherTasksIDid

•  WrotearAclesforthemonthlyCASAnewsleFer•  DeliveredneededdocumentsfromtheofficetotheGuardianadLitemsincourt•  Readandevaluatecasefiles•  ScreenedanonlinetrainingprogramforotherCASAs•  ReadandreviewedbooksandarAcles•  AnsweremailinquiriesattheCASAcoordinator’soffice•  Officework•  PutupCASApostersontheWSUCampus•  InternetsearchesforacAviAestodowithchildrenfortheCASANewsleFer•  CourtObservaAons•  PrepareandpresentaclasspresentaAoninCHF3350abouttheCASAProgram•  RecruitvolunteersatWSU

InaddiAontoworkingmyassignedcase,Ialso:

OgdenReceivesaNew2ndDistrictJuvenileCourthouse

TheoldJuvenileCourthouselocatedAt44426thSt.,Ogden,UT

ThenewJuvenileCourthouseopenedJuly8,2015.Itislocatedat12520thSt.,Ogden,UT

Iworkedinboth:

SECONDDISTRICTJUVENILECOURTJUDGES

ThesearetheJudgeswithwhomIhavetheprivilegeofworking.FromleYtoright:

JudgeMichelleEHeward,PresidingJudgeJeffreyJNoland,andJudgeJaniceFrost

PicturesandDescripAonsIalsoconAnuetobetrainedatourannualCASAConference

PicturesandDescripAons

ThispictureismesebngupaboothattheWeberStateVolunteerFairheldSeptember10,2015.Ihadabout20peoplesignupformoreinformaAon.Thiswasarecordrecruitmentfair.

PicturesandDescripAons

ThisismeworkingtheGovernmentFairatWSUonNovember12,

2015.

PicturesandDescripAons

Icurrentlyamworkingwitha15yearoldgirl.BecauseofconfidenAality,Icannotshowheractualpicture,butthisisthecourthousewhereIadvocateforherinFarmington,UT.

PicturesandDescripAons

ThisistheChristmasBoxHouseinOgden.

Ivisitedmy15yearoldgirlhereaYerhergrouphomewasshutdown.Ittemporarilyhouseschildrenthathavebeentakenoutoftheirhomeswhileamorepermanentplacementisbeingsought.

CASAsMakeaDifference