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What is a CASA?(Court Appointed Special Advocate for
Children)
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CASAs represent the best interest of abused,
neglected and deprived children in court
proceedings within our community.
The CASA will serve as the eyes and ears of the
court by providing information the judge
needs in order to make a decision that is in the child's best interest.
A trained CASA volunteer investigates the child's
circumstances, provides fact-based information and makes recommendations to the court
while becoming a source of support for the child.
Ultimately, the role of the CASA is to decrease the amount of
disruption in a child's life and to help ensure that the child has a
safe and permanent home.
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What is a CASA?(Court Appointed Special Advocate for
Children)
CASA Volunteers are Thoroughly Trained in:
Child Abuse & Neglect
Social Services Permanency Planning Family Preservation Cultural Diversity Interviewing Skills Courtroom Procedure &
Testimony
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When A CASA is Present:
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A The child is moved from placement to
placement less frequently.
The child is more likely to receive
necessary services in a timely manner.
The child is more likely to have his/her case reviewed regularly by
the court.
The child has a better chance of living in a
safe, permanent home.
CASA in Altus, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma is in the top 20% of states for children per
capita in foster care.
At any given time, there are at least 8,000 children in
foster care in Oklahoma (this is larger than the overall
population of 78% of rural towns).
CASA in Altus, Oklahoma
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In 2005, there were 13,328 confirmed cases of abuse
and/or neglect in Oklahoma.
Since our agency was established 2003, 95 CASA
volunteers have been appointed by the court to
speak up for over 280 children in our area.
CASAs in Action
In 2008, CASA programs had 68,842 volunteers donate over 5.8 million hours to making a
lifelong difference in the lives of an estimated 240,894 abused
and neglected children.
CASA volunteers make sure that the abuse and neglect that the children
originally suffered at home does not continue as abuse and neglect at the hands of
the system.
CASAs handle just one or two cases at a time so that they can give each
child’s case the sustained, personal attention he or she
deserves.
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CASAs in Action (cont.)
Children with a CASA volunteer spend less time in foster care. Only 13.3% of CASA cases reach 3 years in foster care,
versus 27.0% of children without a CASA.
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Cases involving a CASA volunteer are more likely to be permanently closed. Just 9% of
CASA children reenter the welfare system. This is in
contrast to 16% for children not served by a volunteer.
To Give a Child a CASA is…
…to give them a voice.
And to give them a voice, is to give them hope.
And, to give them hope, is to give them the
world!
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To Be a CASA Volunteer:
Must be willing to commit to the child for at least one year
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AHave the ability to
clearly communicate orally and in writing
Must be willing to spend 5-10 hours
each month working on your case
Must be prepared to interview the child, parents, teachers, ministers, daycare
providers, and others who might have
information regarding your case
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5 Steps to becoming a Child Advocate:
*Must be 21 years of age or older
1. Submit an application
2. Complete a screening interview.
3. Pass the background
check
4. Finish 30 hours of
classroom training
and
2 hours of
courtroom observation
5. Be sworn in as an officer of the court
"We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning our children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time. Bones are being formed, blood is being made,senses are being developed.To the child we cannot answer 'Tomorrow'.The child's name is 'Today'."
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~Garbiela Mistral
Because if you don’t care…
…who will?
Become a CASA Volunteer
(580) [email protected]
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A3rd District CASA
123 W. Commerce, Room 230
Altus, OK 73521
Contact
Shirley Sutherland
at:
