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Court Appointed Special Adcovate Program (CASA)

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a national association in the United States that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children.
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Lassen Family Services, Inc. CASA was founded in 1996 to advocate for children. Children who have been abused or neglected and who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Dependency Court in Lassen County. 

 

Since 1996 Lassen Family Services CASA has been able to serve hundreds children from Lassen County. 

Are you interested in becoming a CASA? Do you want to help “Change a Childs Story”? 

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CASA  Mission

Lassen Family Services CASA mission is to provide specially selected and trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in Lassen County’s juvenile dependency system.  We are a non-profit program under the umbrella agency of Lassen Family Services Inc.  Our program works in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel, and community resources together to ensure that each child’s best interests are protected until permanency is achieved.  

​The focus of our advocacy is on the following areas: 

  • Placement

  • Education

  • Mental/physical health

  • Permanency


It further is the purpose of our program to educate the community regarding the great need for CASA volunteers. We are committed to advocating for each dependent child’s best interests and believe our mission will be accomplished when each dependent child has a secured, safe and permanent home.

Who

Children average three years in the foster care system, with their futures uncertain. The judge, with as little as ten minutes to determine a child's fate, is facing increasingly complex cases, limited support services, and disjointed, insufficient or outdated information on which to make sound decisions.

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What

The heart of our program is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a specially trained and supervised community volunteer, appointed by the judge. CASAs make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children by working with the parties and monitoring cases involving children in foster care.

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When

When children are abused or severely neglected, they must rely on adults to help them obtain justice and services. Who deserves an advocate more than an abused or neglected child? That is the intent of the social service and Juvenile Court systems, but all too often these systems are fraught with escalating caseloads and reduced resources.

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Why

CASAs usually advocate for only one or two cases at a time, allowing ample time to gather thorough information. They build relationships with their CASA kids, spending time with them, gathering facts about their life so they can report back to the judge who can then make a much better decision as to what is best for the child.

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Qualities Needed to Become A CASA

  • Able to make a minimum of an 18-month commitment to the program and child(ren)

  • Understand and follow the CASA confidentiality policy

  • Respect and relate to people from various backgrounds in a variety of settings

  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

  • Gather and accurately record factual information

  • Meet report deadlines and requirements

  • Be objective, open-minded and flexible

  • Act with confidence and courage in advocating for your CASA child(ren)

  • Accept supervision and seek feedback from CASA case supervisors

  • Maintain professional relationships with all community service providers

  • Provide own transportation

  • Pass a volunteer background screening consisting of a national criminal record check, DMV record check, Child Index Registry check and provide three references.

Responsibilities Required

  • Maintain consistent contact with CASA child(ren)

  • Maintain consistent monthly (or more often, as necessary) contact with CASA case supervisor

  • Submit volunteer reports to CASA case supervisor monthly

  • Keep appropriate case notes

  • Complete court reports in a timely manner

  • Complete 12-hours of continuing education yearl CASA's Do Not

  • Take a child to the home of the advocate

  • Give legal advice or therapeutic counseling

  • Make placement arrangements

  • Give large amounts of money or expensive gifts to the child or the family

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