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Children and Families
-- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) |
The
CASA program is under the fiscal and programmatic administration
of the Supreme Court. The special advocate program is an essential
component in Louisiana's ability to maintain family safety
and stability, particularly considering the compressed ASFA
time frames for permanency. Upon appointment by a court of
proper jurisdiction, CASA serves the community of abused,
neglected and at-risk children referred by the judge, the
case manager, foster parents, or others involved in the case.
Because CASA advocates take only one or two cases at a time,
they focus on a very small number of children, ensuring their
safety and welfare until the case is closed. CASA advocates
serve as catalysts who can make sure that they have mobilized
all available resources for a child, that family members are
complying with case plans and participating in mandated services,
that they have addressed any roadblocks to permanence, and
that the child remains safe whether in a foster home, a relative
placement or returned home. CASA is unique within the Child
in Need of Care system, in that it functions as a neutral
nonparty advocate for the best interests of individual children
assigned to them by the courts.
• Effective CASA advocacy requires funding, although
the advocates are not paid. Funding is essential if programs
are to meet the requirements of the law and of state and national
CASA standards. Funds are needed for such mandated activities
as community education, recruitment of local advocates, screening,
training, supervision, monitoring, and continuing education.
Funds are also needed for communication costs (phone, mail,
fax, computers), transportation costs (mileage, meals, tolls,
parking), office expenses (paper, pens, copying costs, etc.),
and miscellaneous expenses particular to the individual child
served.
• The purpose and processes of CASA are subject to the
provisions of Louisiana law. See
Louisiana Children’s Code, arts. 424-424.10.
• The role of CASA is to enhance family stability by
facilitating linkages between the particular child/family
and community resources/systems through trained, qualified
and supervised advocates who provide skilled communication,
necessary transportation, efficient and thorough information
gathering, and such other services identified in an individual
case.
During
the 2004 Regular session, the Louisiana legislature allocated
$3 million in TANF funding for the CASA programs statewide.
How can
my parish/district get a CASA program?
To
be recognized as a CASA program in Louisiana , and to be eligible
for state (TANF) funding, a local program must be established
in compliance with National CASA standards. Compliance
can be successfully achieved only with comprehensive community-based
planning. The judge(s) exercising juvenile jurisdiction
must be interested and involved. Key community stakeholders
interested in abused and neglected children need to understand
what CASA is and does and what the expectations of National
CASA are, and then assess both the needs of the children and
the available resources in their community. Based on
that assessment, this planning group can consider the options
available and formulate a plan for implementation.
Application can then be made for provisional National CASA
membership. This formative community effort may take
several months or longer but is critical to building an effective
CASA program.
CASA
Assistance Program - Program Standards
CASA
Assistance Program - Legal Framework
CASA
in the Courtroom - The “Official” Role of CASA
Children’s Code article 424
For
a map of Louisiana CASA programs statewide and a CASA program
directory
For
more information about National CASA
For more information about the CASA Assistance
Program, contact:
Karen Hallstrom
Deputy Judicial Administrator for Children and Families
Louisiana Supreme Court
504-599-0770
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