What Is Casa?
Court Appointed Special Advocates
The Basics:
Children have come into state custody as "Victims" of Abuse or Neglect. Child Protective Services (CPS) has conducted an investigation and discovered sufficient evidence to convince a Judge that removal from the home is "in the child's best interest". These cases are under civil law and outlined by The Texas Family Code as to timeframe and procedures.
Children removed from the harmful environment are quickly placed in foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment centers or with relatives capable of protecting them from the offending parent. The removal turns the world upside down for the children. Strangers are making decisions, giving orders, moving them from place to place and running their lives.
The legal system is complicated, involved, difficult and very exhausting, even for adults. Imagine what it must be like to children. As Guardian Ad Litem (Sworn and Appointed by the Presiding Judge) CASA stands with the children from start to finish.
CASA's Role:
CASA makes sure that the children are not lost in an overburdened system or have their small voices drowned out by powerful adult voices. CASA serves as trained advocate voices on behalf of the children. (With full legal standing as Guardian Ad Litem) CASA volunteers conduct an independent investigation, monitor the CPS case and submit written reports to the court. The court reports are reinforced with in-person testimony to inform the court of the children's desires, wishes and hopes. CASA has one goal, the "Best Interest" of the children.
CASA in action
What does that mean, exactly? Well, here are some examples:
Two siblings who were placed in foster homes in different communities had little contact with one another until their CASA got involved, and advocated that their contact be increased. The childrens' parents' rights had been terminated, and they were all they had left of their immediate family. CASA brought the lack of communication to the attention of the court, and also found a relative willing to be a "meeting point" for the children so it would be easier for them to visit. The children now talk regularly on the phone and have frequent visits.
A young boy in an emergency shelter lost his glasses, and desparately needed a new pair. No one was sure where his prescription was. His CASA advocate started calling local optometrists until he found the right one, and got a copy of the much-needed prescription to the right person so new glasses could be procured.
A pre-teen boy's parent's relinquished their rights. Although older children are often difficult to find adoptive homes for, a secretary at this child's school told the boy she wanted to adopt him. The boy ended up being moved to a foster home in a new community. The secretary that wanted to adopt him didn't give up - she and her husband went through the licensing process so they could adopt the boy. The boy's CASA worked dilligently to keep the young boy up-to-date on their progress, and advocated strongly that the couple be allowed to adopt this young boy into their family. The adoption took place last year.
When it became obvious to one CASA volunteer that the father on her case wasn't going to get his act together and care for his child, she decided to ask him if he would be willing to relinquish his parental rights. This would save everyone involved from going through the process of a trial for termination. More importantly, his child would be freed for adoption much sooner. The CASA volunteer drove to the father's house and sat on his front porch until he came in from work. The man agreed that he had no real interest in being a father and signed the appropriate paperwork, making it possible for his child to have a shot at being adopted into a loving family sooner rather than later.