Is The CASA Program Effective?

Before volunteering with an organization, most people do research to see if their time will be well spent, in other words, will they be able to see themselves making a difference?

I have spent the better part of my career working with causes (mainly higher education) that engage volunteers to accomplish their mission. While the causes I have worked with were quite worthy and laudable, none have impressed me with their long-term impact like the CASA movement has. I have seen firsthand how Tri-County CASA makes a difference in the lives of children and their families, particularly in the areas of safety and permanency.

One recent study gives further proof of CASA's efficacy. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG), at the request of Congress, conducted an audit of the National CASA Association, the national organization to which Tri-County CASA belongs and reports.

They found:

1. Children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care, defined as more than 3 years in care: 13.3% for CASA cases versus 27.0% of all children in foster care.

2. When a CASA volunteer was involved, both children and their parents were ordered by the courts to receive more services. The audit concluded that this was an indication that “CASA is effective in identifying the needs of children and parents.”

3. Cases involving a CASA volunteer are more likely to be permanently closed than cases where a CASA volunteer is not involved. The statistics vary from only 1.4% of children with a CASA volunteer reentering the CWS (CASA Data Request) to 9% of CASA children reentering the CWS (Youngclarke Review). This is in contrast to 16% for children not served by a volunteer.

4. Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to be adopted and less likely to be reunified with their parents than children not assigned a CASA volunteer. The audit explains this finding as the result of CASA volunteers serving on typically the most serious cases of maltreatment and therefore cases where children are less likely to be reunified with their parents.

Several other studies (see the References below for more details) showcase the unique effective nature of CASA volunteer advocacy, namely that:

1. CASA volunteers spend most of their volunteer time in contact with a child.

2. CASA volunteers spend significantly more time in contact with a child than a paid guardian ad litem.

3. CASA volunteers are far more likely than paid attorneys to file written reports.

4. CASA volunteers are highly effective in getting their recommendations accepted in court. In four out of five cases, all or almost all CASA volunteer recommendations are accepted.

5. When a CASA volunteer is assigned, a higher number of services are ordered for children and families.

6. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to be adopted.

7. A child with a CASA volunteer is as likely to be reunified with their birth parent as a child without a CASA volunteer.

8. A child with a CASA volunteer is less likely to reenter the child welfare system. The proportion of reentries is consistently reduced by half.

If you are interested in volunteering with an organization that makes a positive short-term and long-term impact in the lives of vulnerable children, please consider the court appointed special advocate program.

For more information, or to volunteer, please call Tri-County CASA at (918) 343-1515.

REFERENCES

1. Caliber Associates, National CASA Association Evaluation Project, Caliber Associates; Fairfax, Virginia, 2004.
2. Donald D. Duquette and Sarah H. Ramsey, “Using Lay Volunteers to Represent Children in Child Protection Court Proceedings” (Appendix C). Child Abuse and Neglect 10(3): p. 293-308, 1986.
3. Sherrie S. Aitken, Larry Condelli, and Tom Kelly, Final Report of the Validation and Effectiveness Study of Legal Representation Through Guardian Ad Litem. Report submitted to the Administration on Children Youth and Families, Department of Health and Human Services by CSR, Inc.: Washington, DC, 1993.
4. Karen C. Snyder, John D. Downing, and Jill A. Jacobson, A Report to the Ohio Children's Foundation on the Effectiveness of the CASA Program of Franklin County. The Strategy Team: Columbus, OH, 1996.
5. Victoria Weisz and Nghi Thai, “The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program: Bringing information to Child Abuse and Neglect Cases,” Child Maltreatment 8(X), 2003.
6. Larry Condelli, National Evaluation of the Impact of Guardian Ad Litem in Child Abuse and Neglect Judicial Proceedings. Report submitted to the National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect for the Administration of Children, Youth and Families by CSR, Inc.: Washington, DC, 1988.
7. Litzelfelner, “The Effectiveness of CASAs in Achieving Positive Outcomes for Children,” Child Welfare 79(2): p. 179-193, 2000.
8. John Poertner and Allan Press, “Who Best Represents the Interests of the Child in Court?” Child Welfare 69(6): p. 537-549, 1990.
9. Gene C. Siegel, et al., Arizona CASA effectiveness study. Report to the Arizona Supreme Courts, Administrative Office of the Courts, Dependent Children's Services Division by the National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2001.
10. Susan M. Profilet, et al., Guardian ad Litem Project. Child Advocates Inc., 1999.
11. Shareen Abramson, “Use of Court-Appointed Advocates to Assist in Permanency Planning for Minority Children,” Child Welfare 70(4): p. 477-487, 1991.
12. Michael Powell and Vernon Speshock, Arizona Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, Internal Assessment, 1996.

All statistical information for this article is from the National CASA Association, of which Tri-County CASA is a member in good standing.

What are Poor Prognosis Indicators for Families?

You've learned in CASA training that each family you work with has inherent strengths and weaknesses unique to the family and its circumstances. Most families have the ability to change and make improvements to their home life and parenting style, and ultimately, to be reunified with their children. And some seem to struggle.

But did you know that there is another tool you can use to assess the prognosis of the families you are working with? It's called the Poor Prognosis Indicators, a list of 20 factors developed by Linda Katz, Norma Spoonemore, and Chris Robinson in 1994, and published in Concurrent Planning: From Permanency Planning to Permanency Action in 1994. The list is used to identify families for whom reunification may be a difficult or possibly unachievable outcome.

In families where the prognosis is poor, a well-developed concurrent plan is absolutely essential from the beginning of the case. Also, families with poor prognosis may need help breaking down the individualized service plan into a short-term, prioritized, manageable set of to-do's with clear directions, such as phone numbers to call and the names of people with whom to speak. Progress on the ISP should be reviewed regularly as the case progresses, and a list of both items completed and items left incomplete should be shared with the judge in the CASA Report.

Some of the Poor Prognosis Factors bear an asterisk (*). According to Katz, Spoonemore, and Robinson, "Any condition with an asterisk is, in and of iteself, an indicator of poor prognosis. For other items, the more that are present in a family, the worse the prognosis. This worksheet is suitable in cases of young children who are already in foster care, who are entering care under the age of eight, and who have no relative or parent with whom they can immediately and safely live. It is not intended to be used to determine risk to children still living in their own homes, since it relates to risk of long-term foster care drift rather than risk of parental abuse or neglect."

Following are the 20 Poor Prognosis Indicators, by category:

CATASTROPHIC PRIOR ABUSE

1. Parent has killed or seriously harmed another child through abuse or neglect, and no significant change has occurred in the interim. *
2. Parent has repeatedly and with premeditation harmed or tortured this child. *
3. Child experienced physical or sexual abuse in infancy. (Treatment of abusing parent may be so difficult and lengthy that the child spends years in foster care).

DANGEROUS LIFESTYLE

4. Parent's only visible support system and only visible means of financial support is found in illegal drugs, prostitution, and street life. *
5. Parent is addicted to debilitating illegal drugs or to alcohol.
6. There is a pattern of documented domestic violence between the partners of one year or longer, and they refuse to separate.
7. Parent has a recent history of serious criminal activity and jail.
8. Mother abused drugs/alcohol during pregnancy, disregarding medical advice to the contrary.

SIGNIFICANT CHILD WELFARE HISTORY

9. Parental rights to another child have been terminated following a period of service delivery to the parent, and no significant change has occurred in the interim. *
10. There have been three or more DHS interventions for serious separate incidents, indicating a chronic pattern of abuse or severe neglect.
11. In addition to emotional trauma, the child has suffered more than one form of abuse or neglect.
12. Other children have been placed in foster care or with relatives for periods of time over six months' duration or have had repeated placements with DHS intervention.
13. This child has been abandoned with friends, with relatives, at a hospital, or in foster care; or once the child is placed in subsequent care, the parent does not visit of his or her own accord.
14. DHS preventative measures have failed to keep the child with the parent: home-based services, visiting public health nurse, Homebuilders, therapeutic daycare, and so forth.
15. Parent is under the age of 16 with no parenting support systems, and placement of the child and parent together has failed due to the parent's behavior.
16. Parent has asked to relinquish the child on more than one occasion following the initial intervention.

INHERENT DEFICITS

17. Parent has been diagnosed with severe mental illness (psychosis, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, sociopathy), which has not responded to previously delivered mental health services. Parent's symptoms continue, rendering the parent unable to protect and nurture the child. *
18. Parent has a diagnosis of chronic and debilitating mental illness (psychosis, schizophrenia, sociopathy) or other illness that responds slowly or not at all to current treatment modalities.
19. Parent is intellectually impaired, has shown significant self-care deficits, and has no stable support system able to share parenting.
20. Parent grew up in foster care or group care, or in a family of intergenerational abuse. (Unfamiliarity with normal family life can severely limit parents' ability to overcome other problems in their lives.)

The Poor Prognosis Indicators can be applied to each case by checkmarking those indicators that are of concern. Be sure to discuss this checklist with your Advocate Coordinator for next steps on the road to finding permanency for the children on your caseload.

Get Organized!

Every year, during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I sit down with my journal and make a list of the goals I want to accomplish in the coming year. I begin by evaluating the goals I set for the year before, and I consider it a success if I have made even a modest amount of progress towards that goal.

For 2010, aside from the ubiquitous weight-loss goal that has been a part of my goal statements for the past umpteen years, I have decided to focus on uncluttering and organizing my home, one room at a time.

Apparently, I'm not alone, as Oprah Winfrey has dedicated the March issue of her magazine, O, to decluttering. One of the articles in the magazine really spoke to me and my perfectionistic bent. It's called "The 10 Habits of Highly Organized People. You can read the full article here:

http://www.oprah.com/home/The-10-Habits-of-Highly-Organized-People_1

The article postulates that the highly organized among us are not perfectionists. They simply follow a few rules that the rest of us have yet to discover, starting with #2 on the list, "Make peace with imperfection."

This really resonated with me. You see, I am a perfectionist. It's an addiction, really...an addiction that will make you absolutely out-of-your-mind crazy.

I am well-meaning about it. I really want the best for myself, my family, and Tri-County CASA. And yet, I find myself falling into the trap of never completing anything because I am afraid it is not good enough. And yes, there is a "good enough."

Perhaps you are struggling with this, too. Maybe writing a court report that makes sense keeps you from finishing the report, or waiting until the very last second to write it because you procrastinated. Maybe you fail to plan out your next steps on your case because you aren't sure exactly what to do next and the feeling that you should know (but don't) paralyzes you. Maybe you've made a mistake and the humiliation you are feeling keeps you from sharing that with your Advocate Coordinator.

We all need to remember rule #7 on Oprah's list: "Ask for help." According to Dorothy Breininger, "The organized person is willing to expose herself to short-term embarrassment and call for backup."

Springtime is on the horizon, and with it, "Spring Cleaning." Take time to analyze what needs to be cleaned out in your volunteer position.

Do you have case files from 2007 lurking around your home office? Gather them up and bring them to the CASA Office for shredding. The shred box is in the corner to your right as you enter the door. Dump it off there, no questions asked.

Are you stuck on your case and don't know what to do next? Call your Advocate Coordinator and ask for a meeting to develop a plan. Hint: Good CASA volunteers do this all the time!

Are your notes written on pieces of scrap paper and Post-Its? Ask for a notebook or a three-ring binder that you can keep it all in. Use what works best for you (rule #5 from Oprah's list "Stick with what works").

What organization methods work best for you? Share them in the comments section so we can learn from you!

New Study Indicates Child Abuse Is On The Decline

Child abuse is on the decline according to a landmark new federal study, which shows that incidents of serious child abuse, especially sexual abuse, fell by 26 percent from 1993 to 2006.

According to MSNBC.com's February 2, 2010 article, the findings were contained in the fourth installment of the National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, a study Congress mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct periodically. The previous installment was issued in 1996 and was based on data from 1993.

The study indicates an estimated 553,000 children suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in 2005-2006, down 26 percent from the estimated 743,200 abuse victims in 1993.

The study is based on information collected from more than 10,700 "sentinels," including child welfare workers, police officers, teachers, health care professionals and day care workers - in 122 counties across the country. The detailed data collected from these sources was used to make national estimates.

Specifically, the government study showed that 135,000 American children were victims of sexual abuse, down from 217,000 in 1993, a 38 percent drop. An estimated 149,000 American children suffered emotional abuse, down from 205,000 in 1993, a 27 percent drop. An estimated 323,000 Amercian children were victims of physical abuse, down from 382,000 in 1993, a 15 percent drop.

According to MSNBC.com, the 455-page study avoided explaining the trends, although other experts offered theories.

Linda Spears, vice president for public policy with the Child Welfare League of America, credited public awareness and today's public intolerance of child abuse in general society. "It was a hidden concern before - people were afraid to talk about it if it was in their family," she said.

Professor David Finkelhor of the University of New Hampshire, a respected researcher in the field of child abuse, suggests that the decline is a product of several coinciding trends, including a "troop surge" of child protection service employees in the 1990s and the intensification of the criminal justice system's anti-abuse efforts with more arrests and prison sentences.

"There's also been a general change in perceptions and norms about what one can get away with," he said.

The study found some dramatic differences in child abuse rates based on socio-economic factors. Poor children were three times more likely than other kids to experience abuse, and rates of abuse in black families were significantly higher than in white and Hispanic families.

Family structure also was a factor - for example, children whose single parent had a live-in partner faced an abuse rate 10 times that of a child living with two parents.

The study's main author, Andrea Sedlak of the research firm Westat, Inc. said she was heartened by the overall findings of declining abuse rates. However, she was troubled to find that more than half of child maltreatment incidents are not investigated by child-protection agencies.

For those of us who work with victims of child abuse, the news of a decline is proof positive that child abuse prevention programs and the work of countless court-appointed special advocate agencies across the country, including Tri-County CASA, are having a positive impact on the welfare of vulnerable children.

And yet, for the estimated 553,000 children who remain, the celebration must wait until there are absolutely none. The difficult work of helping abused children and their families continues.

Are You Taking Good Care of Yourself?

I can totally relate to this picture sometimes. As organized and pulled together as I try to be, a wrench inevitably gets thrown into the works, and this week has been no exception! It seems sometimes that the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get.

One of the by-products of volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate is the stress that comes along with the job. I mean, really...who wants to testify in court? The few times I have done so, my nerves were so jangled that I could barely work the rest of the day. Doesn't that make you feel better? The woman who tells you not to be nervous about testifying in court does, herself, get nervous!

If the stress isn't from court-related performance pressures, then it's sadness (and sometimes anger) over the circumstances of the families and children on our case load.

Stress and pressure are a given in life. It wouldn't matter if you were volunteering with CASA or not, stress would find a way into your daily regimen. It is no respecter of persons.

Left unchecked, stress and pressure have a way of zapping whatever energy you have in store, leaving you vulnerable to illness, lethargy, and depression. Many major illnesses, including heart disease and cancer, have been linked to stress left unchecked.

The staff of Tri-County CASA wants you to be healthy and happy as you volunteer with our organization. For that reason, finding appropriate ways to cope with stress is an important topic for discussion.

Let's start with the most obvious areas: diet and exercise.

Science suggests that it's WHAT we are eating, combined with HOW MUCH of it we are eating, and factoring in our sedentary lifestyle that is causing many Americans to be obese. Science also suggests that even simple changes in diet and exercise can make a big difference in a person's overall health and well-being.

Begin by looking at the "empty" calories you are consuming. These can be found in soft drinks, sweetened tea, sweetened coffee, candy, and snacks. Weaning yourself off of these sugar-laden goodies is a quick win for your waistline.

Next, look at the percentage of meat and dairy you eat to fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. The USDA's food pyramid suggests that the majority of our food should come from fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Lean protein is an important part of any healthful diet, so if you're eating red meat three or more times per week, think about substituting one of those meals with another type of protein. Think fish, chicken, shellfish, or beans, all of which are good sources of lean protein, as are skim milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Next, look at your portion size. The American plate has grown over the years, hasn't it? Take eating out for example. Did you know that most restaurant entrees are actually three to four times the recommended portions? I have started ordering a "to-go" box with nearly every entree I get in a restaurant. If I start by slicing off only the part I intend to eat, I find that I rarely overeat. Plus, I have lunch already in the bag for several days thereafter!

Go to your cabinet and find a salad plate. It's the plate that is a bit smaller than the regular dinner plates in your cabinet. This is the size plate you should be using at mealtime. Now, measure it off into fourths. In the first quarter of the plate should be your meat or entree. The second quarter should be your rice, pasta, or whole grains. The third quarter should be vegetables or sides. And the fourth quarter is where your fruit, yogurt, or dessert should go.

Finally, let's talk about exercise. It has a number of benefits. Not only does it burn calories and create lean muscle in our bodies, but it has the added benefit of reducing stress. People who exercise regularly sleep better, are more relaxed, have stronger immune systems, and are generally better able to weather the storms of life than their non-exercising counterparts. If you go outside to exercise, you also receive sun exposure (don't forget the sunscreen!), which supplies your body with Vitamin D, an important component for energy, alertness, and overall health.

When I speak about exercise, I'm not suggesting that you run laps or pump iron, unless you are already doing that. Just a short 20 or 30 minute walk is sufficient. Yoga is another good way to stretch muscles, reduce stress, and re-center yourself.

How do you stay healthy and stress-free? Share in the comments section. Live healthfully!

Is It Impossible To Maintain Objectivity?

When prospective CASA volunteers join the program, they are asked to maintain objectivity. It seems, at the time, a fairly straightforward request - one that should be within the ability of most volunteers entering the program. After all, we really don't have a stake in the outcome of the proceedings, right?

But a funny thing happens on the way to the first court hearing. You've met the biological mother. You've met the biological father. Sometimes you've met grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. You've met the teacher...the child's therapist...and the foster parents. And you've met the child.

And in meeting each of these people, you've begun forming opinions, because it's human nature to do so. It is said that most people form their first impression of a person within the first 10 seconds of meeting them.

And, if you've read your file (and you have, because you're nothing if not thorough), then the knowledge of how the case came to be in court has also had an impact on your impressions of the case and the people involved.

And, because you are a child advocate at heart, you feel sorry for the children on your case load and wonder how anyone could do such things to a defenseless child. And now, before it fully registers in your mind that it has happened, you've lost your objectivity.

Or have you?

The National CASA Association explains objectivity in this way:

Volunteers research case records and speak to everyone involved in a child's life, including their family members, teacher, doctor, lawyer, social worker and others. Their third-party evaluations are based on facts, evidence and testimonies.

As CASA staff, we recognize that you are human. You have your opinions, your emotions, and your thoughts and ideas. All of these subjective elements help make you who you are and define your personality.

So, what are we really asking of you when we ask for your objectivity?

1. We want you to read the entire case file and all other case records, including the DHS Intake Investigation. Only in reading everything can you get a full picture of what is happening with a case.

2. We want you to talk to all of the involved parties, even if you aren't sure whether or not you will like them. In doing so, please keep safety foremost in your mind and either take a staff member with you on your visits or meet parties in a neutral location, such as a coffee shop or restaurant.

3. We expect you to collect information from the people you speak with. The information you collect must be based on facts, evidence, and testimony. Ask the person you are speaking with if they would be willing to testify to the information they are sharing with you. If they are not willing to speak on the record, ask them if you can tape the interview or if there is another way that you can find the information.

4. We expect you to keep written communication (reports, letters, etc.) free of the first-person pronoun. When a CASA states in a report, "I found the home to be filthy, the rooms filled with trash, food left on dishes on the countertops, and the floors not to have been swept in at least a month," it leaves the impression that you found the state of the home to be offensive. You may very well have felt that way. However, stated in the third person (CASA visited the home on 2/17/10 and found it to be filthy, with the rooms filled with trash...), the sentence is taken as fact from the viewpoint of a CASA volunteer who has the training and experience to recognize that the home is not in the appropriate condition.

5. Don't overlook the fact that photographic evidence from cameras, cellular phones, and video cameras can be the most objective forms of evidence available to the court. The old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and indeed, we have found that to be true. A photograph or video can tell the story without any words at all, and both are difficult to refute in court.

6. Recognize that an objective report is a fair report. A CASA volunteer who reports what the parents have done, as well as what they have not done, presents a much more balanced snapshot of the case to the court than one who includes only successes or only failures.

7. We understand that you will have your opinions of people and situations, but keep them to yourself. If you begin sharing your opinion with others related to the case, then you are, by your own words, hinting at your inability to be objective. There are some things that need not be said to anyone but your Advocate Coordinator. Your opinions, in the hands of a skilled attorney, can be used to show your lack of restraint, failure to protect confidentiality, and/or your complete lack of objectivity.

8. Remember that the place to express your opinions, and in a most judicious way, is within the confines of the "Issues of Concern" or "Recommendations" section of your report. As you have learned in training, concerns and recommendations must flow from the factual data listed in the body of your report. Only the factual information in your report can be utilized to form these concerns.

It is not impossible to maintain objectivity, in fact, it is quite easy to do if you keep your focus on the facts and not on your opinion.

The Conversation Every Parent Should Have With Their Child

The normal parental instinct of all animals, including humans, is the protection of our young. It seems unthinkable that our children might fall victim to a sexual predator, and yet it happens.

Parents need to know the facts. In the United States, it is estimated that 1 out of every 4 girls and 1 out of every 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. One in every 5 children is solicited sexually on the Internet.

For many parents, the visual image of the "typical" sexual predator is a stranger lurking on a dark street corner. In truth, few children are molested by strangers.

While we might like to think that our child is safest at home and around people that we know, the statistics indicate otherwise. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of child sexual abuse victims are abused by a family member. Another 50 percent are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust. Forty percent are abused by older or larger children whom they know.

The sad truth is that if a child is going to be sexually abused by someone, the likelihood is high that it would occur at the hands of a relative or family acquaintance.

There are things you can do right now to prevent child abuse from happening to your child:

1. Talk to children about the difference between safe touches and unsafe touches from anyone – including family, friends, teachers, or clergy. Make it clear to your child that they are always welcome to discuss with you touches that concern them, without repercussions.

2. Explain that safe touches are hugs, a bath from a parent, or a medical checkup. These are touches that make us feel good about ourselves or help us to stay clean and healthy.

3. Help children understand that unsafe touches are someone touching the child’s private parts, asking the child to touch his/her private parts, and hitting, pushing, kicking, slapping, etc.

4. Ask your child to tell a trusted adult if someone says their touches are to be “a secret” or if the person threatens the child or family.

5. Teach children about “NO, GO, and TELL”: Say NO, GO away quickly, and TELL a trusted adult if someone touches them in a way that upsets them. One of the most important things a parent tell their child is that the child's body belongs to the child and that no one is allowed to touch their body without their permission.

6. Tell children to “NO, GO, and TELL” if a stranger offers them candy, gifts, or a ride; follows them; or asks them to come along to help find or carry something. Have a unique secret word that only you and your child know in the event of an emergency. Tell your child never to get in a car with anyone who does not know the secret code word.

7. Make it a family rule that your child keep you informed at all times about where they are, who they are with, and when they will be home.

8. If you suspect someone of child abuse, report that person immediately to the Oklahoma Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-522-3511).

For more information about child abuse prevention, please call Tri-County CASA at 918-343-1515.

Can We Talk?

The most important boundary CASA volunteers must maintain is keeping confidential information confidential. Many prospective volunteers tell me, "Oh, I won't have a problem keeping information confidential." And I smile my knowing smile, because I realize just how easy it is to breach confidentiality.

Let's begin this discussion by acknowledging that, as volunteers, we're all well-meaning. We don't ever intend to make a mistake. But mistakes still find their way to our doorstep.

The maintenance of confidentiality begins with an intention to keep the information to ourselves. Next, we must put systems in place to safeguard the information. Then, we must keep on our toes, being on the lookout for those who would try to get the information we have.

How can you do this?

1. Commit yourself to confidentiality. This commitment begins with an acknowledgment that, for the children we serve, the right to privacy is fundamental. It's one of the few aspects of our work that we can control, and we are honor-bound to protect their identity and privacy at all costs.

2. Be thoughtful about exactly HOW you will safeguard the information you have. Where will you keep your file? What will you do if your spouse (if they are not a CASA volunteer) begins asking you questions about your case? Will you accept phone calls in high-traffic areas, or call back when you are alone? Think about what you will say if someone unrelated to the case asks you a question about it. I have a pat answer already scripted out in my head, "I am really sorry, Bob, but I'm required by the court to keep that information confidential."

3. Be vigilant about protecting your case information. Don't fall into the "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," trap. Refer back to the Confidentiality Flowchart in your CASA Training Manual (see page V7-24). The very first question on the flowchart is, "Is it in the child's best interest to share this information?" If it's not, keep it to yourself.

Don't become so comfortable that you think a breach of confidentiality could not possibly happen to you. In my experience, that is the exact moment that it does. Think about the following:

What will you do if you run into the foster family at Wal-Mart?

Where is a good place to discuss the case in the courthouse?

Is the seat of your car a good place to keep the file while you run errands after court?

What will you do if a teacher asks you what is going on in the child's home while you are collecting grade information?

It bears mentioning that even this website is not an appropriate place to discuss specific case information. If you have a question or concern about your case, please contact your Advocate Coordinator or myself directly.

What Does It Mean To Be "A Friend of the Court?"

It's difficult to remember in the heat of the moment what your role as a CASA volunteer is intended to be. You come to the job wanting to help, and in your desire to do all that you can to serve the best interests of abused and neglected children, it's tempting to want to stretch the role and operate outside the boundaries of the CASA program.

The staff of Tri-County CASA knows this. You wouldn't be a volunteer if your heart wasn't as big as the Dallas metroplex.

The beauty of the CASA volunteer's role is this: there is much that we can do to help abused and neglected children...and there are things we just can't do, and it's in our own best interest to know which one applies at any given moment.

Here in the Great State of Oklahoma, your role as a CASA volunteer is that of "Friend of the Court," defined as follows:

"In this model, the volunteer’s role is one of impartial observer, conducting the investigation as the judge would if time permitted. The CASA volunteer has not been given party status in this model. Her role is to function as an investigator (fact-finder) and monitor, working directly for the judge. The CASA volunteer presents a written report to the court and may testify if called as a witness. The CASA volunteer’s primary role is to ensure that the parties carry out the court’s orders. Programs using this model are often administered by non-profit agencies that have a commitment to child welfare issues."

The most important elements of the CASA as Friend of the Court role include:

1. Understanding the relationship between yourself and the court. You are to "conduct the investigation as the judge would if time permitted." This means thinking about the questions the judge might ask when assembling your report, and bringing back the pertinent details to court.

2. Maintaining impartiality. Our role isn't to decide who's a good or bad candidate for placement. We collect information and and bring the information to the court and the judge decides. We are human. We have opinions. But at the end of the day, the judge is the person who must make (and live with) the decision.

3. Remembering your status in the process. You are not a party to the case. You are an officer of the court, acting as the court's eyes and ears out in the community. As such, you cannot make motions on behalf of the child. You cannot dispense legal advice. You cannot provide any services to the child or the family. You work for the judge, and the judge only.

Frustration often sets in when we see precisely what needs to be done for the child, but we are constricted by the confines of our role. We begin bargaining with ourselves, negotiating which rules were made to be broken, and before long, we're off in a field by ourselves.

If you are feeling this way, call your Advocate Coordinator. There are things that can be done to help smooth the way, but those activities are the role of CASA staff.

Welcome to Tri-County CASA Chat

Welcome to Tri-County CASA Chat, a new blog for Tri-County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA volunteers). Here, you will find helpful tips and reminders, announcements, answers to questions, and updates. Check back often and feel free to submit your questions to me at tricountycasa@tulsacoxmail.com

It is our hope that this blog will be a source of information and inspiration to you in your journey as a CASA volunteer.

Thank you for your continuing service as a CASA volunteer. YOU are the reason we are here!