Agency - Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

The Iowa Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) Program commissions trained community volunteers to serve as an effective voice in court for abused and neglected children, strengthening efforts to ensure that each child is living in a
safe, permanent and nurturing home.

Description:
CASA volunteers are assigned to an abuse or neglect case by a judge. Their role is three-fold: 1. Investigate: They conduct thorough research on the background of the case, reviewing documents, interviewing everyone involved, including the child. 2. Report: They make reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, and providing the judge with information that will help him/her make an informed decision. 3. Monitor: CASA volunteers can be instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services which the court has ordered - things like substance abuse counseling or special education testing. During the life of a case, a CASA volunteer monitors the child's situation to make sure he/she remains safe. CASA volunteers may be the only constant the child knows as he/she moves through the labyrinth of the child welfare system.

History:
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program was created in 1977 to make sure that the abuse and neglect children suffered at home doesn’t continue as abuse and neglect at the hands of the system.

Contact person: Carrie Phelps, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

11699 Bluegrass Rd Lamoni, IA 50140 (See a map)

Web Site: http://childadvocacy.iowa.gov

Last updated on December 10, 2012