How is a child chosen to have a CASA volunteer?
Indiana law mandates the appointment of an advocate for every abused and neglected child involved in a court proceeding. A CASA volunteer can only be provided for these children, when ordered by the Judge. Due to a shortage of of CASA volunteers, children involved in other types of court cases cannot be appointed an advocate.

Why do abused children need a CASA?
If the system worked, would they be needed?
A CASA speaks only for the child. In a child welfare system that is overburdened with too many children and too few resources, the voice of the child may not always be heard. Even if the child welfare system functioned perfectly, the other team members are also providing services to families, and the child needs someone focused only on his or her well being.

How does a CASA volunteer research a case?
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social worker, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA also reviews all records pertaining to the child (i.e. school, medical, and caseworker reports, and other documents).

Why is getting a permanent home so important?
Isn't foster care a safe place for kids?
Children's lives run on a concentrated sense of time, what we call "childtime". If we operate on a schedule that is comfortable for adults, it will always be unacceptable for children. Two years in the life of an adult is a small fraction of time for them, but for a 4-year-old it is half of his or her life. Each child deserves unconditional parental love, and it is the goal of Advocates for Children to help find it, as quickly as is reasonable.

How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?
State governments generally employ social workers. They sometimes work on as many as 30 or 40 cases at a time and are frequently unable to devote as much fime as they might like to each case. The CASA is a volunteer typically working on only one or two cases at a time (although that one case may involve 2 or more children). The CASA does not replace a social service caseworker on a case. He or she is an independent court appointee, representing the child's best interest. The CASA can make recommendations to the court independent of state agency restrictions.

How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved with a case?
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. The average case lasts 12 - 24 months. One of the primary benefits to the Advocates for Children program is that, unlike other court principals, who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity for a child.