Why Do Children Need a Court Appointed Special Advocate?
Family court judges rarely have the opportunity to see or talk to the children about whom they make life-altering decisions. Because of this, they need help gathering as much information as possible. Although judges hear from caseworkers and attorneys, they often want to hear from one person who is exclusively focused on the children. In these situations, the judge orders a court appointed special advocate, or CASA, to serve on the case. Then the CASA becomes the voice of the child.
During this time, the child’s parents are also provided with attorneys, and they begin working with a foster care caseworker to address the initial problems that resulted in the removal of their children. From the beginning, the goal is to reunite the children with their parents whenever safely possible.