Local Leadership Councils Consolidated

“Role of a Local Program”

As a collaborative partner in the judicial system, the local program provides a sound organizational framework to recruit, train, supervise, support and retain court appointed special advocates (CASAs/GALs) who advocate for the best interests of children and youth who came into the judicial system as a result of abuse or neglect in their jurisdiction so that there is urgency for every child to thrive in a safe, loving and permanent home, consistent with the National CASA mission and core model.

To that end, the role of a local program is to deliver the following as related to best-interest child advocacy:

Support Volunteers to Advocate for the Best Interests of Children Who Have Experienced Abuse and Neglect

o Mandate that child safety is a priorityo Make recommendations for access to culturally-appropriate: therapeutic, age-appropriate,

developmental, educational and medical services for each child to begin healing from their trauma

o Make recommendations to the judges in regards to the appropriateness and safety of temporary placements

o Ensure each child has an adequate advocacy plan for normalcy, permanency and the opportunity to thrive

o Advocate for the child’s best interests within the judicial system while maintaining confidentiality as prescribed by law

o Know the community resources, understand the children’s needs and work to meet those needso Ensure that advocacy is provided for all aspects of the child’s life

Interact Effectively within the Judicial System and Communityo Create and maintain positive relationships within the judicial system and community

stakeholders o Understand and meet the judges’ expectations of the CASA volunteers o Ensure that all CASA staff and volunteers are advocating in compliance with the Indian Child

Welfare Act/ICWAo Build a rapport with other local child welfare stakeholders including State and Tribal child

welfare agencies

Raise Awarenesso Raise community awareness of child abuse and neglect issueso Raise community awareness of the program’s mission o Provide education to the community, to include local and Tribal officials and state legislators,

regarding CASA’s roleo Create a positive presence in the community servedo Protect the CASA brand

For NCASAA Network ‘Comment Period’ – September 2017

Recruit, Screen and Train Volunteers o Recruit, thoroughly screen, train, support and celebrate volunteer advocateso Recruit diverse volunteers who reflect the community servedo Ensure volunteers are effectively supervisedo Ensure volunteer advocates receive continuing education to expand their knowledge of those

issues and practices that impact the children we serve

Ensure a Program with a Strong Foundationo Promote the value of volunteer CASAs/GALs by demonstrating the ability for one person to

make a tremendous impact in a child’s lifeo Build, maintain and grow relationships with funders to secure diversified and sustainable

fundingo Know the trends of child abuse within the jurisdiction and surrounding areas and use this data

to inform growth plan and strategieso Continuously evaluate the effectiveness and stewardship of the program’s efforts and resourceo Establish a case management system to maintain information and activities for reporting to

state and National entitieso Collaborate and cooperate with other CASA programs including state programs and National

CASA to increase the number of children servedo Recruit a diverse and effective board/governing body and staffo Generate the necessary resources for program operations and sustainabilityo Be compliant with National CASA/State standards for quality assuranceo Work actively and collaboratively with National CASA (e.g., serving on committees,

workgroups and councils and act as a liaison) to support and achieve the mission of the organization

For NCASAA Network ‘Comment Period’ – September 2017