Rappahannock Area Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Welcome to the Web site of the Rappahannock Area CASA program. Our mission is to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. 

CASA is a national organization whose many local affiliates, including ours, train volunteers to speak up for the needs of children whose home placements and services are being decided in court. Based in Spotsylvania County, our volunteers advocate for children whose cases are heard by judges in the 15th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Virginia (www.courts.state.va.us/courts/jdr/Spotsylvania/home.html)

What is the CASA volunteer's role?

A CASA volunteer provides a judge with a carefully researched background report on the life of the child he or she represents. The volunteer works to determine whether it's in a child's best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes recommendations to the judge about home placement and also about services that could benefit the child or his/her family. The CASA volunteer stays with a case until it is permanently resolved.

How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?

To prepare a recommendation, a CASA volunteer talks with the child, the parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who know the child. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child, including school, medical and caseworker reports.

How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social services caseworker?

Social workers generally are employed by state, county and city governments, and they sometimes work on as many as 25 to 35 cases at a time. A CASA volunteer, by contrast, has a much smaller caseload: a maximum of two sibling groups per volunteer. Also, a CASA volunteer is an independent appointee of the court. A CASA volunteer does not replace a social worker on a case. But the smaller caseload enables a CASA volunteer to devote a greater amount of time to each child. A CASA volunteer can thoroughly examine a child's case and can make recommendations to the court independent of agency restrictions.

Are CASA volunteers different from attorneys?

Yes. The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. That is the role of an attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases. It's important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a child's wishes in court. Rather, they speak to the child's best interests.

Is there a typical CASA volunteer?

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Nationally, there are more than 58,000 CASA volunteers. Two-thirds of them are women. And 85 percent of CASA volunteers hold full-time jobs in addition to volunteering. Most of those jobs are professional in nature. Locally, the Rappahannock Area CASA currently has 61 volunteers.

Can anyone volunteer to be a CASA?

No special or legal background is required; CASAs are ordinary citizens. Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.

What training does a CASA volunteer receive?

CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training course conducted by the local CASA program. Training requirements vary from program to program; the Rappahannock Area CASA course involves approximately 36 hours of training. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedure from the principals in the system: judges, lawyers, social services caseworkers, court personnel and others. CASA volunteers also learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and they are educated about specific topics ranging from in-service seminars on child sexual abuse to discussions on early childhood development and adolescent behavior.

How do CASA volunteers relate to the children they represent?

CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they are all in court, and the roles the judge, lawyers and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his/her opinions and hopes, while remaining objective observers.

Do lawyers, judges and social caseworkers support CASA?

Yes. Juvenile and family court judges appoint CASA volunteers to serve on cases. CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (www.ncjfcj.org) and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. The Rappahannock Area CASA program is proud of the support given by the 15th Judicial District Judge, Court Services and Department of Social Services.

Does the federal government support CASA?

CASA is a priority project of the Department of Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association (www.nationalcasa.org).

How many CASA programs are there?

Today, there are more than 950 CASA programs in operation, with more than 58,000 men and women serving as volunteers.

How effective have CASA programs been?

In 2006, over 58,000 CASA volunteers helped 220,129 abused and neglected children.  A national survey of family court judges validated the importance of the work of these volunteers.  In this national study, judges eported that volunteer input is very effective in helping them reach difficult decisions regarding the lives of the children in their courts.  Their concern was that there are not enough CASA volunteers to serve the children.  Key findings of this survey reveal that Judges are most likely to assign CASA volunteers to the  most difficult and complex cases and found CASA volunters to be most effective in considering the est interests of the child and in monitoring the case.

In 2006-2007, Rappahannock Area CASA volunteers attended court hearings, and were prepared to testify, in 90 percent of all CASA cases. Volunteers submitted written court reports in 96 percent of all CASA cases, and 87 percent of CASA volunteers' recommendations became part of the Court's order.

How much time does volunteering require?

Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 15 to 20 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to a court appearance. More complicated cases, though, take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers tend to work 10 to 12 hours each month.

How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved in a case?

The volunteer sticks with a case until it is permanently resolved, and that amount of time can vary. It is a benefit of the CASA program in that, unlike other court principals--who often rotate cases--CASA volunteers are consistent figures in the proceedings and provide continuity for a child.

Do any other agencies or groups provide the same service?

No. The Rappahannock Area CASA program is the only one where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child's best interest.

What children are assigned to CASA volunteers?

Children who are victims of abuse and neglect and who have become wards of the court are assigned CASA volunteers, as are children who have been deemed a "Child in Need of Services." CASA volunteers are most typically assigned to children involved in juvenile and family court cases.

What is the role of the National CASA Association?

It is a non-profit organization that represents and serves local CASA programs. National CASA  provides training, technical assistance, research, news and public awareness to its members.

How is CASA funded?

Rappahannock Area CASA receives funding from local governments, the state of Virginia, the United Way and private foundations. Local fundraising events also are held each year. Donations can be sent to Rappahannock Area Court Appointed Special Advocate at 10401 Courthouse Road, Suite C, Spotsylvania, VA 22553.

For more information about Rappahannock Area CASA, contact director Jill Payne at (540)710-6199, or e-mail us at rappcasa@verizon.net!