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Who We Are ... Who We Are Not
A Court Appointed Special Advocate is:
- - A Friend of the Court
- The Advocate is appointed by a judge to provide case review, research and interviews necessary to provide information to assist the juvenile courts in making decisions of the best interests of abused and neglected children. The goal is to ensure that children are placed in a safe, nurturing and permanent home in a timely manner, and receive all appropriate services while under the courts jurisdiction.
- - An Information Gatherer
- The Advocate reviews records and conducts interviews of the child and individuals in the child's life (biological parents, siblings, family members, caseworkers, mental/medical care providers, foster parents and group foster care facility officials, school officials and others) to the assess the best interests and needs of placement, visitation, mental/ medical, educational, social, spiritual and permanency needs.
- - Independent and Objective
- The Advocate provides recommendations to the juvenile court regarding "best interests" of the child regarding placement, visitation, mental/medical care, educational, social, and spiritual, needs. Advocates operate independently and are, therefore, not bound by agency policies or philosophies and are free from legislative mandates.
- - An Ordinary Citizen
- Advocates are carefully screened, trained and supervised by professional staff members. Advocates are any male or female, aged 21 year of age or older, homemaker, full-time employee, retired, student (or combination), free of felony criminal background, who wishes to contribute positive outcomes to an abuse and neglected child and the child welfare system in their community.
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A Court Appointed Special Advocate is not:
- - A Social Worker
- Advocates complement the casework of the social worker,
who is the manager of the child's case, and is the primary decision-maker in
providing day-to-day and/or placement services to the child.
- - An Attorney
- Advocates do not provide legal representation for the child.
- - A Therapist
- Advocates to not provide therapy or counseling services, or mental health diagnoses, to the child or family members. Advocates do not provide or suggest medications.
- - Big Brother/Big Sister
- Advocate involvement with a child is often time limited rather than the extended involvement of a Big Brother/Big Sister. The relationship between an Advocate and a court appointed child is therefore, a means to an end, rather than an on-going, long term relationship. An Advocate has a responsibility to perform research and review of case files, interview children and persons related to the case, and make assessments and recommendations to the juvenile courts. Once the goal of ensuring that the child is placed in a safe, permanent home is achieved and the case is closed by the court, the Advocate's relationship with that child is programmatically terminated.
- - Foster Parent
- Because a foster parent is a contractor with the Department of Social Services, it would be a conflict of interest for an Advocate to also become a foster parent. Advocates do not, under any circumstances, provide shelter for the assigned child. It is critically important that they remain conscientious to confidentiality and objective in their assessment of the child's needs, and therefore, the Advocate is not permitted to take the child to his/her own home or involve their own family members with the child.
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Learn more about CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates of Washington County:
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