Working Your Case
Find the tools and information you need to effectively advocate for your assigned child(ren), including court preparation materials and best practices for case management.
Advocating
The primary duties of a CASA Volunteer are to investigate and become acquainted with the facts, conditions, and circumstances affecting a child’s welfare, to advocate for the best interest of the child, and to assist the court in obtaining the most permanent, safe, and homelike placement possible. In order to do this you spend time with the child, their family, and the adults involved in their life including case manager, social workers, teachers, therapists, and other professionals.
- Meet and interact with your assigned child as often as possible with a requirement to visit your assigned child(ren) in-person at least once per month.
- Get to know and ask other people in the child(ren) life about the child and their circumstances
- When in doubt, refer back to your CASA Job Description; Rule 110 and the Shawnee County CASA Policies and Procedures handbook. And, remember, your Advocate Supervisor and the CASA staff are here to support you every step of the way!
Reports & Recommendations
You will track your contacts and the information you learn via our web-based case management database, Optima. This information is collected and utilized by staff to meet grant requirements as well as state and national reporting requirements. In these court reports, you will make recommendations. You will be:
- Meeting, talking, communicating with the child, parents, family members, case managers, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history
- Reviewing all records pertaining to the child – school, medical, case manager reports, and other pertinent documents
- Working with your Advocate Supervisor to finalize and submit your court reports.
Case Management Resources
This section has everything you need to navigate your CASA role with clarity and confidence. We’ve got you covered from checklists and form templates to tips and court prep. Whether you’re launching your first case or managing your fifteenth, dive in and find what’s next, all in one place.