Evaluating the Virginia Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, 1991-1995

In 1990, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation
 that established the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program,
 a program providing child advocates in juvenile court proceedings,
 especially those involving abuse and neglect. The Virginia Department
 of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administered this program. In this
 capacity, the DCJS coordinated services, provided funds, and
 participated in the development and dissemination of program
 information and regulations. Given these responsibilities, DCJS'
 Juvenile Services Section and the Criminal Justice Research Center
 Evaluation Section agreed that an assessment of the CASA program was
 needed. This study sought to evaluate the Virginia CASA program in
 order to provide a better understanding of CASA activities and program
 characteristics, and determine the impact of CASA intervention on its
 client population. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected
 from three sources: (1) administrative records gathered for a sample
 of 78 cases (Part 1) involving 164 children (Part 2) taken from the
 files of local juvenile courts, social service agencies, and CASA
 programs, (2) telephone interviews administered to judges (Part 3)
 presiding in all operational CASA jurisdictions across Virginia,
 and (3) surveys distributed to CASA social workers (Part 4) and
 volunteers (Part 5). Variables common to both Part 1 and Part 2
 include the total number of abuse/neglect, custody, and Children in
 Need of Supervision/Services (CHINS) petitions, date of first
 petition, petition type, type of child abuse/neglect case, number and
 date of prior removals from home, number of out-of-home, group home,
 psychiatric, detention, and family/friend placements since the case
 opened, whether there was any alcohol or drug abuse involved, and the
 onset of these behaviors, whether there were any mental, intellectual,
 academic, or behavioral limitations or problems, dates of first and
 last court proceeding, date of finding (a social service agency
 determination of whether abuse/neglect occurred), permanency date,
 date of final placement, and the number of weeks a Court-Appointed
 Special Advocate (CASA) was on the case. Variables unique to Part 1
 include the age, sex, and date of birth for up to six victims and up
 to three abusers, as well as whether any adult or child sibling of the
 victim had been legally removed from the household, the relationship
 of each abuser to each victim, and whether any of the victim's
 siblings, mother, biological father, or caretaker had a criminal
 history, mental illness, disabilities, or abused drugs or
 alcohol. Other variables include the number of orders partially or
 fully complied with or not complied with, the number of services
 ordered for each victim and abuser, and whether there were any changes
 in the family structure. For Part 3, judges were surveyed to determine
 their perceptions regarding the role of CASAs, social workers, and
 Guardians ad Litem (GALs) in abuse/neglect cases, the benefits of the
 CASA program, how successful CASA case monitoring was, how useful CASA
 information was, and the impact CASA programs had on the court
 process. Judges also recommended changes or improvements they felt
 were needed by the CASA program that served their court. The percent
 of abuse/neglect, custody, and CHINS cases that each judge presided
 over is also included. Demographic variables for Part 4 include the
 age, sex, and race of each social worker. Other variables cover the
 length of time worked with CASAs, the number of sexual abuse, neglect,
 custody, and CHINS cases worked on, and the percent of time used to
 appear in court, write reports, review records, interview the family
 and child, and speak with CASAs and GALs. The respondents' perceptions
 of the role of CASA, social workers, and GALs, how the CASA program
 was beneficial or detrimental to a child, and suggestions for changes
 or improvements to the CASA program complete the file. Variables for
 Part 5 include the number of physical abuse, neglect, custody, and
 CHINS cases worked on by a CASA volunteer. Additional variables
 include the percent of time used to investigate and monitor the child,
 family, foster family, the GALs, the social worker, and other CASA
 staff, as well as the volunteer's relationship with social workers,
 GALs, and judges. The age, sex, race, and educational background of
each volunteer are also included.