They aid permanency planning efforts and help thousands of children find safe, nurturing homes. Only the court can appoint CASA volunteers, and only the court can dismiss them if they fail to meet their responsibilities. Ideally, a volunteer is appointed when a child's interests are first threatened and a petition is presented to the court. Typically, the appointment is made during or immediately after the first hearing, which may be a shelter care or custody hearing. CASA volunteers investigate, evaluate, and recommend to the court what is in the child's immediate and long-term interests.
CASA volunteers are the eyes and ears of the court, making objective assessments of a child's needs.
Judges rely heavily on their independent recommendations. However, because the CASA volunteer is only one of several parties issuing recommendations in a case, the court may or may not accept them. Each case is determined on the facts presented and the relation of those facts to the case and to State and Federal laws. Establishing a Successful CASA Program To develop a successful CASA program, care must be taken to integrate it into the existing justice system and community. Appointing an efficient and effective program director.