Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 489 - Child Advocacy Board › Chapter 4 - Court Appointed Special Advocate Program › Rule 489-4.1 - Purpose

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
The child advocacy board is required by Iowa Code section
				237.18 to establish procedures
				and protocols for administering the court appointed special advocate
				program.
(1)
Definitions.
"Administrator"
means the person selected by
				the director to lead, direct and manage the staff and programs established by
				the board.
"Certified,"
when used as a descriptor of a
				court appointed special advocate, means that an applicant has been determined
				by the child advocacy board to have the required qualifications to become a
				court appointed special advocate and has completed the application
				requirements, background checks, screening and selection process and training
				established pursuant to the rules in this chapter.
"Coach"
or
"CASA coach"
means
				a duly certified court appointed special advocate volunteer who has received
				additional training to assist the coordinator by overseeing facets of the court
				appointed special advocate's case work.
"Coordinator"
means the staff member of the
				child advocacy board who is responsible for planning and implementation of the
				court appointed special advocate program in a county or cluster of counties in
				the state.
"Court appointed special advocate"
or
"CASA volunteer"
or
"CASA"
or
"advocate"
means a person who is duly certified by the child
				advocacy board for participation in the court appointed special advocate
				program and appointed by the court to represent the interest of a child in any
				judicial proceeding to which the child is a party or is called as a witness or
				relating to any dispositional order involving the child resulting from the
				proceeding. Unless otherwise enlarged or circumscribed by a court or juvenile
				court having jurisdiction over the child or by operation of law, the duties of
				a court appointed special advocate with respect to a child pursuant to Iowa
				Code section 237.24 as enacted by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2390, section 15,
				shall include the following:
1.
			 Conducting in-person interviews with the child every 30 days, if the child's
			 age is appropriate for the interview, and interviewing each parent, guardian,
			 or other person having custody of the child, if authorized by
			 counsel.
2. Visiting the home,
			 residence, or both home and residence of the child and any prospective home or
			 residence of the child, including each time placement is changed.
3. Interviewing any person providing medical,
			 mental health, social, educational, or other services to the child.
4. Obtaining firsthand knowledge, if
			 possible, of the facts, circumstances, and parties involved in the matter in
			 which the court appointed special advocate is appointed.
5. Attending any depositions, hearings, and
			 trial proceedings in the matter in which the court appointed special advocate
			 is appointed for the purpose of supporting the child and advocating for the
			 child's protection.
6. Assisting
			 the transition committee in the development of a transition plan if the child's
			 case permanency plan calls for the development of a transition plan.
7. Submitting a written report to the
			 juvenile court and to each of the parties identified in Iowa Code section
			 237.21(4)  as
			 amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2390, section 13, prior to each court
			 hearing, unless otherwise ordered by the court. The report shall include, but
			 not be limited to, the identified strengths and concerns of the child and the
			 child's family, along with recommendations about the child's placement and best
			 interest.