Virginia Administrative Code › Title 6 - CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS › Agency 20 - DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES › Chapter 160 - REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM (CASA) › Part II - Program Administration › Section 6VAC20-160-40 - Program and personnel policies

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. CASA programs shall be in compliance with
				  Standards for National CASA Association (NCASAA) Member Programs.
B. CASA programs shall ensure that an
				  attorney is available for CASA directors and governing boards to provide legal
				  consultation in matters pertaining to administration of the programs.
C. CASA program employees shall not
				  concurrently supervise children in need of services, children in need of
				  supervision, or juvenile offender cases, either for the courts or any child
				  serving agencies.
D. CASA programs
				  shall write policies on the following and make those written policies available
				  to the respective courts:
1. The maximum
				  caseload to which a volunteer may be assigned at any one time. If that number
				  is larger than two children or two sibling groups, a rationale must be
				  submitted to and approved by DCJS.
2. Assignment of CASA staff as an advocate.
				  In the event a CASA supervisor or staff member is required to serve as an
				  advocate, that staff member will serve no more than two children or two sibling
				  groups. If that number is larger than two children or two sibling groups, a
				  rationale must be submitted to and approved by DCJS.
3. The maximum number of volunteers to be
				  supervised by each staff person. The staff-to-volunteer ratio calculated and
				  reported each quarter shall not exceed one full-time equivalent staff to 30
				  volunteers who are assigned to active cases. This ratio is reduced according to
				  the number of hours the volunteer supervisor may be assigned to administrative
				  or other responsibilities. A request shall be submitted to DCJS for approval
				  should that ratio exceed 1:30.
4.
				  The review, investigation and handling of any complaints that may be received
				  concerning CASA volunteers, including procedures for the removal of CASA
				  volunteers should dismissal become necessary.
5. The specific factors to be used by the
				  CASA program to accept and prioritize cases for assignment to CASA
				  volunteers.
6. The confidentiality
				  of the records and information to which CASA volunteers will have access, and
				  training volunteers on the importance of confidentiality.
7. The objectives, standards, and conduct for
				  CASA volunteers and the procedures that the CASA program will use to evaluate
				  the performance of its volunteers in order to ensure that volunteers are
				  meeting CASA's objectives and standards of conduct.
8. The CASA volunteers' responsibility to
				  report incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect.
9. Concerning CASA investigations, CASA's
				  role and responsibility in assisting the guardian ad litem, and monitoring
				  court order compliance.
10.
				  Compliance with federal laws, including Equal Opportunity Employment, Drug-Free
				  Workplace, Smoke-Free Workplace, and political activity statements.