Thank you from Family Law CASA!
Your support will help give even more children a voice in court. Below is a special thank you message from FLCASA Executive Director Deidre McCormack Martin.
Frequently Asked Questions
CASA stands for “Court-Appointed Special Advocate.”
We provide 26 hours of initial training (2 days in-person plus required videos). We also provide on-going webinars; in-person workshops; online resources; and on-going professional guidance.
We ask that our CASAs work on just one case at a time, with some very rare exceptions. If you are interested in working on more than one case at a time, talk with your Advocate Supervisor.
Generally, cases require 10-15 hours per month. For your first case, we recommend that you allow 4 hours a week for the first 2-3 months. We find that most CASAs work in increments, such that their hours may vary from week to week depending on their other time commitments.
You will work with an Advocate Supervisor who will explain each step of the process; provide you with sample questions for interviews; and answer any questions that may come up during your case. Your Advocate Supervisor will typically check in with you every 10 days or so if they don’t hear from you first.
You will receive guidance from a dedicated Advocate Supervisor and a written guide with suggested interview questions and report templates that prompt you to gather the information needed for court. Additionally, our team regularly reviews cases and reports to confirm you have all the information you need to advocate effectively for the children involved in your assigned case.
After you have gathered information and summarized your interviews in a report template, you will have a general idea about your top concerns regarding the child’s safety and well-being. Next, your Advocate Supervisor will discuss your concerns with you, and they will collaborate with you to develop a list of appropriate recommendations.
Yes. Scheduling interviews, home visits and writing your summaries can be coordinated for your convenience, so long as the report is completed by the designated due date. If you have trouble scheduling an interview with a teacher or professional for a time when you are available, your supervisor can help. The only exception is that if the case goes to trial and you are required to appear as a witness with our program attorney, you will need to appear on a weekday during business hours. (The trial date is specified when the case is assigned.)
Most advocates will have to make one appearance at trial per case. The trial date is set at the beginning of the case for everyone to reserve on their calendar. You will know the trial date before you accept a case. If the case does not go to trial (because there was a continuance or the parties reached an agreement in mediation or because the case was dismissed for a legal reason), then the trial date is cancelled. However, if the case does go to trial, then yes, you will need to appear at court on a weekday during business hours to testify. You will have plenty of notice to plan around the trial.