CASA Volunteer Work
- A lot has been done with children and animals, can a dog visit with a child? Can you take a child to the humane society to visit dogs and cats?
- Are activities of a CASA volunteer tax deductible? If so, what things can be deducted?
- Are there any challenges that a CASA volunteer may face with CPS case managers?
- Are there regular training opportunities CASA volunteers, whether local or national?
- Are there special funds available, through the CASA program, if a child needs or would benefit from something over and above the norm?
- Can I take pictures and give them to the child in a scrapbook?
- Can we drive parents to classes?
- Can we get a list of contact information for other CASA volunteers in our area?
- Can we take our CASA child with our family to a family outing? (i.e., Chuck E. Cheese or bowling)
- Can we use a state car to transport?
- Can you be a foster parent and a CASA volunteer
- Can you be on Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) and be a CASA volunteer?
- Can you only be a CASA volunteer in the county that you live in?
- Could you give me information about sibling visits?
- Do CASA volunteers get the agencies involved or is it the job of the court and/or CPS?
- Do we need to have a court order in hand to speak with teachers, counselors, etc.?
- Does the CASA volunteer always work with the same CPS case manager?
- Have there been instances with parents confronting a CASA volunteer negatively? If so, how do you respond?
- How can a CASA volunteer attend a Team Decision Making (TDM) if the court is not involved yet?
- How can I get additional training to be a CASA volunteer for babies?
- How do attorneys, CPS and the court relate to each other? May we have or see an organization chart?
- How do CASA volunteers get information regarding services that can be provided to the child or family such as transportation, financial aid for food/clothing, or insurance coverage?
- How do we know when we need hard copies of records for reports?
- How does a child get into the CASA system? How do they qualify?
- How does a person involved in the case (child, parent, teacher, foster parent, etc.) get in touch with the CASA volunteer?
- How legally savvy do CASA Volunteers have to be? NEW!
- How many CASAs actually form a life-long friendship with a child as they grow into adulthood?
- How much documentation do you do?
- How much notice do CASA volunteers get on court dates?
- How receptive are biological parents to CASA volunteers wanting to meet with them and answer questions?
- If a fee is required to obtain a hard copy, do we need to request permission first?
- I'm confused about "no therapeutic advice" - aren't we supposed to listen and empathize with their feelings?
- Is it ever legal or appropriate to record an interview between a CASA volunteer and a principle individual in a child's case?
- Is it okay to discuss personal experiences?
- Is there a list of services that CPS can provide that we can use to verify or make recommendations from?
- Is there a support group meeting via e-mail or phone on a monthly basis for volunteers to get together?
- Please explain "you are not the child's friend" vs. "you have to really know and care for the child".
- Should you buy clothes and gifts for CASA kids?
- The lines between being a CASA volunteer and a counselor or being a CASA and a mentor are fuzzy. How do you make sure you're fulfilling your responsibilities without crossing the line?
- What are the guidelines around touching and hugging CASA children? NEW!
- What can a CASA volunteer do for a baby? For example, a CASA might take older kids to McDonalds - would they take the baby somewhere? If so, where?
- What do CASA volunteers need to report when undocumented status is suspected?
- What gives CASA volunteers the legal right to medical/psychological records, legal records, etc.?
- What happens if a child doesn't want to go with a CASA volunteer for a visit?
- What happens if CASA volunteers are unavailable to attend a court date?
- What happens if the parents won't let a CASA volunteer see the child?
- What happens when the CASA volunteer doesn't agree with CPS? Does CPS have priority in the case plan?
- What is the best way to introduce the topic of contraception for sexually active teens?
- What should a CASA volunteer do if the child asks about religion and/or if he or she can attend a service with the CASA?
- What type of identification do we have and when do we need to show it?
- Where does a CASA volunteer go to view the paperwork files from a CPS worker? Can copies of this paperwork be made for the CASA to have at home?
- Why and how often are CASA volunteers called to testify?
Child Development
Child Protection and the Legal System
- Almost every situation discussed is the relationship between mother and children. Is much time or effort spent to make the fathers part of the end process?
- Are children that have been sexually abused by their parent returned to the abuser's home?
- Do different counties in Arizona have different rules on reporting abuse?
- Do enforcement officers have to report negligence or abuse?
- Has there been an increase in reporting abuse and neglect since the requirement to report has gone into effect? If so, what guidelines are given to assist people in knowing when to report?
- If a parent relinquishes their right to a child during the court process, do they (the parent) then become off the hook financially? Can the other parent or foster parent or other family member receive child support from the initial parent?
- Is a Guardian ad Litem (GAL)a paid or volunteer position?
- Is it or is it not illegal to leave children alone for any time in any circumstances?
- Please explain the contradiction between the CPS assertion of a 12-month time line to permanency and cases discussed where there were multiple foster care placements over 2-4 years.
- The petition is 72 hours from removal, but I thought CPS could not remove without court approval?
- What age does a child have to be to stay home alone or baby-sit?
- What are the office hours for CPS?
- What are the rules and guidelines as far as finding permanency for a child within the same county that they currently live in?
- What if you pick up a child for a visit with you and they say they were molested by foster parent or sibling?
- When parenting classes or drug/alcohol counseling is ordered, who pays for it (in all counties)?
- Where do we find all of the statutes?
- What about the children who lose their parents to death and they are not adopted, who helps the children not drift from foster home to foster home, especially the older ones?
- What happens to teens who are unwanted by biological parents but don't have a placement in foster care?
- What happens to those kids who don't have a CASA volunteer?
Education
Foster Care and Adoption
- Are siblings typically separated from each other when placed in foster care?
- Are there enough foster homes in the system to take all of the children?
- Once a child is placed in permanency do the families who adopt a child get services like counseling, especially if the child has ADHD?
- Why do kids in foster care typically change foster care placements? What are some solutions?
- Why is there so much turn over from foster home to foster home before placement back at natural or adoptive home?
