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Events & Announcements
Conferences and other event information
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2009 National CASA Conference
April 25-28 · Denver, CO
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The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is
dedicated to serving
the nation's children and families by improving the courts of
juvenile and family jurisdictions.
Website...
Read NCJFCJ’s
resolutions endorsing CASA: one in support of creating and expanding CASA/GAL programs
(64KB PDF) and the other in
support of
recruiting CASA volunteers of color.
(46 KB PDF) |
NCJFCJ’s Policy Statement, “Judicial Responsibility in a Budget Crisis Environment,” gives guidance to dependency court judges making reasonable efforts findings for the provision of services as required under federal and state laws. |
NCJFCJ’s 14-minute video on how CASA programs benefit dependency courts and the children they serve—View it now. To download the video (26.9MB wmv), right click on "View" and select "Save Target As..." |
National Court Appointed Special
Advocates
What do CASA volunteers do and how did the CASA movement begin?
Read more... |
CASA/GAL "Judges' Corner" Resource Center This
page is
designed as a resource and information center to provide judges
the tools they need to work effectively with the local CASA/GAL
program. Listings include resources for establishing or
expanding a CASA/GAL program and news of program and financial
development innovations. Read
more... |
NCJFCJ’s Juvenile and Family Justice TODAY
features articles encouraging judges to use CASA volunteers to
promote child well-being.
Read more... |
"When
a CASA volunteer accepts an appointment as guardian ad litem to
a child that has been hurt, neglected or abandoned, it inspires
confidence in a system that is entrusted with the most difficult
and complex cases in the courthouse."
—Hon. Patricia A. Macias, president, National Council of Juvenile
and Family Court Judges |
“As a CASA volunteer, you are working only for the kids. You are appointed by the judge, and everyone in the courtroom knows that you are going to recommend what is best for that child. Your job is to fight for that child.”
—Nancy Ruta, CASA volunteer,
Piedmont CASA, GA |
"Honestly,
I do not believe I would have made it without my advocate and
some of the social workers I had. I really think I would have
ended up as a statistic."
—Hasani D. Lee, former foster youth, Durham, NC |
ABA Center on Children and the Law
The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law:
Improving children's lives through advances in law, justice,
knowledge, practice and public policy.
Website... |
Child Welfare Information Gateway
A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children
and Families and US Department of Health and Human Services, the
Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a wealth of
information to promote the safety, permanency and well-being of
children and families. Resources include a state statutes search
of issues related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare and
adoption and a listing of organizations that provide information
on child welfare legal issues.
Website... |
National Foster Care and Adoption
Directory A free, searchable online directory of foster
care and adoption resources in every state, the District of
Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands. Website... |
Chief Justices and State Court
Administrators
Read an
excerpt from their joint resolution endorsing CASA |
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Since the founding of the first CASA program by Judge David Soukup in 1977, CASA volunteers have advocated for more than 2 million children and CASA programs have enhanced their services and expanded their reach. This issue of The Judges’ Page is dedicated to showcasing extraordinary achievements and sharing replicable practices of programs throughout the CASA/GAL network.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090507031532im_/http://www.nationalcasa.org/images/judges_page/art-newsletter.gif)
The newsletter
of The Judges' Page website - March 2009 |
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The Role of CASA/GAL Programs and Volunteers in Achieving Successful Dependency Court Outcomes
J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired)
Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Directors
Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
SUMMARY - This issue of The Judges’ Page newsletter is dedicated to sharing the extraordinary achievements and replicable best practices of CASA and guardian ad litem programs across the nation. Article... |
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The Role and Responsibilities of the CASA/GAL Volunteer: What Do Judges Think?
J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired)
Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Directors
Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
SUMMARY - Judges from CASA programs across the country share what they find to be most valuable about the role and responsibilities of the CASA/GAL volunteer and how that role affects the outcome in dependency court cases. Article... |
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Commitment to Diversity Builds Stronger CASA/GAL Programs
Sally Wilson Erny, Chief Program Officer, National CASA Association
SUMMARY - By creating and emphasizing adherence to program standards, providing innovative and comprehensive trainings, and rewarding programs that excel in their efforts, the National CASA Association has nurtured a culture of diversity and inclusiveness in the CASA/GAL network. Article... |
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Grassroots Action Leads Louisville Program to Expand to Five New Counties
Dawn Lee, Executive Director, CASA of Jefferson County, Louisville, KY
SUMMARY - Through the collaborative efforts of community members and judicial leaders, the Louisville CASA program expanded to meet the needs of children in counties that were previously not served by volunteer advocates. Article... |
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Children Benefit When Advocates Collaborate with Family Treatment Courts
SUMMARY - For CASA volunteers, working on family treatment court cases is different—more intense, more collaborative, more time-consuming and, often, more rewarding. Article... |
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CASA for Douglas County and Zero to Three Family Drug Treatment Court
Judge Douglas F. Johnson, President-Elect of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Nancy Wilson, Director of CASA for Douglas County
SUMMARY - CASA volunteers play an important role in a Zero to Three Family Drug Treatment Court’s attempts to break the cycle of generational mental health and substance abuse, prolonged foster placement of their children, and lack of permanency. Article... |
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Working Together to Support Children in Need
Hon. Ernestine Gray, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, New Orleans, LA
President, National CASA Association Board of Trustees
SUMMARY - My involvement with CASA has grown over the years because I believe in what CASA and guardian ad litem volunteers do: serve as the voice of children, making a positive, lasting difference in their lives.
Article... |
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Improving the Mental Health System to Improve Lives
Stephen McCrea, CASA Program Coordinator, CASA for Children, Portland, OR
SUMMARY - A number of barriers—from financial to cultural—make it difficult to obtain appropriate mental health services for children in foster care. CASA volunteers, staff members and supporters can be leaders in advocating for systemic changes that will benefit the children we serve. Article... |
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Miami’s Transitioning Youth Project Helps Youth Succeed
Sonia L. Ferrer, Circuit Director, Guardian Ad Litem Program*—11th Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL
SUMMARY - Miami’s Transitioning Youth Project helps ensure that youth who are leaving the system have the adult relationships, education, housing, jobs and life skills they need to be successful on their own. Article... |
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Children’s Court of Los Angeles County Begins Healing Process for Children
SUMMARY -The Edelman Children’s Court was built from a child’s perspective.
Article... |
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Advocating for America’s Most Vulnerable: CASA Volunteers and Children’s Attorneys Working Together on Behalf of Abused and Neglected Children
Lori Larcom Irwin, JD, Lead Attorney, King County (Seattle) Superior Court CASA Program
Kati Ortiz, BA, Law Student, Seattle University School of Law, January 2009
Summary Introduction by National CASA CEO Michael Piraino
Lori Irwin describes a powerful model of advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children—teaming trained and supervised lay volunteers with lawyers. This is a model used by several National CASA member programs. Even where lawyers and volunteers are not formally part of a team, collaboration among them is most apt to contribute to the child's well-being and protection of the child's legal rights. Article... |
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Implications of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act Legislation
Nancy B. Miller, Director, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ
M. Carmela Welte, Deputy CEO, National CASA
Megan Warren, Training Coordinator, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ
SUMMARY - Provisions of the recently enacted Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act will improve outcomes for many children in the child welfare system. Article... |
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Effective CASA/GAL Programs in the NCJFCJ Victim’s Act Model Courts
Paula Campbell, Assistant Information Specialist, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ
SUMMARY - CASA program participation in NCJFCJ model courts can promote better outcomes for children in the dependency system. Article... |
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New National Performance Measure Resource Guides
Paula Campbell, Assistant Information Specialist, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ
SUMMARY - The Toolkit for Court Performance Measures in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases helps courts establish baseline practices and diagnose what improvements are needed. Article... |
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National CASA 2009 Conference, April 25-28, Denver, CO: More than 70 workshops will help CASA volunteers, program staff, judges and other members of the child welfare community enhance their ability to serve abused and neglected children. |
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The comments of article authors
do not necessarily reflect the policies of the National CASA
Association or the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges.
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Current Issue Printer-Friendly Version |
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March 2009 - The Role of CASA/GAL Programs and Volunteers in Achieving Successful Dependency Court Outcomes (328 KB PDF)
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Newsletter Past Issues |
October 2008 - Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs in Child Protection Cases (245 KB PDF)
July 2008 - The Role of the Dependency Court
in Achieving Timely Permanency (424 KB PDF)
Feb 2008 -
International Issues in Dependency Court Cases (278
KB PDF)
Oct 2007 -
Reasonable Efforts in the Dependency Court
(654 KB PDF)
Aug 2007 -
The Role of
Foster Parents in the Dependency Court issue (191 KB PDF)
Mar 2007 -
Children and Youth Involved in the Court Experience Issue (992
KB PDF)
Oct 2006 -
Court-CASA
Best Practices
Issue (383 KB PDF)
Jun 2006 -
Family Visitation
Issue (357 KB PDF)
Feb 2006 -
Mental Health Issue (263 KB PDF)
Oct 2005 -
Child Development and Parenting Issue (895 KB PDF)
Jun 2005 -
Educational Advocacy Issue (779 KB PDF)
Feb 2005 -
Parental Substance Abuse Issue (812 KB PDF)
Oct 2004 -
Family Violence Issue
(900 KB PDF)
July 2004 -
Foster Care Reform
Issue (187 KB PDF)
Apr 2004 -
Indian Child Welfare
Act Issue (141 KB PDF)
Dec 2003 -
Inaugural Issue
(107 KB PDF)
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