FAQ

What Can You Do?
Should I Become a CASA?

What Can You Do?

You can help children in the Sacramento Juvenile Dependency System by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate and speaking up for them in court. Advocates must be 21 years or older, and possess a valid California drivers license and insurance (if planning to transport a child by car). They need to have the ability to work with a child, family members and professionals using concern, tact, and basic human relations skills. Advocates can not be currently providing services to children in the foster care/dependency system.

An Advocate must have the ability:

• To communicate clearly both verbally and in writing to the court and others as needed. The ability to speak another language is desirable, but not necessary.
• To respect and relate to people from various economic, cultural and educational backgrounds in a variety of settings.
• To gather and accurately record factual information regarding the child's case and to maintain OBJECTIVITY at all times.

Advocates must attend training including:

• A one hour orientation
• Criminal history clearance
• An interview process
• A one hour orientation

30-35 hours of in-classroom training covering:

• A Juvenile Dependency Court observation
• Advocacy and the Law
• Awareness
• Court Process/Monthly and Court Reports
• Sexual Abuse and the Developing Child
• Learning/Behavior Disorders
• Substance Abuse
• The Social Worker's Role
• Cultural Awareness
• The Role of the Attorney
• Mock Case Assignment
• Survival as an Advocate

Time Commitment - Minimum of one year:

We ask that Advocates commit one year to the program and the child(ren) they serve. They can spend anywhere from three months to 2 years on a case, depending on the circumstances. Advocates need to be consistent and committed to maintaining a confidential, caring and professional relationship with all parties involved with the case.

Diversification and Policy:

In order for Sacramento CASA to represent the best interests of children in the juvenile court proceedings, Advocates must be cognizant of, and sensitive to, the child's frame of reference, including his/her heritage, culture, ethnicity, religion, family structure and/or disability. Advocates must also be able to communicate sensitively with the child's needs to the court. Because we live in a multicultural society, Sacramento CASA must be multicultural. Therefore, the Sacramento CASA Program will strive to achieve an advocate base that reflects the diversity of the children in the judicial and county welfare systems as well as in the Sacramento community. Advocate services will be made accessible to all individuals regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic situation, or disability. Cultural awareness and competency will be an integral component of all training for board members, staff and advocates. The SCASA Program will strive to achieve as wide a diversity as possible in its board and staff composition, activities and publications.

Should I Become a CASA?

Do I genuinely like children? Do I like child-centered or adolescent-type activities? Do I like to learn new things and do I have a sense of humor? Do I have my own friends, or am I hoping a child will be a companion to me? Do I really, honestly have 15-25 hours per month to devote to a child, and one year to the SCASA program? Can I be flexible, dependable, nonjudgmental, and counted on to do what I've said I will do? Can I befriend a child and his/her family who are different from me socially and culturally? Is becoming a CASA something I've discussed with others?

Persons Excluded From Being Accepted As A CASA:

1. Arrest and/or convictions of the following crimes:
• Crimes against a child
• Violent Felonies
• Sex Crimes
Automatic Exclusion (regardless of time frame) unless applicant can produce a "Finding of Factual Innocence," as described in Penal Code Section 851.8
2. Undergoing prosecution at the time of application. With the exception of vehicle code infractions.
3. Convicted of a crime within the last five years. With the exception of vehicle code infractions.
4. Motor Vehicle Code violations (using DMV point system):
• Drivers with any 2 point violation on their current record: and/or
• Drivers with a total of 3 point violations on their current records.
• Infractions do not include vehicle code misdemeanors and felonies.
5. Acts punishable as a crime, arrests and/or conviction other than specified above.
6. CPS involvement in family:
• Parent or child who is or has been an adjudicated dependent or has been placed under informal supervision of any county's children's society social services agency.
• Spouse of significant other of a parent of a child who has been an adjudicated dependent or has been placed under informal supervision of any county's children's social services agency.
• Adult whose acts have been responsible for a child being placed under informal supervision of any county's children's social services agency.
7. Liability to meet the qualifications listed in the Volunteer Job Description as follows:
• At least twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Ability to keep all client and court information confidential.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to respect and relate to people from various backgrounds and lifestyles in a variety of settings.
• Ability to transport self to a variety of locations.
• Ability to deal with hostility, anger, and other emotional attitudes.
• Ability to maintain objectivity.
• Ability to gather and accurately gather and record factual information.
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgement and character.
• A basic understanding of family relationships.
• Ability to work independently as required, as well as the ability to accept supervision and direction as needed.
8. Persons paid or reimbursed to perform a role providing services to children and/or their parents within the child welfare and/or juvenile court system.
Note: Some of the above requirements can be waived at the discretion of the Executive Director of SCASA

The SCASA Program staff may or may not exclude applicants after consideration of factors including but not limited to the following as evidence of goon character and rehabilitation:

• The nature of the crime.
• Period of time since the crime was committed and number of offenses.
• Circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime that would demonstrate the unlikelihood of repetition.
• Activities since conviction, including employment or participation in therapy or education, that would indicate changed behavior.
• Granting by the Governor of full and unconditional pardon.
• Character references.
• A certificate of rehabilitation from a superior court.