CASA: A Child's Voice in Court
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Authors
Adams, Laurie K.
Issue Date
1996
Type
Journal Article
Language
Keywords
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION|Nearly 450,000 children are abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families each year. These children cannot speak for themselves in court. Instead, their voice is presented through their case worker, their guardian ad litem, and/or their CASA volunteer. Attorneys and judges across Nebraska are well aware that case workers and attorneys are burdened with unimaginable workloads. Many Nebraska attorneys and caseworkers must travel great distances and expend substantial amounts of time just to make contact with the child. Because the CASA is a volunteer, the CASA receives no financial reimbursement for time or mileage, or other related expense, and is a true savings to the court system, the county, and the state. The CASA provides factual information that might take months or years for an attorney or case worker to bring to the court's attention. The CASA encourages speedy resolution of the case by moving it more quickly through the maze of foster care and thus reduces the amount of time under the court's jurisdiction. A CASA offers citizens, who normally have no contact with abused or neglected children, a unique opportunity to help these children become productive, stable members of society...
Description
Citation
29 Creighton L. Rev. 1467 (1995-1996)
Publisher
Creighton University School of Law