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What is Child Advocates San Antonio? |
| Child Advocates San Antonio recruits, trains and supervises volunteers to speak on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care. CASA is part of a nationwide organization of Court Appointed Special Advocates with 920 chapters in 50 states, and 70,000 volunteers. It was established by the San Antonio Section of the National Council of Jewish Women in 1984. |
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What is a Child Advocate? |
| A Child Advocate is appointed by a judge to be an independent voice in court for an abused or neglected child.
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What is a Child Advocate's role? |
The Advocate provides the judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child?s future. The Advocate must determine if it is in the best interest of the child to live with the parent(s), remain in foster care, or be freed for permanent adoption. The Advocate makes a recommendation about placement to the court, and follows through until the case is permanently resolved. Advocates work closely with, but independent of, Child Protective Services (CPS) and attorneys. The role of the Advocate is:- To be a fact-finder for the judge.
- To speak for the child in court, representing the child's best interest.
- To continue to act as a 'watchdog' for the child during the life of the case, ensuring that the child's needs are met and the case is resolved swiftly and appropriately.
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How does an advocate investigate a case? |
| Advocates talk with the child, parents, family members, caseworkers, school officials, health providers, therapists, and others who are knowledgeable about the child?s history. Advocates review school, medical caseworker reports and other documents regarding the child during the year the child is in foster care. |
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How does an Advocate differ from a Caseworker? |
| CPS caseworkers handle 40 to 60 cases on average and a child advocate has no more than three cases at a time. CPS caseworkers do not have the time to conduct as in-depth an investigation as does the Advocate. Because Advocates are volunteers, frequently they are perceived as less adversarial by the families and can elicit more cooperation and information than the state's caseworkers. This information, along with knowledge of community recourses, allows Advocates to make a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions. |
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How does an Advocate differ from an Attorney? |
| The Advocate does not provide legal representation in the courtroom; that is the role of the attorney. A Child Advocate, however, speaks specifically to what is in the best interest of the child. Advocates provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases. |
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Is there a typical Child Advocate? |
| Child Advocates come from all walks of life, representing a variety of ethnic, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. Approximately two-thirds of our Advocates are employed full-time, some are college students and some are retired. What they have in common is the belief that children deserve a safe and permanent home. Advocates must be at least 21 years of age and pass a background check. They also must have a high school diploma, valid driver's license, and good driving record, proof of automobile insurance, reliable transportation and the ability to be both compassionate and objective. |
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How does an Advocate relate to the child? |
| Child Advocates explain to the child the events that are happening, why they are in foster care, and the roles the judge, attorneys and caseworkers play. Advocates offer the children what no one else can: consistency and continuity in the midst of all the chaos the children are experiencing. In the course of a typical case, the child will experience several foster placements, new schools, caseworker turnover and ONE Advocate. The trust that is built allows the Advocate to encourage the children to express their feelings and to feel safe. All the while the Advocates remain objective observers. |
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How much time does being an Advocate take? |
| Each case is different, of course; but most cases require going to court 2 or 3 times during each six-month period to present a report with recommendations to the judge. More time is spent on a case when it is first assigned, as this is the more intensive fact-finding stage. As the case moves toward resolution, cases require less time - about 12 to 15 hours per month. |
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How do the legal system and child welfare system view CASA? |
| CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice. CASA is described as 'the eyes and ears of the judge', and frequently acts as 'the arm and legs' of an overworked child protective system. |
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Which children are assigned Child Advocates? |
| Children who have been abused and neglected and have become wards of the court are assigned a Child Advocate. Bexar County is unique in that there is a specific court established to hear the Abuse and Neglect Docket exclusively. Our goal is to provide an Advocate to every child who needs one. |
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Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service? |
| No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but Child Advocates San Antonio is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests. |
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Where does CASA receive its financial support? |
| We rely on grants and donations from corporations and individuals. We also receive funding from the United Way and foundations and grants. |
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What training does an Advocate receive? |
| Child Advocates San Antonio conducts numerous training classes a year. The 33-hour course provides Advocates with an overview of courtroom procedure from judges, lawyers and caseworkers. Advocates also are educated about specific topics ranging from symptoms and effects of abuse and neglect to early childhood development and cultural diversity. |
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For more information: |
| Call (210) 225-7070, come by our office at 406 San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas 78212. |
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