ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTION

 
POSITION: Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
DEPARTMENT: Juvenile Court/Domestic Relations Court
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Reports to CASA Executive Director & Volunteer
 Coordinator
WORK SCHEDULE: 40 hours of pre-service training, 12 hours of 
 on-going yearly training, an approximate 50 hours 
  per case. With approximately 50% of that time being 
  spent with the child/ren, while remaining as advocate 
  until discharged by the courts.
 

Qualifications · Requirements · Specific Duties

POSITION DEFINITION:

The advocate is appointed by the Hancock County Juvenile Court or Domestic Relations Court to represent the best interests of any child who may have been neglected, abused, or abandoned, or is the object of custody battles between individuals, and will provide a recommendation to the Court as to a resolution to the case which serves the best interests of the child.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in children, their rights and special needs with some time to devote to training sessions, investigations, and follow-up.
• Commitment to the program and willingness to follow all program mandates.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing to the Court, program staff, and other persons as needed.
• 21 years of age.
• Submit to background check, criminal records check, fingerprinting and personal reference check and personal interviews.

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REQUIREMENTS:

• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Be aware of deadlines and timetables involving an assigned case and turn in any reports on time to the Court and CASA office.
• Satisfactorily complete 40 hours of pre-service training before accepting any case and working as an active advocate.

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SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Upon assignment of a case, interview:
1. the child or children
2. family members
3. foster family
4. teachers
5. social workers
6. attorneys
7. other interested parties
• Review records or reports involving the children and their circumstances.
• Investigate alternatives available for the child—other relatives, close family friends, godparents, etc.
• Prepare an advocacy plan for the child.
• Prepare written reports with recommendations to the Court before all dispositional or final hearings.
• Appear in Court at all hearings and reviews pertaining to the child, prepared to answer questions or make recommendations where needed. If this is not possible because of work schedule or other unforeseen complications, notify the Volunteer Coordinator.
• Assist in the implementation of any plan prescribed by the Court, whether recommended by the CASA (whether orally or in written form) or not.
• Meet all requirements of the advocacy plan for the child. These may be meetings with program staff, record completion, and documentation.
• Continue contacts with the child, family, and others to monitor progress toward goals prescribed by the Court until discharged of your duties as CASA/GAL by the Court.
• Consult with the CASA office regularly to review the advocacy plan.
• Follow any course deemed necessary to represent the best interests of the child to the Court by legal motion or written report.

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Yes! I would like to become an Advocate and I meet the necessary requirements. 
Please take the time to fill out our application, or you may contact us via e-mail, phone, or fax for more information. Thank You!

No, I do not have the time or meet the necessary requirements to become an Advocate, but would like to donate money!