When children can no longer stay safely in their homes because of parental abuse and/or neglect, Child Welfare Services and the Juvenile Court begin the careful and complex process of determining where and with whom the child will live, and whether the child can eventually be safely returned to his or her parent(s). In addition to having a social worker, an attorney, and often a therapist, nearly every child who enters the court system is assigned a CASA, a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
CASAs are community volunteers who are screened, trained, and fully supported by Child Advocates of Nevada County. In a busy child welfare system, the role of the CASA is to focus on a single child or sibling group, get to know the child and the situation through frequent visits, understand the child’s needs, and for the duration of the court case, advocate in the court and the community for what is in the child’s best interest. A CASA promotes the child’s well-being and brings support and care to the child during the long and sometimes confusing court process.
After acceptance to the program, CASAs undergo a thorough background check and attend a 35-hour training to prepare for their assignment. A CASA can expect to stay involved in his/her assigned child’s life and court case for 12-18 months or longer.
CASAs also have the option of working with a teen involved in the juvenile justice system who is on probation and in need of guidance and support. Another option is the One 2 One Youth Mentoring program, newly established for middle school and teenagers who are not in the court system but who are at risk of entering it. After completing CASA training, a One 2 One mentor will spend time with an assigned youth, facilitate resources, and help guide the youth onto a more positive path without the requirements of attendance at court hearings and court reports.
Those interested in applying to the program can visit ConsiderCASA.com; email melinda@caofnc.org or call 530-265-9550 ext. 222. Classes start at the end of August.
Child Advocates was established in 1993 to oversee the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Nevada County program. The agency received its 501©3 designation in 1994. In 1996, the Board of Directors expanded its mission to include prevention services in addition to advocacy for children in Dependency Court. The agency name was changed to Child Advocates of Nevada County and three abuse prevention programs were added; Child Safety Puppeteers (1996 and it’s complementary anti-bullying program Steps to Respect 2010), Foothill Healthy Babies (1998 and expanded to Foothills Truckee Healthy Babies 2011), and Welcome Baby (2010). Child Advocates of Nevada County serves a rural community with a population of just under 100,000 residents. The agency is governed by a board of directors and currently has 18 staff members, 3 programs, and 3 office locations. We serve families in both eastern and western Nevada County and have changed the lives of more than 10,000 children to date.