The newsletter of The Judges' Page website - March 2009

The Role of CASA/GAL Programs and Volunteers in Achieving Successful Dependency Court Outcomes
J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired)
Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Directors
Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

SUMMARY - This issue of The Judges’ Page newsletter is dedicated to sharing the extraordinary achievements and replicable best practices of CASA and guardian ad litem programs across the nation. Article...

The Role and Responsibilities of the CASA/GAL Volunteer: What Do Judges Think?
J. Dean Lewis, Judge (retired)
Former Member, National CASA Association Board of Directors
Past President, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

SUMMARY - Judges from CASA programs across the country share what they find to be most valuable about the role and responsibilities of the CASA/GAL volunteer and how that role affects the outcome in dependency court cases. Article...

Commitment to Diversity Builds Stronger CASA/GAL Programs
Sally Wilson Erny, Chief Program Officer, National CASA Association

SUMMARY - By creating and emphasizing adherence to program standards, providing innovative and comprehensive trainings, and rewarding programs that excel in their efforts, the National CASA Association has nurtured a culture of diversity and inclusiveness in the CASA/GAL network. Article...

Grassroots Action Leads Louisville Program to Expand to Five New Counties
Dawn Lee, Executive Director, CASA of Jefferson County, Louisville, KY

SUMMARY - Through the collaborative efforts of community members and judicial leaders, the Louisville CASA program expanded to meet the needs of children in counties that were previously not served by volunteer advocates. Article...

Children Benefit When Advocates Collaborate with Family Treatment Courts

SUMMARY - For CASA volunteers, working on family treatment court cases is different—more intense, more collaborative, more time-consuming and, often, more rewarding. Article...

CASA for Douglas County and Zero to Three Family Drug Treatment Court
Judge Douglas F. Johnson, President-Elect of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Nancy Wilson, Director of CASA for Douglas County

SUMMARY - CASA volunteers play an important role in a Zero to Three Family Drug Treatment Court’s attempts to break the cycle of generational mental health and substance abuse, prolonged foster placement of their children, and lack of permanency. Article...

Working Together to Support Children in Need
Hon. Ernestine Gray, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court, New Orleans, LA
President, National CASA Association Board of Trustees

SUMMARY - My involvement with CASA has grown over the years because I believe in what CASA and guardian ad litem volunteers do: serve as the voice of children, making a positive, lasting difference in their lives. Article...

Improving the Mental Health System to Improve Lives
Stephen McCrea, CASA Program Coordinator, CASA for Children, Portland, OR

SUMMARY - A number of barriers—from financial to cultural—make it difficult to obtain appropriate mental health services for children in foster care. CASA volunteers, staff members and supporters can be leaders in advocating for systemic changes that will benefit the children we serve. Article...

Miami’s Transitioning Youth Project Helps Youth Succeed
Sonia L. Ferrer, Circuit Director, Guardian Ad Litem Program*—11th Judicial Circuit, Miami, FL

SUMMARY - Miami’s Transitioning Youth Project helps ensure that youth who are leaving the system have the adult relationships, education, housing, jobs and life skills they need to be successful on their own. Article...

Children’s Court of Los Angeles County Begins Healing Process for Children

SUMMARY -The Edelman Children’s Court was built from a child’s perspective. Article...

Advocating for America’s Most Vulnerable: CASA Volunteers and Children’s Attorneys Working Together on Behalf of Abused and Neglected Children
Lori Larcom Irwin, JD, Lead Attorney, King County (Seattle) Superior Court CASA Program
Kati Ortiz, BA, Law Student, Seattle University School of Law, January 2009

Summary Introduction by National CASA CEO Michael Piraino
Lori Irwin describes a powerful model of advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children—teaming trained and supervised lay volunteers with lawyers. This is a model used by several National CASA member programs. Even where lawyers and volunteers are not formally part of a team, collaboration among them is most apt to contribute to the child's well-being and protection of the child's legal rights. Article...

Implications of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act Legislation
Nancy B. Miller, Director, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ
M. Carmela Welte, Deputy CEO, National CASA
Megan Warren, Training Coordinator, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ

SUMMARY - Provisions of the recently enacted Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act will improve outcomes for many children in the child welfare system. Article...

Effective CASA/GAL Programs in the NCJFCJ Victim’s Act Model Courts
Paula Campbell, Assistant Information Specialist, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ

SUMMARY - CASA program participation in NCJFCJ model courts can promote better outcomes for children in the dependency system. Article...

New National Performance Measure Resource Guides
Paula Campbell, Assistant Information Specialist, Permanency Planning for Children Department, NCJFCJ

SUMMARY - The Toolkit for Court Performance Measures in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases helps courts establish baseline practices and diagnose what improvements are needed. Article...

National CASA 2009 Conference, April 25-28, Denver, CO: More than 70 workshops will help CASA volunteers, program staff, judges and other members of the child welfare community enhance their ability to serve abused and neglected children.