YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• CASA/GAL VOLUNTEERS ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING
  EXTRAORDINARY WORK FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED
  CHILDREN. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR
  LIVES!

2
BE THE DIFFERENCE

• 725 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2000
• 846 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2001
• 902 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2002
• 1,044 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2003
• 1,171 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2004
• 1,247 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2005
• 1,613 CHILDREN SERVED IN 2006

3
CASA/GAL

• COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE
• ad-vo-cate n 1. one that pleads the cause
  of another one that pleads the cause of another
  before a tribunal or judicial court.
• 2. one that defends or maintains a cause or
  proposal.
• GUARDIAN AD LITEM
• From Latin meaning guardian at law, for the
  suit or for the court case. The person
  appointed by the court to look out for the best
  interest of the child during the course of legal
  proceedings.
• It is an old concept in Anglo Saxon times,
  at common law, the king appointed a guardian ad
  litem to speak on behalf of a child or
  incompetent person.

4
MISSION STATEMENT

• TO PROVIDE EVERY CHILD WHO ENTERS THE COURT
  SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE,
  NEGLECT OR DEPENDENCY WITH A TRAINED COMMUNITY
  VOLUNTEER TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT IS IN THE CHILDS
  BEST INTEREST

5
BEST INTEREST
A SAFE HOME
A PERMANENT HOME
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
6
ROLE OF THE CASA/GAL VOLUNTEER

• ? INVESTIGATE
• ? FACILITATE
• ? ADVOCATE
• ? MONITOR