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| Library: Advocacy | |||||
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National CASA Partners with Judges in New Outreach Effort |
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| Document Author: National CASA - Carla Spaccarotelli,
Editor Publication: The Connection, Fall/Winter 03 Posted: 12/03 |
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The
CASA movement was established by a judge and judges continue to play a key
role in supporting CASA/GAL programs and volunteers. Together with the
state CASA/GAL directors and National CASA regional staff, National CASA
depends on the efforts of Judges to start new programs and expand our
ability to help abused and neglected children nationwide. For CASA/GAL
programs to grow and be sustained, the commitment of the local judiciary is
imperative. Spearheaded by Board Member Judge J. Dean Lewis, the National CASA Association Board supports the development of an even closer working relationship with Judges. The NCASAA Board of Directors created the Judicial Liaison Committee which has joined forces with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) in an outreach effort to all Judges who hear child welfare cases. NCJFCJ, an established judicial organization with approximately 2,000 members and National CASA have a long history of collaboration the leadership of both organizations are fully committed to this new partnership. Out of this joint partnership the Judicial Liaison Committee was created. At the initial Judicial Liaison Committee meeting in July 2003, National CASA and the NCJFCJ agreed to launch a national search to identify all Judges who hear child welfare cases. Next steps in outreach include communicating with Judges via a quarterly electronic newsletter published under the banner of the two organizations. Each organization will feature web links to the other and share mailing lists of judicial members. Goals of this new outreach effort include bringing awareness of National CASA’s work on the national, state and local level to Judges and increase the awareness of extensive educational opportunities offered by NCJFCJ that promote “best court practices” in child welfare cases. The two organizations have also partnered to produce the Judges Guide to CASA Program Development which will be published in January, 2004. The Judges Guide will address subjects such as judicial leadership and ethics in starting a CASA/GAL program. National CASA will continue working with NCJFCJ to establish a database of Judges willing to mentor those starting new CASA programs or those rotating into existing CASA programs. Judges will also be available to assist the state CASA/GAL directors and NCASAA regional staff in efforts to “troubleshoot” situations in areas where judicial support for CASA is lacking. The connection with NCASAA will also help ensure that judges interested in starting new CASA programs are linked to NCASAA Program Membership services at the earliest possible time. The committee has produced an “Executive Summary of NCASAA Standards for Judges” which can be found on the Judges' Page Newsletter website. The first electronic newsletter will be published in November 2003. Please visit www.nationalcasa.org/JudgesPage/
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