Minimum Recommendations for Annual Data Collection

CASA programs should keep complete case assignment records; up-to-date calendar of court hearings; monthly case log system; and copies of all volunteer reports and correspondence concerning the case, including notes from phone or in-person consultations.  Case files should be returned to the CASA or GAL program when the volunteer is discharged.

CASA programs should regularly collect and maintain accurate, thorough program data, and compile data on at least an annual basis.  This should, at a minimum, include:

Information on Children:

• Demographic information, including age, ethnicity, gender;

• Total number of children served;

• Number of new (not previously served by the program) children served;

• Number of children whose cases were closed (dismissed by the court);

Information on Volunteers:

• Demographic information, including age, gender, ethnicity, employment status, education;

• Status of volunteers (i.e. number assigned to cases, number inactive, number waiting for a case, etc.);

• Number of volunteer hours contributed;

• Total length of time volunteer is assigned to a child;

Other Information:

• Breakdown of types of cases (i.e. sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, etc.);

• Number of children in the court's jurisdiction that needed a CASA volunteer versus those who were assigned a volunteer;

• Source of program referrals (if multi-referral program);

• Case outcomes

• Programs may choose to maintain additional information to assist in supervision and case management.

Comet Software can help your CASA program track and use this information.  Using Comet has many benefits, for example if your funder wants information about the number of CASA or GAL volunteers and the number of open and closed cases, you can quickly generate and print a report with that exact information.  Best of all it is free and includes free technical support and training by National CASA!