Evaluation

CASA Effectiveness Manual

This section provides sample surveys for CASA programs. Sample cover letters to be mailed with the surveys are also included. The surveys are short and simple so they should only take a few minutes to complete. Part 5 of this manual provides instructions for using the surveys in reports.

• State in the cover letter the desired return date.
• Include in the cover letter a statement regarding confidentiality.
• Include self addressed stamped envelopes.
• When surveying agencies consider using colored paper for different audiences.
• Follow-up mailed surveys with a postcard reminding of return date.
• Expect a return rate of about 30%.
• Results should be coded such that:
  4=strongly agree 3=agree 2=disagree 1=strongly disagree
• Calculate mean/average scores to questions and percentage answering each response.

Purpose: To obtain feedback about the experiences of CASA volunteers.

To help identify training and supervisory needs and improve volunteer satisfaction and effectiveness.

Send to: Active CASA Volunteers.

Frequency: Annual.

Instructions: Send to home address of Active CASA Volunteers with self addressed stamped envelope. Individual CASA programs may also want to survey past CASA Volunteers for feedback.

Purpose: To obtain feedback from agencies and individuals regarding their perceptions of the performance and effectiveness of the CASA program.

Send to: Collaborative agency personnel such as: court judges, attorneys, GALs, child welfare workers, school personnel, therapists, etc.

Frequency: Annual.

Instructions: CASA programs will need to compile a list of names and addresses of collaborative agencies and personnel with whom CASA Volunteers have contact. Individual CASA programs may also want to survey other groups or agencies in the community to gain knowledge about community awareness and understanding of CASA programs.

Purpose: To solicit ideas and feedback from children being served by the CASA program.

Send to: Past and present children involved with the CASA program.

Frequency: Annual.

Instructions: Individual CASA programs may want to modify the child survey to make it age appropriate for different age levels of children.

The survey questions could also be used as interview questions. Surveys should be mailed to the parents with a cover letter to the parents/foster parents/staff.

Purpose: To solicit feedback from parents, relatives, and foster parents about the CASA program and how to better serve children.

Send to: Biological parents, relatives, foster parents.

Frequency: Annual.

Instructions: Particularly important to send to placement that is considered the permanent placement plan for the child.

{Date}

{Name}
{Address} {
City}, {State} {Zip}

Dear {First Name}:

The Court Appointed Special Advocates of {blank} is evaluating the services we provide to children and their families. Part of this process involves surveying those who work with CASA in serving the community as well as CASA volunteers.

Because you are currently involved in a case and serving a child as a CASA volunteer, we ask you to take a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey.

Please be assured that your answers are confidential. Do not include your name on the survey.

We know how busy you are, but we ask for your help so that we can assist you (and the children and families we serve) in the best possible way. Please complete the survey and return it by {date}. You may receive a reminder postcard or phone call prior to the due date in order to maximize our response.

If you have any questions about the survey or CASA’s evaluation process, please call us at {phone number}. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

{name}

Enc.

The statements below describe reactions CASA volunteers may have about their experiences as a CASA. For each statement, circle the response which best describes your feelings about the statement.

How long have you been a CASA? _______

Please explain any areas of concern you have.

Please describe additional training you might find helpful.

Please describe how your supervisor and the CASA office could be more helpful to you.

What has been most difficult for you as a CASA?

What have you found most rewarding/helpful?

{Date}

{Name}
{Address}
{City}, {State} {Zip}

Dear {First Name}:

The Court Appointed Special Advocates of {area} is evaluating the services we provide to children and their families in {area}. Part of this process involves surveying those who work with CASA in serving the community.

Because you have either worked with CASA in the past, are currently involved in a case in which a CASA volunteer is involved, or you are familiar with the CASA Program, we ask you to take a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey. Please be assured that your answers are confidential.

We know how busy you are, but we ask for your help so that we can assist you (and the children and families we serve) in the best possible way. Please complete the survey and return it by {date}. You may receive a reminder postcard or phone call prior to the due date in order to maximize our response.

If you have any questions about the survey or CASA’s evaluation process, please call us at {phone number}. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

{name}

Enc.

As concerned members of the community and representatives for children who have been abused or neglected, we want to know how you think we are doing. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions about the CASA program.

Please evaluate the CASA program in general and not a specific volunteer. The results will provide feedback to us to help improve our program.

Please circle the response that best describes your experience.

Please indicate your role/job.

o Judge
o Attorney
o Mental Health agency
o Child Welfare Worker
o Therapist
o Group Home Staff
o School Personnel
o Other __________________

Do you think you have a clear understanding of the role of a CASA volunteer? o yes o no

Have you worked with a CASA volunteer? o yes o no

In what ways could CASA Volunteers better serve children?

In what ways could CASA Volunteers work better with you?

Please describe a situation in which the CASA was very helpful?

{Date}

{Name}
{Address}
{City}, {State} {Zip}

Dear Parent:

We have appreciated the opportunity to work with you and your child(ren) through the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. We hope we have been helpful to you and to your child(ren).

We are taking some steps to try to make the CASA program as good as it can possibly be. One of these steps is to survey those who are involved with the program and to follow-up with children after they leave the program to see if CASA has been helpful on a long-term basis.

With your permission, we would like to interview/survey your child(ren) about how the CASA volunteer has worked with them. The interview questions ask how often the volunteer talked with your child, what they talked about, and what the child liked about his or her CASA.

Participating in this process is voluntary, and will not pose any kind of risk to your child(ren). In all cases, privacy and confidentiality will be strictly guarded. The only exception is that, as a mandated reporter, CASA staff would be required to report any signs of abuse or neglect. This information that we get from the interview will be used to help us determine whether the CASA program is having a long-term, positive effect on those who participate.

If you have any questions or concerns about the survey or follow-up evaluation, please call {name} at {phone number}. She will be happy to give you additional information about this important project. Please complete the information form below, and thank you for your help.

My child(ren), ______________________________ has (have) permission to:

(child’s/children’s names)

participate in the CASA program evaluation.

Signed: ______________________________ Date: _________________________ (your signature)

We would like for you to answer the following questions about your CASA volunteer.

It will help us understand if the CASA program is helpful to you. You do not have to put your name on this form.

Circle the answer you think is best. Your Age ______

What I like most about my CASA is 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

What I don’t like about having a CASA is 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

The one thing I would like for my CASA to do is 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

(Please write anything else you would like to say here)

Please use these questions when interviewing children who have a CASA volunteer.

1. Have you talked with your CASA about your family?

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

2. Does your CASA talk with you about once a month? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

3. Has your CASA talked with you about where you live? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

4. Has your CASA talked with you about where you want to live? __________________________

______________________________________________________________________

5. Does your CASA know how you are doing at school? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

6. Does your CASA talk with other people who are important to you? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

7. Is your CASA helpful? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

8. Has your CASA explained to you what will happen in court? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

9. Does your CASA speak up for you in court? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

10. Did your CASA tell you what happened in court? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

11. Do you think your CASA likes you? 

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

12. What do you like most about your CASA? ______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

13. What don’t you like about having a CASA?

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

14. If there was one thing you would really like for your CASA to do that he or she does not do already, what would that be? ______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

15. Is there anything special about your CASA that you would like to say?

______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________

(from CASA of St. Louis County Program)

{Date}

{Title} {Bio_Mother_First_Name} {Bio_Mother_Last_Name}
{Bio_Mother_address}
{Bio_Mother_city_state}, {Bio_Mother_zip}

Dear {Title} {Bio_Mother_Last_Name}:

Court Appointed Special Advocates of {area} is evaluating the services we provide to children and their families.

Because your children are currently being served by a CASA volunteer, we ask you to take a few minutes to complete the enclosed survey. Please be assured that your answers are confidential.

We know you are busy, but we ask for your help so that we can assist you and your family in the best possible way. Please complete the survey and return it by {date}. You may receive a reminder postcard or phone call prior to the due date in order to maximize our response.

If you have any questions about the survey or CASA’s evaluation process, please call us at {phone number}. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

{name}

Enc.

We want to know how you think we are doing. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions about the CASA program. The results will provide useful feedback to us as we work to improve our program. Please do not include you name (unless you want to), so you can feel free to answer honestly.

(Please circle your response to the following statements)

What is your relationship to the child(ren):

o Biological Parent

o Relative

o Foster Parent

o Adoptive Parent

o Other ___________________

How long has your family been involved with the court system _______

Is the permanent case plan for your child to return home? o yes o no

Do you think you have a clear understanding of the role of a CASA volunteer? o yes o no

Have you worked directly with a CASA volunteer? o yes o no

In what ways could the CASA better serve the children?

In what ways could CASA Volunteers work better with you?

Please give an example of something the CASA did that you found helpful.