CASA of the Mid-Shore is a private, non-profit organization created to advocate for every child who is under the protection of the circuit court because of abuse, neglect, abandonment or their parents' inability to safely care for them. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are officers of the court and, as such, are ordered to make assessments and recommendations to the judge regarding the best interest of the child to whom they are appointed. CASAs attempt to identify specific needs of each child for the court, advocate for service provision to meet those needs, and assist in seeking a permanent resolution for each child’s life as quickly and safely as possible. Most importantly, the CASAs get to know the child, and frequently become one of the most consistent adults in the child’s life. Then, the CASAs provide a written report to the court with recommendations as to what is in each child’s best interest. CASA concept was the brainchild of a judge in Seattle, WA, who felt that he wasn't receiving sufficient information about children brought under court protection due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. He recruited community volunteers to act as the eyes and ears of the court. The CASA concept swept the country, becoming a cost efficient and effective community empowerment tool. Our program began serving children in Talbot County in 1990, expanded into Dorchester County in late 2009, and then expanded into Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties in 2014. Our professional staff recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates, whose sole responsibilities are to identify what each child under court protection needs, and to advocate for services to meet those needs. The local Department of Social Services (DSS) is the lead agency that works with children and families who are determined to be at-risk. When it is determined that children are at such risk of maltreatment that they need court protection, DSS asks the court to basically take protective jurisdiction of these children. They are called Children in Need of Assistance, and this is when CASA steps in to provide another set of eyes and ears for each child under court protection. Unlike state social workers who have multiple cases at a time, CASA volunteers typically work with only one child at a time. Consequently they have the time necessary to get to know the child, identify the child's needs, and make recommendations to DSS and to the court regarding services to meet those needs. The ultimate goal is to keep children safe while working toward permanency for each child.
