Resolution in Support of the Creation and Expansion of CASA/GAL Programs

WHEREAS, since the founding of the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) in 1977 by a Juvenile Court Judge, judges across the country have found that trained volunteers acting under the supervision of professional staff have the dedication, time and energy to well serve the courts and the children under court protection.

CASA/GAL volunteers assist the court in many ways by

• making independent investigations of the particular needs of each individual child; and
• seeking out available resources to address the individual needs for each child, both while the child’s case is before the court and for his longer term need of a safe and permanent home; and
• submitting well-reasoned and researched reports containing valuable information and recommendations to the court for its consideration; and
• befriending the child and providing a consistent support throughout the often extended period of court jurisdiction; and
• saving substantial funds for the taxpayers by providing at little cost a valuable service for the child and one that is more and more being required by appellate courts and legislatures.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in convention assembled endorses the concept of Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardian ad Litem programs and strongly urges all judges serving in our nation’s juvenile and family courts to consider assisting in the creation and expansion of CASA/GAL programs and utilizing CASA/GAL volunteers in cases involving abused and neglected children.

Adopted this 20th day of July 2005
By the Membership Assembled in Conference
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania