| The mission of CASA Voices for Children, Inc. is to speak for the best
interest of abused and neglected children in the courts, through trained volunteers, to obtain a safe,
permanent, and nurturing environment. |
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What is a CASA
CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers are ordinary people who care about kids. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. Many work full time. Some are students or retired people. Most CASA volunteers work on one case at a time. No legal expertise is required. |
Volunteering
CASA volunteers are assigned to an abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct thorough research on the background of the case, reviewing documents, interviewing everyone involved, including the child. They make reports to the court, recommending what they believe is the best for the child, providing the judge with information that will help him make an informed decision.
CASA volunteers can be instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services, which the court has ordered -things like substance abuse counseling or special education testing.
During the life of a case, a CASA volunteer monitors the child's situation to make sure he remains safe. CASA volunteers may be the only constant the child knows as she moves through the labyrinth of the child welfare system. |
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Other
Every person, private citizen or professional, in Oklahoma who has a reason to believe that a child under 18 has been abused is mandated by law to report the suspected abuse. Failure to do so is a crime. No person, regardless of their relationship with the child or family, is immune from reported suspected abuse. A person making a report in good faith is immune from both civil and criminal liability.
Important numbers:
State Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-522-3511
Grady County Child Welfare 405-574-7400 |
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