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Speak Up! - View Question #108 |
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Question: Is there any organization that protects the children and their rights when a judge makes an order re: their well-being?
Answer: Yes, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program helps protect abandoned, abused, and neglected children. Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained volunteers who donate their time to help the court system determine what is best for children who have come under the court's care.
History of law that lead to CASA
The U.S. Congress enacted The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in 1974, which provided financial assistance to states for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The legislation included a requirement that abused and neglected children's best interests needed to be represented in court. CASA was founded as a result of this law and now trains and coordinates community volunteers and individuals representing a child's best interests for the life of a child's case.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Victims of Child Abuse Act. which allocated federal funds to start and expand CASA programs.
National CASA is on the Web:
http://www.nationalcasa.org/
Arizona CASA on the Web: http://www.supreme.state.az.us/casa/main.htm
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