Rule 8 - CASA Provisions. (Court Appointed Special Advocates Program) A. General Requirements. The local Court Appointed Special Advocates Program serving the judicial district where the Juvenile Court is located may provide volunteers to serve without compensation as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) at the order of the Juvenile Court. The local Court Appointed Special Advocates Program must have completed the required standards for current members in good standing with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association. The local Court Appointed Special Advocates Program shall designate the individual CASA volunteer for assignment to a case. B. Qualifications of Court Appointed Special Advocates. The CASA must have successfully completed the screening and training as required by the local Court Appointed Special Advocate Program and mandated by the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association. All CASAs are subject to the direction of their local Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. C. Appointment. The Juvenile Court may appoint a CASA to serve the best interests of a child in abuse or neglect actions. All CASAs must be sworn in by the Juvenile Court before beginning their duties. The CASA serves at the pleasure of the court. The CASA volunteer shall not act as the legal representative or attorney guardian ad litem of any child in any appointed case. The CASA serves a role that is separate from the role of the attorney guardian ad litem although it is the expectation of the court that the attorney guardian ad litem and the CASA would collaborate and cooperate in the best interests of the child. The CASA serves until the case is concluded or the court enters an order for removal. D. Duties of Court Appointed Special Advocates. The Court Appointed Special Advocate shall: 1. Serve the best interests of the child in abuse proceeding, neglect proceeding or both; 2. Provide independent, factual information including, but not limited to, a written report to each party regarding the cases to which the CASA is appointed; 3. Submit a written report to the parties at least five (5) business days prior to each dispositional or other post-adjudicatory hearing involving the child/children; 4. Be allowed to observe all depositions, pretrial conferences, and hearings; 5. Upon appointment, have access to review and make copies of all Department of Family Services records regarding the child and his or her family with the consent of the guardian ad litem; have access to review and make copies of the court file in the judicial district court where the action is pending; and have access to review and receive copies of other records as allowed and ordered by the court; 6. Receive reasonable notice from the Department of Family Services of changes in placement, school, or any other change of circumstances affecting the child; 7. Monitor cases to which they are appointed to assist in assuring that the terms of the court's orders are fulfilled and timely permanency for the child is achieved; and 8. Ascertain the wishes of the child and assist in making the wishes known to the parties. Adopted February 9, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.