CASA

Our vision is to work as a team to protect and promote the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in District and Juvenile Court, and to ensure that their voices are heard.
Our Mission is to preserve and strengthen familes whenever possible, and when it is not, to achieve permanency for children in a timely manner. we work collaboratively to meet children's needs for safety, stability, nurturance and love. As public servants, we are respectful and courteous toward those we encounter. Our lawyers strive to represent children with proficiency and diligence. We are accountable, ethical, and professional as individuals and as a system.

Description:
Our duty is "to stand in the shoes of the child and to weigh the factors as the child would weigh them if his judgment were mature and he was not of tender years." -J.W.F. v. Schoolcraft, 763 P.2d 1217, 1222 (Utah Ct. App. 1988).
We accomplish these things through our 5 core actions:

Protect: Ensure the child's safety and well-being and maximize the resources of the childs welfare and court systems;
Investigate: Conduct an independent investigation into the child's situation and needs;
Monitor: Assess whether families and service communities are meeting the needs and best interests of the child, and that services are accomplishing their intended goals;
Report: when appropriate, advise the child of all proceedings and services in their case;
Advocate: Ensure the child's wishes are heard and the best interests of the child are presented to the court and the service communities dealing with the child.

History:
Each year the Office of Guardian ad Litem is appointed in hundreds of new cases which have been filed in the Utah court system, alleging that children have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. These cases involve children who need legal representation before the court and coordinate assistance to make sure their needs are met. On July 1, 1994, Guardian ad Litem Attorneys' began representing abused and neglected children under specific statutory guidelines to ensure representation for each child. It is the court who appoints a Guardian ad Litem in the juvenile court (child welfare proceedings), Guardian ad Litem appointments are mandatory in every case there are allegations of abuse or neglect. In matters involving allegations of child abuse, appointment is mandated once a party requests it, in addition, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem on its own. Because of the great number of children in need of Guardian ad Litem representation, the need has increased for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who are trained volunteers working with Guardian ad Litem attorneys in the juvenile court. The CASA is asked to handle only one case at a time so that intense time may be spent with the child to obtain factual information to assist the GAL to represent the child's best interests. Our advocates spend an average of 8 hours per month on each case that they have been assigned, with some volunteers spending as much as 30 hours in a given month. The GAL and CASA coordinator and advocate coordinate ideas and plans in a viable partnership to ensure that the needs of a child are met in that child's best interest.

Contact people:

Christy Noble, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Alis Ritz, Secretary, (phone), (email)
Blanche Rich, Secretary, (phone), (email)

Office fax number:

Address:

220 North 200 East, Suite 175
St.George, UT 84770
(See a map)

Web Site: http://www.utcourts.gov/specproj/galcasa.htm

Directions:

We are in the Juvenile probations department in the St. George Courthouse. Go thru security and down the stairs.

Last updated on November 6, 2009

Agency Details: