Beginning in 2023, CASA began serving Court Ordered Services (COS) cases, allowing CASA volunteers to advocate for children who remain at home with their parents while the family works through court-ordered services. Rather than entering the picture after a child has been removed, CASA can provide advocacy and support at an earlier point in the process.
COS Cases make up an increasing portion of our caseload. Of new cases we received this year, 54% of children were on COS cases. This growth highlights how important Early Advocacy has become to CASA’s work.
But what exactly is an Early Advocacy case, and how does CASA’s role differ when a child remains at home?
What is an Early Advocacy case?
When the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) finds evidence supporting allegations of abuse or neglect, there are several possible paths forward. In some cases, the concerns are serious enough that a child is removed from their home. In other cases, the court may order the parents to participate in specific services designed to address the issues that brought the family to the attention of the child welfare system.
These services may include family counseling, parenting classes, domestic violence intervention, substance abuse treatment, or other services tailored to the family’s needs. These cases are called Court Ordered Services (COS) cases.
In a COS case, the children remain in their home with their parents while the parents work to complete services and address the concerns identified by DFPS and the court. The goal is to help stabilize the family and create a safe environment without requiring the child to experience trauma by removing them from their home.
Why Early Advocacy?
Across all child welfare cases, the goal is the same: for children to be safe, supported, and able to thrive. CASA of Denton County’s goal at the end of a case is to reunify the child with their parents when it is safe to do so.
Early Advocacy allows CASA to become involved before a child is removed from their home. Rather than advocating for a child after separation has occurred, CASA volunteers can help identify the child’s needs, monitor the family’s progress, and ensure the child’s best interests remain at the center of the process.
For children, this can mean maintaining stability in their home, school, community, and relationships while their parents work to address the concerns that led to court involvement. It also gives families an opportunity to address those concerns before they lead to a more significant disruption in the child’s life. As Casework Supervisor Lara Willner explains, “I have found Early Advocacy, with its focus on family preservation, to be very rewarding. Helping the family address the risk factors and setting them on a positive path forward without CPS in their lives is truly in the best interests of the children involved.”
In this way, Early Advocacy gives CASA volunteers the opportunity to support children while also helping families work toward a safe, stable future together.
What is CASA’s Role & How is it Different?
In Early Advocacy cases, as in all CASA cases, a CASA volunteer is appointed as Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)for the child. They advocate for the best interests of the child and make recommendations to the court. Volunteers build relationships with the child and family, visit the child regularly, and communicate with parents, caseworkers, attorneys, educators, medical providers, and other important members of the child’s support system. CASA volunteers also continue to provide medical, educational, and legal advocacy and monitor whether the child’s needs are being met.
Early Advocacy cases typically last six months or less, making them fast paced and requiring timely, consistent advocacy and support. While the role of the CASA volunteer remains largely the same, there is one important difference between Early Advocacy and traditional removal cases: custody of the child remains with the parents, and they remain responsible for making medical and educational decisions for their child.
For CASA volunteers, this creates an opportunity to support families while they work to address the concerns that brought them to the attention of the court without removing the child from their home.
As the number of Early Advocacy cases continues to grow, so does the need for CASA volunteers who can step in and support children and families during this critical time.
Early Advocacy gives CASA the opportunity to be involved before a child experiences the trauma and disruption of removal, but that does not make the need for advocacy any less important. By engaging with children, parents, and the professionals involved in their cases, CASA volunteers can help ensure families have the support they need and that the child’s safety and well-being remain at the center of every decision.
Every child deserves someone in their corner. Whether a child is living at home with their family or in foster care, CASA of Denton County is committed to making sure their needs are seen, their experiences are understood, and their best interests are represented in court.
