CASA for KIDS
Ad litem/Court Appointed Special Advocate (GAL/CASA)

The Kids’ Voice of Indiana CASA For Kids (CFK) Program provides guardian ad litem/court appointed special advocate (GAL/CASA) services for children using trained, supervised, represented community volunteers and pro bono attorneys. The program is appointed to represent and protect the best interest of the children by judicial officers of the Marion Superior Courts, Civil Division and Probate Division and the Marion Circuit Court, Paternity Division. Judicial officers determine whether to appoint the CASA For Kids Program to (GAL/CASA) provide guardian ad litem/court appointed special advocate representation for a child in a specific case. Judicial officers may appoint Kids’ Voice on the motion of a party or on the Court’s own Motion. Appointments are usually made when children are alleged to be at risk due to abuse, neglect, or, endangerment. Staff of Kids’ Voice are responsible for assigning the case to an appropriate volunteer. Counsel for the parties and pro se parties are notified of the assigned volunteer’s name by an Oath and Acceptance which is mailed to them.

The Kids' Voice volunteer is not a professional custody evaluator. The volunteer is a trained GAL/CASA whose role is to represent and protect the best interests of the child pursuant to I.C. 31-9-2-50 (GAL) and I.C. 31-9-2-28 (Court appointed special advocate). Indiana law states that the GAL/CASA shall provide the child with services requested by the court, including researching, examining, advocating, facilitating, or monitoring the child’s situation. The GAL/CASA volunteer usually provides a written report to the court. The report is sent to counsel for the parties or pro se parties. The report must not be shown to the child. The GAL/CASA cannot act as a mediator or parenting time coordinator.

Kids' Voice periodically trains community volunteers for the CFK Program. Volunteers learn about their roles and responsibilities, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence substance abuse, mental health issues, interviewing, report writing, relevant statutes, court procedures, and testifying in court. Indiana law requires that volunteers who are not attorneys complete a training program in order to serve as a GAL/CASA. Attorneys are provided written materials and have the option of attending the training program.

Serving as a GAL/CASA is a valuable way for attorneys to complete their pro bono requirement outlined in Indiana Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1.

After case assignment all GAL/CASA volunteers for Kids’ Voice receive supervision and legal representation by Kids' Voice staff or volunteer attorneys. Contact attorney Clare Deitchman at 558-2870 ext. 333 or cdeitchman@kidsvoicein.org if you are interested in serving as a GAL/CASA in the Kids’ Voice CASA For Kids Program. If you are an attorney, ask Ms. Deitchman about the free Continuing Legal Education Seminar for attorneys who volunteer to serve as GALs/CASAs. If you are a community volunteer, ask Ms. Deitchman about the next community volunteer class.