Supreme Court's Administrative Office of the Courts, Division of Dependent Children's Services

This report addresses the Court Appointed Special Advocate, Parent Assistance, and Confidential Intermediary Programs. Specifically, the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) needs to recruit more volunteers since only 18 percent of the dependent children statewide are currently assigned a CASA. (CASAs advocate for the best interests of abused or neglected children involved in dependency proceedings). In addition, the Division should improve its administration of CASA Program funding. Further, the Parent Assistance Program, which provides a telephone hotline for parents involved with the Child Protective Services' process, is costly and duplicative, and should either be provided by CPS or contracted out to a private provider. In addition, although the confidential Intermediary Program provides a useful service, low demand for it suggests the need to reduce staff dedicated to this area.