Activities for CASAs and Children

IMPORTANT UPDATE

The COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on our community — including the children we serve, our volunteers, and our staff — is of great concern to us at Voices for Children. All CASAs should have received an email from our President & CEO, Kelly Douglas, on March 12 with details on how to best conduct your role as a CASA during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your advocacy supervisor.

Key recommendations as of March 12, 2020:

• Moving forward, please refrain from in-person CASA-related meetings or visits, including with your case children. Please take extra care during this time to explain to your case children why you aren't able to meet. Consider finding other creative ways to maintain your connection.
• Prioritize good communication with those on your case, especially your case children. Get creative with technology - phone, FaceTime, Skype - to maintain your connection or attend meetings if relevant. As always, stay in contact with your advocacy supervisor on any case issues.
• To the best of your ability, it is important for the well-being of our children that you continue to complete your court reports and submit them to reports@speakupnow.org with your advocacy supervisor cc'd.
• Beginning Monday, March 16, the majority of Voices for Children staff will be working remotely. You will still be able to reach your advocacy supervisor via email and their same phone number, so don't hesitate to reach out to them with any questions. In addition, we ask that CASAs refrain from visiting the VFC office until further notice.
• Since we have encouraged our staff to not work and take care of themselves if they are sick, please be aware that you may be directed to or contacted by other members of our team if your advocacy supervisor is unavailable. Each and every member of our team is highly qualified and will gladly support you.
• If you have a case child over the age of 10 who has an upcoming hearing, there may be an opportunity for them to attend the hearing by phone. You can help make this possible by notifying the minor's attorney if your child is interested in participating in this way.

Our team is happy to assist you with ideas and recommendations for how to maintain a connection with your case child and others involved in their case during this time. Please reach out to your advocacy supervisor if you would like help with ideas or if you have an idea and want to confirm that if follows our policies.