How CASA Works with the Department of Child (DCS) Services, Family Case Managers (FCMs), Providers, and Judges
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
When a child enters the court system due to abuse or neglect, their world changes. A team of professionals steps in to protect the child and ensure that their needs are being met.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) play a unique and powerful role in that team. At CASA of Kosciusko County, we work closely with social workers, attorneys, and judges to make sure every child has a voice in court and receives the care they deserve.
Partnering With DCS Family Case Managers
DCS FCMs gather critical information about a child’s home life, family dynamics, and overall well-being. They coordinate services, monitor progress, and ensure the family follows court-ordered plans. CASA volunteers support this work by offering an additional layer of insight and advocacy.
While the DCS FCM has policies and procedures they must follow, a CASA volunteer only acts in and looks out for the child’s safety and best interests.
Our advocates visit the child regularly, often more frequently than other professionals. They speak with teachers, foster parents, family members, and therapists to get a full picture of the child’s needs.
Then, they share that information with the DCS FCM and make recommendations that reflect what is truly in the child’s best interest. By working together, CASA and social workers can strengthen support for each child and improve outcomes.
Collaborating With Providers
When a child is removed from their home of origin for abuse and neglect, they not only have some trauma, but often, not all of their needs are being met. When the children are in the child welfare system, the DCS FCM makes referrals to “providers” to help the children get the services they need.
The providers might be a mental health counselor to help the child through their trauma or a dentist for a child who needs dental care. A provider can be a professional who offers the child speech or other occupational therapies needed.
These providers become members of the child’s team who work together to make sure the child is safe and their needs are being addressed. Our advocates remain focused on the child’s safety and long-term well-being.
CASA volunteers communicate regularly with providers to get updates and concerns, so they can best advocate for the child. They submit written court reports that outline the child’s current situation and recommend actions the court should take.
Communicating With Judges
Judges rely on clear, objective information to make life-changing decisions for children and families. CASA gives judges an independent perspective rooted in consistent, personal contact with the child. The CASA volunteer is the child’s voice in Court.
These volunteers advocate for services the child may need, as well as services the family may need to be safer and healthier. Ultimately, CASA volunteers work diligently to help these children find a safe, permanent home where they can thrive; that may be back with their parents, with relatives or kinship, or through adoption.
At each court hearing, CASA presents written recommendations and speaks in court. Judges often ask for the CASA volunteer’s input because they know the advocate has spent time with the child and gathered first-hand information.
This trusted relationship allows CASA to influence decisions related to placement, services, education, and permanency.
Building A Stronger Team For Kids
When CASA volunteers, DCS Family Case Managers, service providers, and judges work together, children experience better outcomes. Each person brings a unique skill set and perspective, and CASA fills an important gap. We give children a steady voice and a consistent presence in an uncertain time.
At CASA of Kosciusko County, we believe every child deserves a champion. By staying involved from the beginning of the case until the end, our advocates help children find safety, stability, and hope.
If you want to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer or supporting our mission, we invite you to reach out today. Together, we can make a difference, one child at a time.
