CASA Terms and Definitions

Advocate
A CASA volunteer who has gone through the 40 hour training program and have been officially sworn in by the Juvenile Court Judge.  

Advocate Supervisor
CASA 13th South staff members who provide support, resouces and case management to CASA volunteers on their cases.

Permanency
Having an understanding of what permanency means is an extremely critical component of planning for children and youth in foster care. CASA volunteers can play a pivotal role in assuring permanency for the children they serve by understanding what permanency offers and what volunteers can do to ensure it.

Permanency provides:

• An enduring family relationship that is safe and meant to last a lifetime.
• The legal rights and social status of full family membership.
• Lifelong connections to extended family, siblings and other significant adults, family history and traditions, race and ethnic heritage, culture, religion and language.

Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
Guardians are adults who are legally responsible for protecting the well-being and interests of their ward, who is usually a minor.  A Guardian ad Litem is a unique type of guardian in a relationship that has been created by a court order only for the duration of a legal action.  Courts appoint these special representatives for infants, minors, and mentally incompetent persons, all of whom generally need help protecting their rights in court.