Clark County Juvenile Court CASA/GAL Program

______County Juvenile Court CASA/GAL Program Strategic Plan

I. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: Goal is to assure adequate numbers of volunteers are recruited and trained. Volunteers provide advocacy and contribute to the mission of the CASA/GAL Program.

A. CASA will implement and maintain an ongoing recruitment plan with special focus on selecting volunteers that are able to make a two year commitment.

1. Projected number of CASA volunteers to be recruited, screened, and trained during program year is ___. Projected number of children to be served during the year is ___. 2. Recruitment will be on-going with training scheduled in October and April.

a. Mail recruitment letters and flyers to churches and civic groups. Request in August and January information be placed in church bulletins. b. Ask every current CASA volunteer to recruit one person they know. c. Post CASA information in libraries and businesses. d. Hold information meeting in August and January. e. Submit press release to local newspapers regarding recruitment and informational meetings. f. Prepare recruitment packets that include application, job description, informational flyer and releases of information.

3. Schedule and host cross training with other family and child serving organizations and services. 4. Participate in training workshops related to children and youth. 5. Conduct a minimum 30 hour pre-service training and 5 hours of court observation for each training class. 6. Assure volunteers have the opportunity to attend In-Service training to meet the required 12 hours of on-going training annually. The goal being to offer at a minimum 40 hours of training annually. 7. Develop a plan for volunteer retention.

a. Stress in the initial volunteer interview, the impact a consistent volunteer has on the case and child, and the reason why the two year commitment is important. b. Include in their Oath the wording that they are making a two year commitment. c. The CASA Volunteer Coordinator will develop a new CASA mentoring program to enhance their volunteer experience, and to quickly address any training gaps.

II. VOLUNTEER SUPERVISION: The goal is to ensure that appropriate supervision is provided to volunteers that are within the guidelines of ______County CASA.

A. Provide and maintain contact with CASA volunteers by providing consistent case supervision through meetings, email and telephone contact.

1. The volunteer Coordinator/Director is available for CASA volunteers for all hearings. 2. CASA staff will attend hearings when the CASA is unavailable. 3. Discuss a strategy plan with the CASA when they initially receive a case. 4. Review and provide feedback to CASAs on their court reports prior to report being filed. 5. Review monthly volunteer case notes. 6. Assure volunteers are completing monthly activity hour form. 7. All case data will be inputted into the CASA manager system. 8. Volunteer supervision will focus on permanency goals and action plans.

B. The Volunteer Coordinator will provide the Program Director with monthly volunteer and case updates. C. Provide volunteers with monthly updates as needed to include reminders, upcoming trainings, hearings and information related to our county and child welfare. D. CASA staff will provide all relevant case information (hearing notices, forms, mail and reports) to volunteers in a timely manner. E. Conduct an annual Volunteer and program evaluation to review effectiveness and performance. The evaluation will be distributed every February.

III. VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: The goal is to provide meaningful volunteer recognition by holding one recognition activity and one social event per year.

A. Identify ways to provide personalized recognition and praise to CASAs on an individualized basis through cards, letters and recognition events. B. Hold an annual recognition event during National Volunteer Week every spring and present certificates of appreciation. C. Nominate volunteers for state awards D. Hold an annual Holiday lunch in December and present gifts of appreciation. IV. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS: The goal is to expand community education opportunities and public relations to bring the needs of abused and neglected children to the public’s attention and to increase visibility of the CASA Program.

A. Identify and contact service and civic organizations within the community and make presentations B. Participate in Victim’s Rights Fair in April to provide information about CASA. C. Provide press releases based on current events of the CASA Program D. Maintain the ______County CASA Facebook Page with information regarding child welfare. E. Send retirement organizations information on the CASA Program annually. F. Continue collaboration with local family and child serving agencies such as:

1. Planning Committee for Social Services 101 held every October 2. Family Stability Committee-Children Services 3. Child Abuse Prevention Month Activities in April 4. Child Advocacy Center Annual Fundraiser

V. PROGRAM COORDINATION The goal is to maintain effective coordination between CASA, the court and key agencies.

A. Maintain consistent contact with Key agencies.

1. Continue to review on a quarterly basis the Memorandum of Understanding between CASA and Children Services. 2. Maintain contact with Judge as needed for problem resolution, feedback and input. 3. Maintain consistent contact with Court to ensure effective coordination of hearings, rescheduling and other court matters are communicated.

VI. RESOURCES FOR GOALS: The goal is to ensure the program has the appropriate resources for volunteer recruitment, retention, supervision and public relations material

A. Apply for the VOCA/SVAA grant every June to ensure program funding. B. Complete Court requisition forms in a timely manner to request funds for our two volunteer recognition events. C. Arrange speaking engagements with the ______and ______and accept their annual monetary donation at that time. VII. ADMINISTRATION: The goal is to carry out program administration in an ethical, effective manner in consideration of the standards and guidelines of the program.

A. Maintain record keeping system to record program data.

1. Maintain statistical information on each child in the CASA Manager system. 2. Maintain daily calendar of activities, meetings, hearings, workshops, and events. 3. Record monthly volunteer activity hours 4. Record monthly mileage logs (if applicable per volunteer) 5. Maintain electronic case file on each case to include all relevant records. 6. Maintain electronic reports file for each case to include all CASA/GAL reports for the case. 7. Maintain personal files on each CASA to include application, references and criminal/children services records check.

B. Prepare data for affiliated organizations and grantees:

1. Provide National CASA with reports. 2. Provide Attorney General’s office with monthly reports to remain in compliance with VOCA/SVAA grant. 3. Provide ______County Juvenile Court with quarterly and annual reports.

C. Maintain Financial Oversight to comply with the policy of Internal Financial Controls – to be carried out by ______County Juvenile Court’s Chief Financial Officer. D. Maintain adequate staff to include Volunteer Coordinator to assist in administrative duties to include volunteer assignment and oversight of volunteer activities.

1. Maintain and update job description for staff positions. 2. Evaluation of staff to be conducted as stated in the ______County Juvenile Court personnel policies.

E. CASA Program Policies to be reevaluated and revised (if needed) annually during June of each year.