CASA volunteers are crucial to determining a child’s best interest. However, most children in Arizona do not have the benefit of a CASA volunteer.
Another opportunity for oversight and advocacy for youth living in foster care is the Foster Care Review Board (established 1978).
FCRB is an independent, volunteer program administered by the Arizona Supreme Court. Their primary role is to advise the juvenile court on progress toward achieving permanency.
Key Functions
- Case Reviews: Arizona Statute mandates that a child’s case must be reviewed every six months. The board assesses the child’s safety, well-being, and the progress of case plans, including efforts toward reunification, adoption or other permanency arrangements. All parties involved in the child’s case are invited to attend, including CASA volunteers.
- Findings and Recommendations: The board makes recommendations to the juvenile court regarding the best interests of the child. It evaluates the performance of child welfare agencies, parents, and caregivers in fulfilling their case plan responsibilities. The board helps promote timely resolution of cases to avoid a child’s prolonged stay in foster care or youth reaching adulthood (18 yrs) without an appropriate transition plan.
- Monitor Compliance: Reviews compliance with court orders and case plans.
Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 21+ yrs
- Pass fingerprint and background check
- Available one full weekday per month for virtual Board meetings and can spend approximately 6-8 hours reviewing case information prior to the meeting
- Initial and on-going training provided
If you have the heart for serving children in the child welfare system, but a CASA role is not quite right, consider becoming a FCRB volunteer.
