Kansas Courts

District Court Rules Supreme/Appellate Court Rules Judicial Discipline Attorney Discipline Case Cover Sheets Child Support Guidelines Small Claims Information Open Records Procedures Code of Judicial Conduct Rules of Professional Conduct

Rules Adopted by the Supreme Court

Rules Relating to District Courts

Rule 110
General and Administrative

CASA Volunteer Programs

Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer programs shall embrace the following:
(a) It shall be the primary duty of a court-appointed special advocate to personally investigate and become acquainted with the facts, conditions, and circumstances affecting the welfare of the child for whom appointed, to advocate the best interests of the child and assist the court in obtaining for the child the most permanent, safe, and homelike placement possible. A CASA volunteer, additionally, should:

(1) Visit the child as often as necessary to monitor the child's safety and observe whether the child's essential needs are being met;

(2) Attend court hearings pertaining to the child or, if not excused by the judge, arrange for attendance of a qualified substitute approved by the judge;

(3) Participate in staffings and, to the extent possible, other meetings pertaining to the child's welfare;

(4) Participate in the development of the written plan for reintegration and/or modification of a plan already in place;

(5) Submit a written report to the court prior to each regularly scheduled court hearing involving the child; and

(6) Do all such other things on behalf of the child as are directed by the program director and the standards relating to CASA volunteer programs.

(b) A CASA volunteer shall:

(1) Be at least 18 years of age;

(2) Submit a completed written application to the local program; and

(3) Successfully complete screening procedures and a review by local program staff.

(c) Standards relating to CASA volunteer programs shall be promulgated by the Judicial Administrator and followed by CASA volunteer programs. The standards shall include requirements pertaining to certification of local CASA volunteer programs by the Judicial Administrator and certification and training of CASA volunteers by the local program.

(d) District courts utilizing privately administered CASA programs shall have a written agreement with the person or group sponsoring the program. The written agreement shall be in force for not longer than two years from the effective date of the agreement. The agreement shall govern operation of the privately administered CASA program and shall:

(1) Require the program to meet the standards relating to CASA volunteer programs promulgated by the Judicial Administrator;

(2) Set forth the responsibilities of the court to the CASA program and of the CASA program to the court including a requirement that CASA volunteers be certified by the local program;

(3) Specify the procedures for assignment of the program to cases and for the removal of the program from cases;

(4) Establish procedures for resolution of grievances and conflicts for both CASA programs and individual CASA volunteers; and

(5) Set forth the requirements the program must meet to be eligible for renewal of the agreement upon expiration.

(e) District courts shall promulgate local court rules governing operation of CASA programs which are administered by the court. The rules shall include the items specified in (1) through (4) of the preceding paragraph.

(f) A CASA volunteer shall be given notice of all court hearings involving the child and shall have access to any district court records within the state pertaining to the child for whom appointed.

(g) The district court or the privately administered CASA program, as applicable, shall provide such statistical and other information about its CASA program as the Judicial Administrator may require.

Case Annotations
1. Volunteer court-appointed special advocates do not have interested party status under Rule 110 or K.S.A. 38-1505a. In re D.D.P., Jr., 249 Kan. 529, 819 P.2d 1212 (1991).

[History: New Rule effective January 1, 1986.]