Iowa Admin. Code r. 489-4.2 - Program requirements
(1)
Establishing additional procedures and protocols.
a. The state board is responsible for
establishment of procedures and protocols consistent with the Iowa
Code.
b. Responsibility is
delegated by the state board to the administrator to establish and submit to
the board for approval a program policy and procedures manual that provides
detailed guidance to child advocacy board staff and volunteers on application
of these rules and the statutes that govern the operation of the court
appointed special advocate program.
c. Child advocacy board staff and volunteers
are required to comply with the protocols and procedures established by the
state board and the provisions of the policy and procedures manual established
by the administrator and approved by the board.
d. Day-to-day implementation of program
policy is delegated by the state board to administrative staff. Staff is
responsible for bringing questions about policy issues to the state board for
clarification or changes of state policy.
(2)
Operation requirements.
a. The state board delegates responsibility
to the administrator to hire, train, and manage staff throughout the state to
implement CASA programming. The administrator shall determine the number of
court appointed special advocates or coaches an individual coordinator may
supervise.
b. The state board
delegates responsibility to the administrator to provide additional information
or guidance in the program's policy and procedures manual regarding the
analysis of applicant qualifications and requirements for the final selection
of CASA volunteers and coaches.
c.
The coordinator is responsible for recruiting, screening, selecting, training
and supervising court appointed special advocates.
d. The CASA selection is made in a manner
that provides the best match available between the knowledge, skills,
abilities, and availability of the advocate and the needs of the child. The
assignments shall be made in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest, risk
to the child's or advocate's safety, and jeopardy to the program's
integrity.
e. Upon selection of the
CASA who will serve on an individual case, the court and all interested parties
are notified of the selection.
f.
The selected CASA continues to serve on the case until the assignment is
terminated by the court.
(3)
CASA advocate
qualifications. Potential coaches and advocates shall meet the
following qualifications:
a. Possess a genuine
interest in advocating for children and their rights and needs.
b. Have availability to complete mandatory
duties.
c. Commit to serve on a
case until terminated by the court.
d. Have the ability to interact with persons
involved in the child welfare system.
e. Have the ability to communicate
effectively both in verbal and written presentations.
f. Be at least 19 years of age or
older.
g. Not be a person employed
by the state board, the department of health and human services, the district
court, or an agency with which the department of health and human services
contracts for services for children.
h. Agree to use the child advocacy board's
data management system for case work.
(4)
Application requirements for CASA
volunteers. All CASA volunteer applicants shall complete the following
requirements:
a. Submit a program application
to the program office.
b. Provide
the names and addresses of at least three nonrelative personal
references.
c. Participate in at
least one personal interview with the local coordinator.
d. Complete mandatory CASA preservice
training.
e. Take a confidentiality
oath, administered by the presiding juvenile court judge, or designee, for whom
the CASA will be performing official duties.
f. Authorize a release of information for the
CASA program to conduct a complete criminal history check of the applicant's
background, including, but not limited to, checking records in the court
jurisdiction in which the applicant has resided, state criminal records,
Federal Bureau of Investigation or other national criminal database, sex
offender registry, child abuse registry, and social security number
verification. Applicants who refuse to sign required background check releases
will not be considered for the CASA program.
g. Individuals with a negative background
check finding may be approved to be a court appointed special advocate in
accordance with the CASA of Iowa child abuse registry/criminal background check
exemption policy.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 17A.3 and 237.18.
Notes
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