Colorado § 19-1-208 - Duties of CASA volunteer.

§ 19-1-208. Duties of CASA volunteer.

(1) Independent case investigation. Upon appointment in an action, a CASA volunteer may:

(a) Conduct an independent investigation regarding the best interests of the child that will provide factual information to the court regarding the child and the child's family. The investigation shall include interviews with and observations of the child, interviews with other appropriate individuals, and the review of relevant records and reports.

(b) Determine if an appropriate treatment plan, as described in section 19-1-103, has been created for the child, whether appropriate services are being provided to the child and family, and whether the treatment plan is progressing in a timely manner;

(c) Determine if additional services are necessary to ensure educational success for a child in a proceeding pursuant to the "School Attendance Law of 1963", part 1 of article 33 of title 22, C.R.S.

(2) Recommendations. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the CASA volunteer, with the support and supervision of the CASA program staff, shall make recommendations consistent with the best interests of the child or youth regarding placement, family time, and appropriate services for the child or youth and family and shall prepare a written report to be distributed to the parties of the action.

(3) Reports. The CASA volunteer shall assure that the child's best interests are being advocated at every stage of the case and prepare written reports to be distributed to the parties of the action.

(4) Case monitoring. The CASA volunteer shall monitor the case to which he or she has been appointed to assure that the child's essential needs are being met and that the terms of the court's orders have been fulfilled in an appropriate and timely manner.

(5) Witness. The CASA volunteer may be called as a witness in an action by any party or the court and may request of the court the opportunity to appear as a witness.

(6) Foster youth in transition program. With the consent of the youth, a CASA volunteer may be appointed in a foster youth in transition program case filed pursuant to part 3 of article 7 of this title 19 and may support the youth in planning for the youth's future and accessing necessary services, supports, and assistance consistent with the youth's expressed interests and the program's goals. A CASA volunteer appointed to a youth in a foster youth in transition program case shall not make best interests recommendations to the court or others and must not have access to or share confidential information about the youth without the youth's express consent to access or share such information.

Source: L. 96: Entire part added, p. 1093, § 4, effective May 23. L. 98: (1)(b) amended, p. 821, § 24, effective August 5. L. 2015: (1)(c) added, (SB 15-004), ch. 254, p. 926, § 4, effective August 5. L. 2021: IP(1) and (1)(b) amended, (SB 21-059), ch. 136, p. 729, § 68, effective October 1. L. 2023: (2) amended, (HB 23-1027), ch. 284, p. 1681, § 9, effective June 1. L. 2024: (6) added, (HB 24-1377), ch. 254, p. 1674, § 2, effective August 7.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 23-1027, see section 1 of chapter 284, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.