1. Court Reports Made Easy!

2. A Few Basics CASA reports must be submitted to your ACM TWO WEEKS prior to the scheduled hearing Avoid redundancy Maintain objectivity Exclude emotion Support recommendations with fact Check spelling/grammar Provide concise details

3. Report Information Be sure to review the type of hearing for accuracy. Check with your ACM for confirmation if needed. Your ACM may uncheck these in the final approval of the CASA report to protect information if appropriate.

4. Child Information Include the child’s Guardian ad Litem attorney and Child Advocate Attorney (if assigned)

5. Research Feel free to enter “various” or “ongoing” if multiple interactions with the individual. Include the most recent date of contact.

6. Records and History Feel free to enter “various” or “ongoing” if multiple interactions with the individual. Include the most recent date of contact. Provide a one-sentence summary of criminal history. Use caution to not release specific criminal details such as plea deals, scheduled release dates, and specific arrests.

7. Current Placement & Visitation This refers to visitation with the child’s parent(s).

8. Placement History Only include prior placements and not the child’s current placement in this list.

9. Other Children in the Family Include all of the child’s “siblings” including half- brothers/sisters and step- brothers/sisters.

10. Other Children Cont’d & Education Provide some explanation as to why the children were/were not placed together. Will be N/A if an only child If the child is not appropriate for grade level, please explain in the comments section. Will be N/A if the child is not school- age; otherwise, select Yes or No Include grades from most recent progress report as well as explanation grade level, behavioral, or attendance concerns.

11. Parental Information Objectively describe the visible, observable conditions of the home. Provide a list of court ordered requirements and briefly document progress

12. Placement History Provide specific information about the CHILD’S wishes for placement. This does NOT require supportive facts. This is for specific issues you would like to see addressed at the upcoming hearing i.e. concerns about placement, changes needed in visitation, etc. that can be supported by facts.

13. Recommendations Reunification/Adoption/Etc. Long-Term (i.e. 6-9 months out) Specific recommendation regarding visits between the child and his/her family Specific recommendation regarding CURRENT placement of the child Provide the court with a one sentence statement to include what SERVICES are needed, then provide a bulleted list of facts for recommended services. If child has IEP, Mark Yes

14. More Recommendations Provide the court with a one sentence statement to include what SERVICES are needed, then provide a bulleted list of facts for recommended services. Complete list of services recommended for parent(s), sibling(s), caregiver(s) including those already ordered by the Court Any other recommendations that do not appropriately match options already listed

15. Executive Summary Recommendations for immediate placement 1-2 Sentence description of parental progress 1-2 Sentence description of caregiver/guardian progress towards meeting child’s needs 1-2 Sentence description of child progress/adjustment in current placement Be objective Use factual information

16. Match the Facts!