Section 9010A - Court appointed special advocate programThe Court Appointed Special Advocate Program shall provide legal representation to children through the Office of the Child Advocate, and shall be administered as follows:
(a) The program shall include volunteers who have demonstrated an interest in children and their welfare and have participated in background checks, interviews and training courses conducted by the Office to determine his or her fitness to serve. Volunteers will serve at the pleasure of the Child Advocate, but may also be removed by Court order. Volunteers shall participate in ongoing training as determined by the Office. Volunteers will be sworn in by the Court upon completion of all requirements and shall not serve as a volunteer prior to being sworn.(b) Volunteers shall be supervised by coordinators and a Program Director employed by the Office of the Child Advocate.(c) The Child Advocate will establish the number, qualifications and responsibilities of the coordinators and the Program Director. The Program Director and coordinators shall be exempt from Chapter 59 of Title 29, and notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary, the Program Director and coordinator positions shall not be covered by Chapter 13 of Title 19 and shall have no rights thereunder.(d) Attorneys shall be hired or contracted by the Child Advocate to provide legal representation to children appointed under this Section. Volunteers and coordinators will work in conjunction with the child's attorney to accomplish the duties set forth in 9007A(c) of this Title.(e) The CASA shall be a party to any child welfare proceeding or any other proceeding in which the Court has appointed the CASA.Added by Laws 2015, ch. 417,s 3, eff. 3/5/2017.