Courts appoint individuals from Guardian ad Litem/Court-Appointed Special Advocates (GAL/CASA) programs to advocate for the best interests of children in child abuse and neglect proceedings, as well as in other types of cases. Thanks to additional funding from the Indiana General Assembly, the State Office of GAL/CASA (Guardian ad Litem/Court Appointed Special Advocates) purchased Optima, a web-based case management … [Read more...] about GAL/CASA programs implement statewide Case Management System
GAL/CASA
CASA Strong
Leaders, volunteers turn out for CASA Day at the State House A sea of about 350 volunteers in matching blue shirts filled the North Atrium of the State House on March 7, for CASA Day, an annual rally that connects CASA volunteers with lawmakers. Governor Mike Pence and Chief Justice Loretta Rush made remarks to an impassioned crowd, and thanked the volunteers for their work on behalf of abused and neglected … [Read more...] about CASA Strong
2015 State of the Judiciary
Loretta Rush, as the first female Indiana Chief Justice, delivered an historic address on the condition of the courts to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly. Highlights of the speech follow, but we invite you to read the entire text and watch the video of the event on the Indiana Courts website at http://courts.in.gov/supreme/2502.htm. Chief Justice Rush reported on the “condition of the courts” by revi … [Read more...] about 2015 State of the Judiciary
Hometown Heroes: Eighteenth Annual GAL/CASA Conference Held
Honoring “Hometown Heroes” was the theme of the Eighteenth Annual Indiana State GAL/CASA Conference. Sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court’s office of Guardian Ad Litem/Court Appointed Special Advocate (GAL/CASA) the event was held” on October 11 in Indianapolis. Six hundred CASA volunteers, directors and program staff participated in the conference. The keynote speaker, Noah benShea, an author, poet and philoso … [Read more...] about Hometown Heroes: Eighteenth Annual GAL/CASA Conference Held
Crossing the Border: How the Unaccompanied Minor Crisis May Impact Indiana Juvenile Courts
The number of unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States has increased from 6,775 in 2010 to over 62,000 in 2014 according to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It has been estimated that as many as 150,000-200,000 unaccompanied minors may attempt to cross the border in 2015. Children 12 and under are the fastest growing group of unaccompanied minors. Contrary to popular belief, most … [Read more...] about Crossing the Border: How the Unaccompanied Minor Crisis May Impact Indiana Juvenile Courts