As a CASA volunteer, you have access to confidential information about children and people involved in those children’s lives. The CASA volunteer may not release this information except to the child, CASA program staff, the child’s attorney, DCFS caseworker, and the court.
- When sharing information with the child, consider what is appropriate and the child’s age and developmental level.
- DCFS records are confidential. It is especially important that the name of any person who has made a report of suspected child abuse and neglect not be revealed.
- Foster parents have a contractual relationship with DCFS. As the CASA volunteer, you are not the foster parent’s source of information about the case. Their source is the caseworker.
- You are not the parent’s source of information about the case. Their source is the caseworker or their attorney.
Except for the judge, CASA staff, DCFS staff and the child’s attorney, make it a personal policy not to share information or tell people what someone else has told you.