Diane Cooper is a court appointed special advocate, or CASA. When a child is removed from the home in a dependency and neglect case, a CASA serves the role of providing a voice and continuity for the child who can get lost in the legal system.

Diane likes to describe the role of a CASA as an independent observer — an objective person around whom the child can feel comfortable enough to communicate what he or she is feeling.

Once trained, the duties of the CASA depend on the facts of the case and what the best interests of the child are. This can include everything from simply taking the child out to lunch to observing parental visits. But in all cases, the CASA provides continuity and a voice for the child.

For information about volunteering with Voices For Children or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.