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1 CASA Task Force Report – January 9, 2012

CASA Task Force Members

The Honorable Cynthia L.

Easterday, ChairCircuit Court Judge

Yamhill County

The Honorable Brian Boquist

Oregon State Senator,

District 12

The Honorable Jim Thompson

Oregon State Representative,

District 23

Christine K. HerbertAttorney at Law,

Jackson County

Barbara Johnson

Executive Director,

Child Advocates, Inc.

Steven M. McCarthy

Attorney at Law,

Polk County

Leola L. McKenzieJuvenile Court Programs Dir.,

Oregon Judicial Department

Megan Shultz

Executive Director,

CASA of Lane County

Becky A. Snyder

Commissioner,

Oregon Volunteers

Commission for Voluntary

Action and Service

Staff

William E. Taylor, Jr.

Legislative Counsel

Annola DeJong

House/Senate Judiciary

Office Coordinator

Court Appointed Special Advocate Task ForceFinal Report: January 9, 2012

Background

House Bill 3102 (Or Laws 2011, ch 725) establishes a Court Appointed

Special Advocate (CASA) Task Force and directs the Task Force to “study and make

recommendations on the appropriate structure and operation for funding and

administration of the CASA Volunteer Programs in this state.”

Currently, the State of Oregon’s authority and responsibilities with respect to

CASA Volunteer Programs are set out in ORS 419A.170, which: (a) creates “a Court

Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Fund” and “continuously” appropriates money

in the CASA Fund to the State Commission on Children and Families (SCCF); (b)

authorizes SCCF to “expend moneys” from the CASA Fund “directly or indirectly

through contracts or grants for the creation, supervision and operation of CASA

Volunteer Programs statewide” and “to pay the reasonable costs of [SCCF’s]

administration” of the CASA Fund; (c) authorizes SCCF to “apply for and receive

funds from federal and private sources for carrying out the provisions of” ORS419A.170; and (e) requires SCCF to “adopt rules” to carry out the foregoing

responsibilities.

CASA Task Force Recommendations

1. The Oregon Legislature should enact legislation transferring SCCF’s statutory

authority and responsibilities with respect to CASA Volunteer Programs to the

Oregon Volunteers Commission for Voluntary Action and Service (Oregon

Volunteers Commission). The CASA Task Force acknowledges that the Oregon

Volunteers Commission will need funding to carry out these duties.

2. The Oregon Volunteers Commission should develop a coordinating relationshipwith local CASA programs and ensure accountability of local CASA programs

through contract administration, gathering and evaluating relevant statewide

information and data, and establishing performance-measure reporting practices.

3. The Oregon Volunteers Commission should establish a partnership with the

Oregon CASA Network (OCN) designed to strengthen and build on the OCN.

4. The House Human Services Committee should review periodically the

performance and effectiveness of local CASA Volunteer Programs and the State of

Oregon’s relationship with them and consider, if requested by the Oregon

Volunteers Commission, establishing and supporting an ongoing advisory

workgroup that would include legislators and those knowledgeable of the juveniledependency system to provide input and guidance on the funding and

administration of CASA Volunteer Programs.

5. By no later than December 31, 2014, the Oregon Judicial Department --

working with the OCN and Oregon Volunteers Commission – should make a

determination whether, and if so how, the State of Oregon’s statutory authority

and responsibilities with respect to CASA Volunteer Programs should be

transferred to the Judicial Branch.




Funding and Administration

Part of the potential cost in carrying out the state’s responsibilities with respect to CASA Volunteer Programs

depends on the role the state Administering Agency plays in funding and providing oversight of the local CASA

programs, and correlates directly with the desired level of state involvement and oversight. The Task Force

received fiscal impact information analyzing potential costs in particular detail. The least costly option would be

the state acting only as a payment agent. The most costly would be the creation of an independent CASA

commission.

The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893/ P.L. 110-351) provided

greater federal resources to states for training. IV-E funds can be acquired to reimburse CASA programs for a

portion of their training expenses. This would require updating Oregon's IV-E, IV-B, and Cost Allocation plans,

developing a process to isolate the training costs for local programs, entering into an agreement with DHS to submit

IV-E claims and passing through the earned IV-E reimbursement. The funding formula for this is complex, but a

conservative estimate is that it could result in an additional $200,000 a year, which inturn could be usedto freeup

resources that could support the staffing and other administrative costs. The Department of Human Services andOregon Judicial Department have indicated a willingness to work with CASA programs to establish protocols to

receive IV-E reimbursement for training expenses.

The CASA Task Force reviewed various options regarding Administration of CASA and determined that the best

solution at this time is for the Administering Agency to have a coordinating relationship with local CASA programs

and ensure accountability of local CASA programs through contract administration, statewide information, and

data and performance measure reporting. The Executive Director of the Oregon Volunteers Commission

reported to the CASA Task Force that they could serve in this role and be responsible for the functions in the

EXAMPLE OF TASK DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN STATEWIDE CASA ADMINISTERING AGENCY AND OREGON CASA NETWORK for

$100,000 per year. Additionally, the Oregon Volunteers Commission is willing to establish a partnership with theOregon CASA Network (OCN) designed to strengthen and build on the OCN. The Oregon Volunteers

Commissioners voted to approve serving as the Administering Agency for CASA programs. The Oregon

Volunteers Commission will reevaluate this relationship in 2014.

The OCN and CASA directors have long had a goal to be within the Judicial Branch at some point in the future.

The CASA Task Force appreciates the Chief Justice’s willingness to consider options for CASA Administration

within the Judicial Branch. The Judicial Department expressed concerns regarding the current timeline and their

inability to fully explore the various options that may exist and to determine the best option without unintended

consequences.




EXAMPLE OF TASK DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN STATEWIDE CASA ADMINISTERING AGENCY AND OREGON CASA NETWORK

# Tasks/ResponsibilitiesAdministering

State Entity

Oregon

CASA

Network

Budget & Contract Management

1Statewide GF Budget Management – this includes preparation, monitoring,

management, and reporting on GF budget allocation.Primary

2

Assist Administering Agency with Biennial Budget Presentation to Legislature,

provide recommendations regarding distribution of GF appropriation to local

programs, provide statewide numbers and report as required by NCASA to

CASA Agency

Primary

3Serve as NCASA Statewide Program – submit, receive, and manage NCASA grant

to states; prepare and submit NCASAA reports required of grant recipients.Primary

4Assist member (only) programs with maintaining and developing other sources

of revenue.Secondary Primary

5Work to secure access to federal sources of revenue to support CASA programs

statewide, the OCN, and state administering agency.SHARED

6 Work to secure access to foundation and private sources of revenue to supportCASA programs statewide, member, the OCN, and state administering agency.

Secondary Primary

7

Develop legally sufficient contracts with local CASA programs and OCN. Work to

contract with 501.c3 programs directly, determine procurement and competitive

processes re CASA programs, establish minimum data reporting requirements

for local programs and OCN.

Primary

8

Provide TA re data and performance measure requirements, contract

administration, and deliverables – this includes some site visits to local CASA

programs.

Primary

9Host an annual meeting for the directors of each CASA program in the state –

contracts, budgeting, data…SHARED

10Strive to develop a coordinated messaging plan regarding funding of CASA

programs and services. SHARED

11 Conduct a biennial Peer Review Process for local programs. Secondary Primary

12

Determine allocation formula for distribution of state GF monies to local CASA

programs, after discussion with and input from OCN and other interested

entities.

Primary

Communications

1Serve as ex-officio member of OCN, attending statewide meetings and providing

information, training, or reports as requested by the OCN.Primary

2Secure locations and funding for all statewide OCN meetings, including agenda,

materials, and any reimbursements for member programs.

Secondary Primary

3 Develop and maintain master list of CASA Program and Contacts. SHARED

4Develop and maintain a CASA website with information and links to the websites

of all Oregon CASA programs and the OCN website.Primary

5Provide information on state GF or FF resources and expectations to all Oregon

CASA programs and the OCN directly.Primary

6Provide information on foundation and private resources and expectations to

the OCN members directly.Secondary Primary




# Tasks/ResponsibilitiesAdministering

State Entity

Oregon

CASA

Network

7Serve as a CASA clearinghouse of information, resources, best practices,

research, and statewide CASA data.Primary

8

Represent the CASA voice on state level Task Forces, Committees, and

workgroups and establish and implement a process to provide update reports to

OCN members.

Primary

9 Serve as state agency resource for information and problem solving as needed. Primary

10

Legislative Coordination including: analyzing legislation affecting CASA, preparing

fiscal impact statements,

providing responses to information on programs, providing programs with info

on federal, state law changes affecting program, testifying at and attending

hearings, …

Primary Secondary

11 Ensure archival records retention and handle public records requests Primary

Education & Training

1

Provide program management orientation and support to new directors and

peers as requested Secondary Primary

2Provide member programs with coaching and assistance for volunteer training as

needed.Secondary Primary

3 Develop and maintain a resource manual for CASA directors statewide Secondary Primary

4 Provide training to local directors on contracts and reporting as requested Primary

5

Provide members with current information regarding federal and state

legislation, policy changes, trends in child welfare and court improvement, and

court decisions

Secondary Primary

Transition

1 Receive OCCF administrative files and materials. Primary

2 Review and update the OCCF-CASA- DHS MOU – and incorporate OCN. SHARED

3Collaborate on the development and distribution of messaging to state partners

regarding new roles. SHARED

4Review OCCF Administrative Rules regarding CASA programs and update or

develop needed rules.SHARED

5Commission Management, Staffing, Communications, Reporting… – if

Commission structure is recommended Primary

casa tf report final 01 09 12

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