Court-Ordered Services Toolkits for Staff and Volunteers

Court-Ordered Services is advocacy for children and families involved with the Child Welfare System, but prior to the child being removed in a conservatorship case.

Families in crisis don’t always need separation—they need support. Court-Ordered Services cases give parents a chance to strengthen their families while keeping them together, and CASA volunteers play a vital role in ensuring children are safe, heard, and have the resources they need to thrive. Many families who are struggling to provide a safe and stable environment for their children need additional support to provide it. CASA volunteers, in partnership with parents, children, caseworkers and communities, can work toward preventing children from entering into foster care. CASA volunteers can advocate for services that are tailored to family needs and focused on the strengths of the family. Volunteers advocate in a manner that respects the fundamental right of the parents to manage the education and upbringing of their children.

This toolkit has everything you, as a leader or volunteer of a local CASA program in Texas, will need to know to get started with, or to enhance volunteer advocacy for, Court Ordered Services (COS) or Motion to Participate cases. This toolkit will provide information, tools and strategies which can be used by your program in this advocacy work. With an emphasis on family engagement, this toolkit will share helpful information to build strong COS advocacy, develop strategic collaborative partnerships with stakeholders in your community and ensure that your relationship with parents and families is long-lasting.