Arizona CASA Effectiveness Study

Published by the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ), this report is the product of an RFP issued by the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to study the effectiveness of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Arizona. The CASA cases were examined and compared with non-CASA cases. Five counties were included in the analysis and consisted of looking at: appointments, removals, frequency of volunteer contact with children and others, hearing attendance, reports submission to the court and at what hearing stages. Outcomes measures examined: placement patterns, permanency determinations, initiation and completion of TPR and guardianship proceedings, and case closures. While this study was being conducted it coincided with the statewide Model Court reforms, which may have lessened the effects of the CASA volunteers. In sum NCJJ did not find any major differences between CASA and non-CASA cases in the listed outcome areas, although the outcome areas were represented positively, the findings were ultimately limited.

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