The Role of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in the Lives of Transition-Age Youth with Foster Care Experience

This study aimed to better understand the role that Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) play in the lives of transition-age youth (TAY) by asking participants about the nature of their relationships with their CASAs, and the extent to which their CASAs helped prepare them for independent living. This study involved qualitative analysis of interviews conducted as part of a larger mixed-methods study with TAY in New York City. The sample included 15 young adults ages 18 to 22 who had a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) prior to or at the time of the interview/s. Youth were asked about the social support they were receiving, who was providing the most meaningful support, and how support was provided. They were also specifically asked about CASA service provision. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) was conducted to identify and describe emergent themes in the data on the services provided by their CASAs. Researchers generated initial codes, identified and defined key themes from the data, and extracted exemplary quotes. Participants discussed the value of the tailored approach that CASAs used when supporting them during their transition to adulthood. Three overarching themes emerged that characterized the roles played by CASAs in the lives of participants: (1) personalized provision of services and goods; (2) fierce advocacy; and (3) encouragement and empowerment. Study results show that CASAs play a unique role in the lives of TAY and an integral role on the child welfare team. Findings point to the need for a more collaborative approach to supporting young people as they transition into adulthood. The results have important implications for micro and macro-level practice with TAY and policies associated with the assignment and training of CASAs.