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Local Rules of Superior Court of California, County of Imperial

attorney must notify Court Administration at Rule 6.2.1 Function of Advocates (760) 482-2250 forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the following information: length In general, an advocate’s functions are as of time needed, day or days needed, location, follows: and language type. (a) Support the child throughout the court [Adopted January 1, 2015] proceedings;

Division 2 (b) Explain the court proceedings to the

Court Appointed Special child; Advocate (c) Establish a relationship with the child to better understand the child’s needs Rule 6.2.0 General and desires;

(a) A Court Appointed Special Advocate, (d) Review available reports and records hereinafter “advocate”, is appointed regarding the child’s family history, by the Court on behalf of children, school behavior, medical or mental and usually only in juvenile health history, etc. including relevant dependency proceedings. An records pertaining to the child from advocate serves at the pleasure of the any agency, hospital, school, Court having jurisdiction over the organization, division or department proceeding in which the advocate has of the state, physician and surgeon, been appointed. nurse, other health care provider, psychologist, psychiatrist, law (b) Each advocate shall be sworn in by a enforcement agency, or mental health Superior Court Judge before clinic. beginning his or her duties. An advocate is an officer of the Court and (e) Identify and explore potential is bound by all court rules. resources that will facilitate family preservation, early family (c) Advocates serve under the guidance reunification, or alternative and supervision of the Imperial permanency planning; County CASA program staff and are expected to comply with operational (f) Explain the advocate’s role, duties, policies and procedures approved by and responsibilities to all parties the program’s Board of Directors, associated with a case. Sections 100 through 109 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, Rule (g) Visit the child regularly until the child 1424 of the California Rules of Court, is secure in a permanent placement. any and all Judicial Council Thereafter, the advocate shall monitor Guidelines, local rules of court, and the case as appropriate until the provisions of any agreement Dependency is dismissed or the entered into by the Imperial County advocate is relieved from CASA program with the Juvenile appointment. Court. [Rule 5.30 adopted July 1, 2007, Rule 5.30 renumbered to (h) Communicate the child’s needs to the 6.2 01/01/09, Rule 6.2 renumbered to 6.2.0 01/01/12] Court through written reports to the Court and make recommendations to

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