Gathering Information and Making Observations

Gathering Information and Making Observations

Using a developmental perspective will help you effectively advocate for young children. You can utilize knowledge about early childhood development by documenting children’s growth to show the court the significance of early experiences on young children’s healthy growth. One of a CASA's roles is to gather information about a child. This information can be collected in a number of ways. In many cases, CASAs will gather information by making informal observations of children and the people in their lives. CASAs must be able to document what they see. You must also be able to communicate and frame this information in a CASA report. A CASA report must objectively portray the current state and needs of the child, and should include a developmental perspective to support CASA recommendations. Module 5 breaks down how a CASA can gather information and make intentional observations of children. These are occasions that can be documented and submitted to the court to show what is happening in children’s lives, how their circumstances impact their growth, and what they need for their healthy development to be promoted. This module also outlines various developmental screenings, which are ways to chart children’s developmental progress through a variety of techniques.

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