Sec. 44.0. General

Recognizing the vital role that a Court Appointed Special Advocates program ("CASA program") can perform in aiding Family Court efforts to further the health, safety and well-being of children, and the need to insure that each such program has adequate resources, this rule is promulgated to standardize use of CASA programs in the courts of this State and to establish a program of State assistance under the direction of the Chief Administrator of the Courts. For purposes of this rule, a CASA program shall mean a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with, and in compliance with, the standards set forth by the National and New York State Court Appointed Special Advocates Associations.