§ 237.24 — Court appointed special advocates

Iowa § 237.24

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title VI: HUMAN SERVICES
• Ch. 237: CHILD FOSTER CARE FACILITIES

Text

1. A court appointed special advocate shall receive notice of all depositions, hearings, and
trial proceedings in a matter to which the court appointed special advocate is appointed.
2. The duties of a court appointed special advocate with respect to a child, unless
otherwise enlarged or circumscribed by a court or juvenile court with jurisdiction over the
child after a finding of good cause, shall include all of the following:
a. Conducting in-person interviews with the child every thirty days, if the child’s age is
appropriate for the interview, and interviewing each parent, guardian, or other person having
custody of the child as needed, if authorized by counsel.
b. Visiting the home, residence, or both home and residence of the child and any
prospective home or residence of the child, including each time placement is changed.
c. Interviewing any person providing medical, mental health, social, educational, or other
services to the child.
d. Obtaining firsthand knowledge, if possible, of the facts, circumstances, and parties
involved in the matter in which the court appointed special advocate is appointed.
e. Attending any depositions, hearings, and trial proceedings in a matter to which the
court appointed special advocate is appointed for the purpose of supporting the child and
advocating for the child’s protection.
f. Assisting the transition committee in the development of a transition plan if the child’s
case permanency plan calls for the development of a transition plan.
g. (1) Submittingawrittenreporttothejuvenilecourtandtoeachofthepartiesidentified
in section 237.21, subsection 4, prior to each court hearing unless otherwise ordered by the
court.
(2) The report shall include but not be limited to the identified strengths of the child
and the child’s family, concerns identified by the court appointed special advocate, the
court appointed special advocate’s recommendations regarding the child’s placement, and
other recommendations the court appointed special advocate believes are in the child’s best
interests.
h. Submitting periodic reports to the court or juvenile court with jurisdiction over a child
and interested parties detailing the child’s situation as long as the child remains under the
jurisdiction of the court or juvenile court.
i. Filing other reports as ordered by a court or juvenile court.