W. Va. R. P. Child Abuse & Neglect 52

(a) Appointment of court-appointed special advocate representative. — Where a court-appointed special advocate program which is in good standing as a member of the National CASA Association and the West Virginia CASA Association is in place, the court may, after the filing of a civil petition, appoint a CASA representative to further the best interests of the child until further order of the court or until permanent placement of the child is achieved.

(b) Duties of CASA representative. — A CASA representative is to be appointed primarily in proceedings involving child abuse and/or neglect. Duties of a CASA representative include an independent gathering of information through interviews and review of records; facilitating prompt and thorough review of the case; protecting and promoting the best interests of the child; follow-up and monitoring of court orders and case plans; making a written report to the court with recommendations concerning the child's welfare; and negotiating and advocating on behalf of the child.

(c) Access to information. — The court may enter an order granting the CASA representative access to court records and confidential records of state, county, local agencies, and service providers, or the CASA representative may obtain a waiver for the release of such information from the parties as provided by W. Va. Code § 49-5-101, or in accordance with other law. If such an order is entered or such a waiver is obtained, the CASA representative shall be considered a person entitled to notice and the opportunity to be heard and shall be given notice of pleadings, court orders, hearings, and conferences and shall be allowed to attend proceedings to the extent allowed by the court. The CASA representative shall not disclose any confidential information he or she obtains expect as authorized by statute.

(d) Notification of hearings. — The CASA representative shall be notified of all hearings and changes in hearings, all status conferences, all treatment multidisciplinary team meetings, and all Department administrative reviews.

(e) Court orders. — The CASA representative shall receive copies of all court orders in the case to which he or she is appointed.

(f) Termination. — The CASA representative shall stay involved in the case until further order of the court or permanent placement of the child is achieved. The CASA representative shall have access to information in the selection process of adoptive parents, legal guardians or permanent foster care parents. The CASA representative also shall monitor and advocate for services for the permanent placement family until the final order is entered.

(g) Continued duties of the child’s attorney. — The appointment of a CASA representative shall not in any way abrogate the duties and responsibilities imposed by law on the attorney for the child. The duties and responsibilities of a child's guardian ad litem shall continue until such child has a permanent placement, and the guardian ad litem shall not be relieved of his responsibilities until such permanent placement has been achieved.