Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-851: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-851

As used in Sections 43-21-851 through 43-21-871 , the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) “ Association ” means the state Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association established under Section 43-21-865 .

(b) “ Court ” means youth court or, if there is no youth court in the county where the CASA program is located, then chancery court.

(c) “ Court-appointed special advocate case ” or “ CASA case ” means a child or group of siblings who are within the jurisdiction of the court as a result of abuse, neglect or dependency proceedings and for whom the court has appointed and the program director has assigned a CASA volunteer.

(d) “ Court-appointed special advocate program ” or “ CASA program ” means a program by which trained community volunteers are provided to the court for appointment to represent the best interests of children who have come into the court system as a result of dependency, abuse or neglect.

(e) “ Court-appointed special advocate volunteer ” or “ CASA volunteer ” means a person who completes training through, and is supervised by, a CASA program and appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of dependent, abused or neglected children in court.

(f) “ Local board ” means the local board of directors appointed or selected pursuant to Section 43-21-853 to govern a local CASA program.

(g) “ Program director ” means the director of each local CASA program selected under Section 43-21-853 .

(h) “ State board ” means the state board of directors elected under Section 43-21-865 .

(i) “ State director ” means the director of the state association provided for in Section 43-21-869 .