Why CASA Volunteers Should Not Use ChatGPT in Their Work
By Erica Fischer-Kaslander
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers play a critical role in the child welfare system. They are entrusted by the court to represent the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Because of the sensitivity of this role, CASA volunteers must follow strict guidelines around confidentiality, documentation, and professional judgment.
While artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT can be useful in many settings, they should not be used by CASA volunteers in the course of their CASA work. There are several important reasons why.
Protecting Confidentiality
CASA volunteers are given access to highly sensitive information about children and families. This may include:
Medical and mental health records
School reports and evaluations
Caseworker notes
Court documents
Personal histories of children and parents
Entering any of this information into ChatGPT or similar tools could expose confidential details to systems outside the court and child welfare agencies. Even if names are removed, case details can still be identifying.
CASA programs have a legal and ethical duty to protect the privacy of the children they serve. Using external AI systems risks violating those confidentiality requirements.
Court Reports Must Reflect the Volunteer’s Independent Observations
CASA reports to the court are expected to reflect the volunteer’s own observations, interviews, and professional judgment. Judges rely on CASA volunteers because they provide an independent voice for the child.
If AI tools are used to draft reports, summarize interviews, or generate recommendations, the final report may no longer represent the volunteer’s authentic analysis. This undermines the credibility of the report and the integrity of the CASA role.
CASA recommendations must come from direct engagement with the child and case participants, not from automated systems.
Risk of Inaccurate or Misleading Information
AI tools can sometimes generate information that sounds confident but is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. In the child welfare and legal systems, even small inaccuracies can have serious consequences.
CASA volunteers must rely on:
Verified records
Conversations with professionals involved in the case
Direct observations
Training provided by their CASA program
Using AI-generated summaries or interpretations could introduce errors into court reports or case understanding.
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities
CASA volunteers operate under strict ethical guidelines and court authority. The CASA program prohibits sharing case information with third parties or storing it on unauthorized platforms.
Using AI tools to process case information may violate:
CASA program confidentiality policies
Court rules
Child welfare privacy protections
Data security standards
These safeguards exist to protect vulnerable children and families.
Protecting the Trust of Children and Families
Children, caregivers, and professionals share information with CASA volunteers because they trust that it will be handled carefully and respectfully. Using outside technology to process or analyze that information could damage that trust if discovered.
CASA work is fundamentally human-centered. Building relationships, listening carefully, and forming thoughtful recommendations cannot be replaced by automated systems.
Appropriate Use of Technology
CASA volunteers may use technology approved by their CASA program, such as:
The Optima case management system
Secure email accounts
When in doubt, volunteers should always consult their CASA supervisor before using any new technology in their casework.
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT can be helpful in many parts of everyday life. However, CASA work involves sensitive information, legal responsibilities, and the lives of vulnerable children.
For these reasons, CASA volunteers should not use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools in their casework. Protecting confidentiality, maintaining independent judgment, and upholding the integrity of the court process must always come first.
CASA volunteers serve as a powerful voice for children. That voice must remain confidential, careful, and fully their own.