HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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We welcome people from all walks of life. We are simply looking for people who care about children and have common sense. As a volunteer, you will be thoroughly trained and well supported by professional staff to help you through each case.
Being a CASA volunteer does not require any special education or background, simply the desire to help abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.
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What does it take to become a CASA volunteer?
Step 1: Each candidate must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check and participate in a 40-hour training course.
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Step 2: After completing the training, the volunteer is assigned his first case. A volunteer’s average time commitment to a case is approximately 4-8 hours per month.
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Step 3: Maintain monthly visit with your child(ren) and give written reports prior to court hearings.
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Volunteer advocates have support and supervision every step of the way and always have resources available.
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Volunteer Job Description
CASA volunteers are ordinary community members, who have been trained to work with abuse and neglect court cases. A CASA volunteer is an officer of the court appointed by the Children's Court Judge of The 12th Judicial District. Throughout the nation, CASA volunteers have proven to be valuable resources in the Children's Court system in helping professionals achieve their goals of serving the best interests of abused and neglected children and for finding these children safe, permanent homes. CASA volunteers play an integral part in assuring that children do not become lost in the court system. The CASA program is dedicated to the premise that all children are entitled to grow up in safe and loving homes.
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I. Qualifications of a CASA
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Be 21 years of age.
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Have an interest in children, their rights, and special needs.
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Successfully pass screening requirements, which include a written application, criminal record and child abuse registry checks, personal interview, and three personal references.
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Have the ability to work with a child, the child's family members, and professionals using tact, concern and basic human relations skills.
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Have the ability to communicate verbally and in writing making verbal and written reports to the court, to the program director, and to other persons as needed.
II. Requirements of a CASA
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Attend basic training sessions, approximately 40 hours in length. Participate in 12 hours of on-going training annually.
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Maintain strict confidentiality.
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Must be accepted as a volunteer by the CASA Program Director and sworn in by the judge.
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Keep the staff informed of all activities and confer with them periodically.
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Maintain an up-to-date and complete file on each case assigned.
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Attend CASA group meetings to share ideas and concerns with other CASAs.
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III. Specific Duties of a CASA
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Upon assignment to a case, monitor the progress of the court ordered case plan; investigate all relevant facts through personal interviews and review all records, documents and clinical data; facilitate resolution of identified problems; and present an accurate portrait of the child to the court at hearings through written and verbal reports.
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Maintain complete written records about the case.
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Report any incidents of child abuse or neglect to the CASA Office and/or the appropriate authorities immediately.
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Determine the best interest of the child by utilizing as many factors as possible.
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Participate in any planning or treatment team meetings involving the child.
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Advocate for the child by attending all court hearings, by making written recommendations to the court on what decision is in the best interest of the child.
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Remain actively involved in the case until formally discharged by the court.
