What is the role of a CASA Volunteer?

CASA volunteers get to know the child they are assigned to by talking with everyone in that child’s life: parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them. A CASA volunteer fulfills six main roles:

1. Meet with the child once per monthly for at least one hour;

2. Gather information from all interested parties, such as attorneys, social workers, teachers, caregivers, therapists, etc.;

3. Keep an eye out for any unmet needs of the child, and advocate for those needs to be met

4. Write a court report to the juvenile court judge for each hearing concerning the child. The report gives the judge the information the advocate has gathered, what the advocate believes to be in the child’s best interests, and what the child would like to have happen

5. Attend all court hearings regarding the child (usually once every six months, sometimes more frequent)

6. Monitor the case by doing all of the above until the child is placed in a safe, permanent, and nurturing home

Who can be a volunteer?

You do not have to be a lawyer, social worker, or professional in the field to be a volunteer. 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 your case.

You must pass a background check, participate in a 30-hour pre-service training course and agree to stay on a case until it is closed (a year and a half on average). Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older.

Interested in helping children but not ready to commit to becoming a volunteer advocate? Learn about other volunteer opportunities. 

Expectations of Volunteers

CASA Volunteers are expected to make a commitment to the child they serve. That means meeting with their assigned child at least once a month, talking to the different parties involved to get a clear, unbiased overview of the child’s situation, protecting the confidentiality of the child’s case, and sticking with the child until the case is closed.

There are a few limitations to a CASA’s role. As a CASA volunteer, you cannot take the child to your home, introduce them to your family members, or stay overnight with the child. You will be able to talk to teachers, doctors, family members, parents, social workers, and others involved in your child’s case. Through the pre-service training, you will learn more about the role of a CASA volunteer.

You won’t have to face it alone

At the completion of training, you’ll be able to with our CASA staff who are here to support you all along the way. They will help you find the right case and create a case plan before you even begin. As a CASA volunteer, you will take on a great deal of responsibility, stress, frustration, joy, and fulfillment.  We want to hear from you when things are going well, but even more, we want to hear when things are tough so we can help you through them.

The Impact

 CASA volunteer represented a sweet little 5 year old boy.   When asked by his CASA volunteer if there was anything he needed, he told of 2 stuffed animals and his special bat.  This volunteer made numerous phone calls and two trips to different homes trying to locate these items.  She was finally able to make sure he got them.  This child had been moved 4 times in less than a year.  After one of his moves CASA went to see him. He met her at the door and EXCITEDLY asked,  “HOW DID YOU FIND ME??”

 Ordinary people making an extraordinary difference!

 The 5 C's of a CASA Volunteer

Commitment

Consistent commitment to

• To our mission and values

• To our standards

• To our kids

Courage

Doing the right thing even when it is:

• Scary

• Uncomfortable

• Hard

• Un-rewarding

Curiosity

• A desire to really know the child

• Withholding judgment until the facts are in

• Continued learning and training

Communication

• Building rapport with all parties

• Maintaining regular communication with the Advocate Supervisor

• Communicating professionally and with confidentiality

Court Report

Working with an Advocate Supervisor to tell the child’s story and needs through the court report:

• Accurately

• Professionally

• On time