| Becoming a CASA Volunteer
Who are CASA Volunteers?
CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate
CASA volunteers are ordinary people who care about kids. CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds. Many work full time. Some are students or retired people. Most CASA volunteers work on one case at a time. No legal expertise is required.
What exactly does a volunteer do?
CASA volunteers are assigned to an abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct thorough research on the background of the case, reviewing documents, interviewing everyone involved, including the child. They make reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, providing the judge with information that will help her make an informed decision. CASA volunteers can be instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services which the court has ordered - things like substance abuse counseling or special education testing. During the life of a case, a CASA volunteer monitors the child's situation to make sure he remains safe. CASA volunteers may be the only constant the child knows as she moves through the labyrinth of the child welfare system.
What does it take to be a CASA volunteer?
Commitment
When you take on a case, you take on a child's future. Most programs ask a commitment of at least a year. Some cases last longer. The amount of time you give to a case will vary depending on the stage of the proceedings. Nationally, CASA volunteers give an average of 88 hours per year.
Objectivity
The CASA volunteer role is to represent the best interests of the child. That may not always mean what the child wants. CASA volunteers must be able to talk to everyone involved in a case and remain objective in their recommendations. While they will establish a relationship with the child, the CASA volunteers' role is not to become a Big Brother or Sister to the child.
Good Communication Skills
CASA volunteers must be able to talk to a wide variety of people from healthcare professionals to school officials to an angry parent. CASA volunteers present written reports to the court, sometimes speaking in the courtroom on behalf of the child's best interests.
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