| 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.
CASA Stories
CASA Volunteer Stories
May these stories inspire you to know what an amazing difference our CASA/GAL volunteers make each day.
Mary Jo Warren
CASA of the 2nd Judicial Circuit
Jonesboro, AR
Mary Jo’s advocacy efforts for a seven-year-old girl helped encourage the girl’s mother to complete Alcoholics Anonymous, get a stable job, attend counseling, attend visits with her daughter on a regular basis, and stay drug free. Mary Jo worked diligently in locating a residential drug rehabilitation facility for this family and with DHS approval, the mother and daughter now reside at the facility.
Jan Miller
Child Advocates of Los Angeles
Monterey Park, CA
Rolanda is a 16 year-old teenager diagnosed with cancer in the advanced stages. After her initial diagnosis, she was removed from her long-time foster home due to state policy requiring her placement in a specially licensed medical care foster home. Jan was appointed to Rolanda’s case and within two weeks, the foster mother was granted a waiver and Rolanda returned to the foster home she had grown up in.
Sandie Skinner
Orange County CASA
Orange, CA
One of Sandie’s assignments was Amy, a young woman who took over care of her younger siblings while still a teenager. Sandie was instrumental in helping Amy subsequently adopt her siblings, including assisting her in getting a van and insurance as required by social services.
Amy’s family can identify 102 separate social workers assigned to them over the years, but their one CASA volunteer Sandie has always been there.
Carole Leffler,
Voices for Children, Inc.
San Diego, CA
Six-year-old Brian and five-year-old Kathy had not seen each other for almost a year. Removed from their home due to domestic violence and neglect, they were in separate adoptive placements, both of which eventually failed. Carole reunited the children and followed them through five more placements. Due to her efforts, both children are now settled in long term placements that specialize in working with children with their distinctive psychological needs.
Charlene Boulais
Child Advocates of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
San Jose, CA
More than eight years ago, Charlene became a CASA volunteer for a family of four young boys. The boys had suffered extreme neglect, emotional and sexual abuse. She saw the two eldest boys through transition out of the juvenile dependency system and she followed the two younger boys through two placements, helping them through the tragic loss of two close family members in the process. Charlene’s supervisor estimates she has spent more than 6,000 hours working with and for these boys.
Jack Perkin
17th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Three years ago, Jack initiated and organized an event for the county’s dependent children called Christmas in July. That year and every year since, abused and neglected children and their foster families have been able to play in ten tons of artificial snow in South Florida in the middle of summer. Santa has delivered wonderful gifts via helicopter and the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders have volunteered to assist with the nonstop array of activities and food.
Brenda Gowan
6th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program
New Port Richey, FL
Brenda established, developed and organized the Back to School initiative in 1996. Each subsequent year, she and her small committee have identified the individual educational needs
of the several hundred school-aged children represented by the program. Brenda coordinates with and receives support from local businesses to help provide backpacks filled with age and grade appropriate school supplies for volunteers to give to the children.
Lynn Adams
13th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program
Tampa, FL
Lynn currently has four cases, in which she represents six children. On one occasion of her advocacy work, she drove to multiple hospitals to pick up medical records and, in addition to dropping them off at the Department of Children and Families, she prepared a summary for those who did not have time to read them thoroughly. In 2000, Lynn volunteered more than 500 hours as a guardian ad litem.
Rita Woodham
5th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program
Tavares, FL
Rita has represented more children than can be formally counted in her 17 years of service as a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer. When a judge needs a volunteer for a difficult case and no one else steps up, Rita will. When a complicated sex abuse case appeared a few years ago, the children were in need of an advocate. Rita accepted the challenge and has followed the children from placement to placement in three counties.
Charlotte Lindon
CASA Lake County, Inc.
Deerfield, IL
Charlotte was assigned a case involving two young boys in foster care who were neglected and sexually abused. The father of one of the boys entered back into the situation and although he was keenly interested in gaining placement of his son, he was discouraged with little hopes of making it happen. Charlotte spent time with the father’s new family and encouraged another look into the family. The day the father was granted custody, he said if it had not been for Charlotte, he might have given up.
Nancy Malek
CASA Kane County
Geneva, IL
Nancy Malek holds the honor of being the longest active CASA volunteer in the state of Illinois. Her first case involved two young girls who had been living with an abusive parent. For six years,
Nancy met with both girls every month, as they moved from foster home, to jail, in and out of the pysch ward of three different hospitals, group homes and finally into a locked residential placement. Throughout all this, Nancy was the person they knew they could turn to – and they frequently did. Today they are on their own, and still in touch with Nancy.
JoAnne Swafford
CASA of Williamson County
Marion, IL
Upon recognizing Native American traits in her "CASA child", JoAnne immediately made the court and social services personnel aware of it. She attended seminars on the Indian Child Welfare Act and spent several months researching the legal interpretation of this law. Due to her efforts, many CASA-related professionals and other volunteers are now aware of the need for sensitivity to our children’s heritage.
Sally Garrett
Youth Service Bureau CASA Program of St. Joseph County
Indianapolis, IN
Sally has advocated for 68 children. In 1993, Sally was the CASA volunteer assigned to "J", a tiny fragile four-year-old boy who reached out to take the hand of the advocate who would stand by his side for the next six years. When she began her investigation, she wrote to literally every hospital and doctor in the area requesting medical records. She was able to document 150 medical interventions regarding "J".
Betty Doss
Youth Service Bureau CASA Program of St. Tammany
Slidell, LA
One day, the mother of Betty’s "CASA kids" unexpectedly showed up at school to pick up her two little girls. The mother said she was taking them on an extended trip out of town along with her husband. But the school knew this man was not allowed contact with the girls and the mother did not have custody of the children. So school personnel called the person who would make sure those who needed to respond to this problem, would. They called Betty, the CASA volunteer.
Patricia Clark
Kalamazoo County CASA
Kalamazoo, MI
In Pat’s first case, her persistent advocacy provided a tutor skilled in sign language for one of the children who is deaf. Pat often spoke with the children’s teachers and the school principal, so when things blew up at school it was generally Pat who got the first call. Pat mediated the situation so the girls were able to stay in school.
Deborah Radasch
CASA of St. Louis County, Inc.
St. Louis, MO
Debbie’s most recent case involved two young boys now under the care of their godmother. The godmother had financial stress in caring for the two young boys so Debbie reached out to the community. The result? Two full bedroom sets, bed sheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths and a grocery store gift certificate were all donated to help get the boys settled in their new home.
Helen Wilson
Chaves County CASA Program
Roswell, NM
Helen was appointed to advocate for a six week-old baby in 1996. During the life of this case, she did a thorough job investigating the circumstances leading to the child’s placement. She fiercely advocated for termination of parental rights when it became clear the parents were not going to work to get their daughter back. When the parental rights were terminated and the relative foster family was in the process of adopting the baby, Helen was the person they called first for everything.
Janet Bouweraerts
Washoe County CASA Program
Reno, NV
Janet was appointed to one case where domestic violence was occurring in the family. Janet helped the family by not only advocating for the five-year-old boy’s best interests, but providing support to the woman living in the home to gain the courage to leave the abusive relationship. The woman has since become a source of help to others.
Nancy Marino
ProKids
Cincinnati, OH
Nancy first met 12 year-old "Ketra" in 1996. She helped Ketra not only change her promiscuous and substance abusing behavior, but got Ketra placed in a safe, permanent home. Her advocacy continued in helping Ketra transition into a young adult. Nancy searched for an appropriate education program and upon locating the perfect school, Nancy obtained nearly all the private school’s tuition by getting sponsors and running a marathon.
Sally Brown
PARACHUTE: Butler County CASA
Hamilton, OH
As a brand new volunteer, Sally was appointed to a case which ended up involving four children, and three different caseworkers, judges and court timelines. As soon as she became aware of the lack of continuity, Sally diligently worked to bring all the cases together. Through her advocacy, all four children are now in stable permanent homes with the appropriate educational and support services in place.
Dee Riddles
Tri-County CASA, Inc.
Claremore, OK
After tireless research and thorough investigation, Dee became the first to advocate in a case that three children should not be placed together; the eldest child had severe psychological behavior problems which were affecting the younger siblings. The children were placed together anyway and then the placement failed. DHS psychologists, the children’s attorney and other professionals later agreed with Dee and now a loving family has adopted the oldest child.
Bonnie Chavez
Canadian County CASA
El Reno, OK
Bonnie is outspoken in her endeavors to get what is needed for her CASA children. She promotes CASA by talking to civic organizations and the Chamber of Commerce, resulting in the Canadian County program being the only one in the state to start from scratch and grow to 21 volunteers in five months.
Bob Madrall
Canadian County CASA
Yukon, OK
Bob is currently advocating for two teenagers removed from their home. Bob tried to get the children’s father to release their green cards and birth certificates so the children could pursue employment and obtain driver licenses. Despite a court order, the father refused so Bob contacted both his local Congressman and Immigration officials. The children now have their documents.
Beverley Prochaska
York County Guardian Ad Litem Program
Rock Hill, SC
Beverley has been an advocate since 1994. In a recent case, she went out on her own initiative to find a psychologist for the child she represented. The child’s parents and the Department of Social Services were having a difficult time finding a psychologist who met all their approvals. The one Beverley found was judged suitable to all involved, including the child.
Shirley McCoy
CASA of Highland Lakes
Burnet, TX
Shirley has been advocating for a family of three girls
for more than six years now. She not only attends all court hearings
and all other meetings for the kids, but she volunteers
at the girls’ local school so she can assist them and their foster
parent with lessons. She even arranged for an orthodontist
to provide braces for the oldest girl.
Victoria Mason
Child Advocates of Montgomery County
Conroe, TX
Victoria has been a CASA volunteer since 1999. She is known to give her all when she takes on a project, and will work with families until the best possible solution is discovered. She even spent many hours as one of Santa’s helpers for CASA, leading her to shop at Wal-Mart at 4:00 a.m. for the Christmas program.
Anne Marie Caulkins
Alexandria CASA Program
Alexandria, VA
Anne’s second case required advocating for an infant who was reported abused due to his family’s religious Rastafarian beliefs. The family practiced a strict Rastafarian diet – one which left the child severely malnourished. Anne spent countless hours discussing and researching the child’s medical condition with various doctors at Children’s Hospital, family members and social workers. She finally identified alternative medical treatment that did not conflict with the family’s religious beliefs.
Terry Finn
Chelan-Douglas County CASA
Wenatchee, WA
Give Terry a child with a need and he will find a community resource to meet that need. He seeks out community groups and leaders to educate them about the CASA program. He has written McDonald’s Restaurant grants two years in a row and the program was just awarded funds to buy teddy bears for new CASA kids and to purchase name-brand athletic shoes for them to wear.
Training
Be a Childs Voice in Court - C.A.S.A |
|
Training will consist of a total of 12 trainings. This training has been developed by the National CASA Association and formatted around adult learning principals.
The classes in order cover:
1. Introduction to the CASA Volunteer Role.
2. Introduction to the Law, the Child Protection System & the Courts
3. Exploring Cultural Awareness.
4. Understanding Families part one.
5. Understanding Families art two.
6. Understanding Children.
7. Communicating as a CASA Volunteer.
8. Practicing the CASA Volunteer Role.
9. Practicing the CASA Volunteer Role: Reporting & Monitoring.
10. Pulling It All Together.
11. Guest Speaker
12. Wrap up session
This is a very important role as a citizen in the efforts of protecting the children of our community.
What is CASA of Lassen County?
Last year in the U.S, millions of children were abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. Over 430,000 of these children are placed under the protection of the court. It is up to the court to decide their future, whether they are placed in foster care, returned to their parents, or are adopted.
Since it's inception, Lassen Family Services CASA has provided services to children in juvenile dependency. We are the only Child Advocate Program in Lassen County, a rural, geographically isolated county in northeaster California. Due to the distance between areas served, increasing caseloads, and budget constraints, social workers are limited in their ability to meet the demands of the court and the needs of a child. While those of us battle the front lines to fulfill program requirements and maintain service delivery, many innocent children go unheard. As a result, they may remain in abusive situations or become lost in an over worked and under paid system.
Lassen Family Services CASA
LFS, is a private, nonprofit organization which provides crisis intervention to victims and survivors of crime in Lassen County. Since accepting the appointment by the former Superior Court Judge Joseph B. Harvey, LFS CASA has advocated for children in the juvenile dependency system. Our mission is to serve children in our community who often have no one else to speak for them. The three primary functions of a CASA are:
- A mentor for the child
- A child's voice in court
- Advocate for the needs of a child
CASA is one of the fastest growing community service projects in Lassen County. CASA Volunteers respond to the needs of abused and neglected children involved in the court process.
What Does a CASA do?
CASA volunteers are officers of the court. As such, they speak for the best interests of the child as no one else can. CASA's provide information to the court about the child's physical, social, and emotional needs. They assist in researching and assessing the circumstances of abuse and neglect and report findings and recommendations to the court.
You Can Become A CASA Volunteer
Are you a mature, responsible adult? Can you talk to people who are having problems? Do you have time to commit to working with children? If you answered "yes," then you may qualify to become a CASA volunteer. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life; with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Training is provided and no experience is required. Volunteers are selected on the basis of their objectivity, competence and commitment to children. It takes about 10-15 hours a month to be a CASA volunteer. It's hard work, but it is rewarding.
Please call to find out how you can make a difference in a child's life. Ask for Gaylynn at 530-257-4599. |
FACT Sheet
Fact Sheet - C.A.S.A |
|
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court.
What is the CASA volunteer's role?
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child's future. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in a child's best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, be placed with other relatives, or be freed for permanent adoption.
How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child -- school, medical and case worker reports; and other documents.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation. That is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
Is there a "typical" CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 58,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Aside from their CASA volunteer responsibility, 50 percent are employed in regular full-time jobs.
How many cases on average does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
The number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but an average caseload is one to two.
How many CASA programs are there?
There are now 950 CASA programs in every state across the country including Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How effective have CASA programs been?
Research suggests that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
How much time does it require?
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 10-15 hours a month.
How is CASA funded?
At the local level, CASA programs are generally funded through a combination of private and public funds. Many programs are privately funded through service organizations such as the Junior League and the National Council of Jewish Women. The National CASA Association is funded through a combination of private grants, federal funds (U.S. Justice Department), memberships and contributions.
The Mission
The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association is to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts. We promote and support quality volunteer representation for children to provide each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home. | |
