CASA Volunteers are appointed by Judges as Officers of the Court to advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect and for children with a truancy case for chronic absenteeism. The primary responsibilities of a CASA Volunteer include:

• Building a relationship with the child or children on their assigned case. CASA Volunteers plan visits with the child(ren) on their case at least twice per month.
• Gathering information by reviewing documents and records, and conducting interviews with the children, family members, and professionals in their lives.
• Documenting findings and providing written reports for court hearings.
• Appearing in court to advocate for the child’s best interests.
• Helping the child understand the court proceedings.
• Collaborating with other professional team members on the case.
• Recommending services to ensure that the children and their families are receiving adequate guidance and support; and reporting concerns about the child’s physical, mental, and emotional health, educational needs, academic performance and other issues to the appropriate professionals.
• Monitoring case plans and court orders to make sure they are being followed and that mandated review hearings are being held.
• Keeping the court informed and updated on developments with agencies and family members; and ensuring that appropriate motions are filed on behalf of the child so the court is made aware of any changes in the child’s situation.

No special background, work experience, or education is required to become a CASA Volunteer. We encourage individuals from all cultures, professions, and educational backgrounds to volunteer. To be eligible to become a CASA Volunteer, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have lived in the United States for the past seven years
• Complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting. Any past offenses will be evaluated according to the program’s standards for volunteers.
• Complete 30 hours of pre-service training hours
• Complete 12 hours of Continuing Education hours each year
• Commit to serving on your case until case closure. The average length of a case is 18 months
• Have the ability to spend approximately 10-15 hours/month on your case

Successful CASA Volunteers are mature, empathetic, collaborative, and confident. They have an ability to problem-solve and have strong written and verbal communication skills. They possess a willingness to learn, and are open-minded about others’ life experiences that are different from their own. They are able to do this work respectfully, compassionately, and in complete confidentiality.

We provide every individual accepted into our program with the training they need about courtroom procedures, social services, the child welfare system, child abuse and neglect, and other related topics.

A volunteer can expect to spend 10-15 hours per month on an individual case. This is in addition to the 30 hours of pre-service training and 12 hours annually of Continuing Education.

Volunteers are expected to dedicate themselves to a case until it is closed. The average case is open about 18 months.

CASA Volunteers are supported every step of the way. A supervisor is assigned to each volunteer to answer questions, troubleshoot, and provide guidance. There are also ample online resources and continuing education opportunities so that no volunteer is ever on their own.