volunteer
Within the imagination of a child, there are some things that have no place at all. Things like abuse, neglect and despair. Every day, more than one thousand children are removed from their homes. These are victims who now belong to no one. They sit, silently waiting for the courts to decide their futures. They need your voice. Volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and change one life at a time.

What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court.

Can anyone be a CASA Volunteer?
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens. No special or legal background is required. Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.

What training does a CASA Volunteer receive?
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training course conducted by the local CASA program. Training requirements vary from program to program, but an average course is approximately 30 hours. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedure from the principals in the system-from judges, lawyers, social workers, court personnel, and others. CASA volunteers also learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and are educated about specific topics ranging from seminars on child sexual abuse to discussions on early childhood development and adolescent behavior.

What is the CASA Volunteer's role?
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child's future. The CASA volunteer helps to determine if it is in a child's best interest to return to his or her parents or guardians, be freed for adoption, or live with a relative. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge, and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

• As a child advocate, the CASA volunteer has three main responsibilities:
• to serve as a fact-finder for the judge
• to establish a relationship of trust with the child and to speak for the child in the courtroom, representing the child's best interests.
• to continue to act as a "watchdog" for the child during the life of the case, ensuring that it is brought to a swift and appropriate conclusion.
  

Thinking of Becoming a Volunteer?
Contact the Local Program nearest you to find out about their application process.

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