Change a Child's Story
FAQ
I WORK A FULL TIME JOB AND WILL NOT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO COURT. CAN I STILL BE A CASA VOLUNTEER?
Yes. We have many volunteers that are full time employees that excel as a CASA volunteer. Court is mandatory, but we understand that some employers will not allow employees off. We do ask, however, that you attend every chance you can. It means a great deal to a child to have their CASA with them in court. We can provide an excuse form for your employer.
HOW FREQUENT ARE COURT HEARINGS?
Court hearings are typically every 3 – 6 months. Court hearings are scheduled at each court hearing.
HOW MANY HOURS PER MONTH DO CASA VOLUNTEERS SPEND ON THEIR CASE?
On average, CASA volunteers spend 4 – 10 hours per month on their case. This may fluctuate depending on the case, though. Some months can be busier than others depending on what is happening in the case.
HOW MANY CHILDREN DOES A CASA VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE FOR?
Once a CASA volunteer is assigned a case, they will advocate for each child that is in the case. This may be one child or it may be a sibling group. CASA volunteers can choose if they want a case with one child or a sibling group.
WHAT IS A CASA REPORT?
A CASA report is the documentation in which a CASA volunteer communicates to the judge on what they believe is in the best interest of the child(ren). It is a typed document that includes a summary of contacts with the child and others related to the case between court hearings as well as the concerns and recommendations a CASA has for the child(ren). One CASA report is due 10 business days before every court hearing.
DO CASA VOLUNTEERS HAVE ANYONE THEY REPORT TO AT VOICES FOR CHILDREN?
Yes. Once a CASA has completed the training and is sworn-in by the court, the CASA is assigned to an Advocate Supervisor. The Advocate Supervisor aids and supports a CASA in their case. Voices for Children is a team-oriented organization.
WHY IS THE CASA TRAINING SO LONG?
Since CASAs are appointed by the court, they must have adequate training to ensure they understand the scope of their role as well as court policy. To ensure compliance with the court standards, CASA volunteers are required to undergo 30 hours of approved curriculum training. Ultimately, the training is set up to equip CASA volunteers to advocate for their child in the most effective way possible.
WHAT DOES CASA VOLUNTEER TRAINING LOOK LIKE?
Volunteer training consist of 8 chapters of content and case simulations that prepares participants for their volunteer role. The topics covered in each chapter include:
- Chapter 1 - Intro to the CASA Volunteer Role
- Chapter 2 - The Well-Being of the Child
- Chapter 3 - Trauma, Resilience, and Communication Skills
- Chapter 4 - Mental Health, Poverty, and Professional Communication
- Chapter 5 - Substance Abuse and Cultural Competence
- Chapter 6 - Domestic Violence and Cultural Competence
- Chapter 7 - Educational Advocacy, Older Youth, and LGBTQ+ Youth
- Chapter 8 - Wrapping up
For upcoming training dates, click here.
