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 individuals. Most CASA Volunteers work on one case at a time. No legal expertise is required.
What does it take to become a CASA Volunteer?
Commitment – When you take on a case, you take on a child’s
future. We ask for a commitment of at least one 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 role is to represent the best interests of the child. That may not always mean what the child wants. CASA Volunteer 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 Volunteer’s 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, and speaking in the courtroom on behalf of the child’s best interest.
What about Training?
CASA Programs provide in-depth training on issues of the court process, child development, abuse and neglect, cultural competency, advocacy and interviewing techniques, along with other public health topics. As a CASA you will work with judges, attorneys, social workers and other professionals in the field. To insure the continued education of our volunteers we offer in-service training on many subjects throughout the year.
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 all parties 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 them make an informed decision. CASA Volunteers can be instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services, which the court has ordered, such as substance abuse counseling or special education testing. During the life of a case, a CASA Volunteer monitors the child’s situation to make sure they remain safe.
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 individuals. Most CASA Volunteers work on one case at a time. No legal expertise is required.
What does it take to become a CASA Volunteer?
Commitment – When you take on a case, you take on a child’s
future. We ask for a commitment of at least one 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 role is to represent the best interests of the child. That may not always mean what the child wants. CASA Volunteer 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 Volunteer’s 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, and speaking in the courtroom on behalf of the child’s best interest.
What about Training?
CASA Programs provide in-depth training on issues of the court process, child development, abuse and neglect, cultural competency, advocacy and interviewing techniques, along with other public health topics. As a CASA you will work with judges, attorneys, social workers and other professionals in the field. To insure the continued education of our volunteers we offer in-service training on many subjects throughout the year.
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 all parties 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 them make an informed decision. CASA Volunteers can be instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services, which the court has ordered, such as substance abuse counseling or special education testing. During the life of a case, a CASA Volunteer monitors the child’s situation to make sure they remain safe.
Pulaski County CASA Program Application
Please print the application and complete. The application needs to be mailed to the Pulaski County CASA Program. The address is located at the end of the application.
| pulaski_county_casa_application.pdf |
La Porte County CASA Program Application
Interested in volunteering? Just print the La Porte CASA Volunteer application. When completed, mail to:
Harmony House/CASA Program of La Porte County, Inc.
1005 Michigan Avenue
La Porte, IN 46350
Questions? Call 219.324.3385 or fax 219.362.9114 for assistance.
APPLICANTS MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 21 YEARS OF AGE
Harmony House/CASA Program of La Porte County, Inc.
1005 Michigan Avenue
La Porte, IN 46350
Questions? Call 219.324.3385 or fax 219.362.9114 for assistance.
APPLICANTS MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 21 YEARS OF AGE
| casa_volunteer_application.pdf |
