Volunteer
Every year, more than three million children nationally are reported abused and/or neglected. In Greene County, there is currently a waiting list for children needing an advocate. This is where you step in by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer. As a CASA volunteer, you speak up for the best interests of a child in Court. The ultimate goal of the CASA Volunteer is to help ensure that every one of these children can live in a safe, permanent home in a timely manner.
Minimum qualifications of a CASA volunteer
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Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.
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Must successfully pass screening requirements which include a written application, criminal record and Child Abuse Registry checks, personal interview, and three personal references.
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Must successfully complete initial thirty (30) hours of training provided by the CASA volunteer Program Director. Any sessions missed must be made up by the applicant before being appointed to a case.
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Must be accepted as a volunteer by the CASA volunteer Program Director and sworn in by the Judge.
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Must paflicipate in ongoing training, a minimum oftwelve (12) hours annually.
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Must accept supervision and seek feedback from the Director on a regular basis.
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Must be able to keep information confidential and to work within established.
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CASA volunteer policy and procedure guidelines.
The Role of a CASA Volunteer
A CASA volunteer is a trained volunteer Child advocate sworn in by the Judge to represent the best interest of children who are abused and neglected and have active cases in the juvenile Court system. The CASA volunteer reviews the child's circumstances after the adjudication as a Child in need of services (CHINS), provides fact-based information, and makes recommendations to the Court while becoming a
voice for the Child during the Court process.
The CASA volunteer program is independent, but works closely with the Court, social workers, therapists, attorneys, care providers and Other professionals involved in a child's case, CASA volunteers work under the direct supervision of the CASA Program Director to protect the child's welfare and to expedite the case through the system.
The CASA volunteer's ultimate goal is to move the Child out of temporary placement, usually from the foster care system, into a safe and permanent home. This could mean return to the parent's care, adoption, the appointment of a legal guardian, or some Other permanent living arrangement that satisfies the Court and fulfills the child's needs.