CASA volunteers represent a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds.  Most work full time, and most work on one case at a time.  You don't have to be a social worker or an attorney to speak up for a child through CASA, but you must have a strong commitment to children.   Anyone age 21 or older can submit an application.  

Role of a CASA Volunteer

= CASA volunteers are trained to give special representation to abused children so they will not fall through the cracks of the juvenile justice and child protection systems.

= A CASA volunteer spends time and gets to know one child or group of siblings and identify their needs.

= A CASA volunteers speaks with caseworkers, foster parents and others involved in the child's life to gather information, ensure the child's needs are being met and that he or she is placed in a safe, permanent home quickly.

= A CASA volunteer makes recommendations to a judge about what is in the child's best interests based on their time spent with the child and other information.

= A CASA volunteer stays closely involved with their case to monitor each child's situation and progress.

Time Commitment

On average, CASA volunteers report spending 10-15 hours per month doing CASA volunteer work. This includes time spent visiting and talking with CASA children, talking with individuals related to the case, training, time spent in court or at child protection agency meetings, and submitting written reports. Most of CASA's volunteers balance their volunteer work with full-time jobs or school, and find they can easily schedule the majority of their CASA work around their own convenience.

Impact

While a child is in foster care, important decisions are made that can affect the entire outcome of his or her life. A CASA volunteer assigned to a child ensures that correct and comprehensive information on what is best for the child is available to the judge when it is time to make important decisions. This information and the involvement of a CASA ensures the case is moving in the right direction for placement into a safe, permanent home quickly.

CASA volunteers are often the only stable influence in a foster child's life. Their presence is a comfort to the child during a time of instability and an assurance that someone cares about him or her.   

The involvement of a CASA volunteer increases a child's access to important resources, whether it is tutoring, therapy, medical attention or personal items.

The First Step

= Individuals who are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer advocate should attend one of our 45-minute orientation meetings for potential volunteers.  This orientation is designed to provide an overview of the CASA program and requirements of being a CASA volunteer so that interested people can make good decisions about their involvement.  Applications to become a volunteer are distributed at the orientation.

= Find upcoming orientation dates through March 2010.

= To join us at an upcoming orientation in East Baton Rouge Parish, click on this link or email us at info@casabr.org.

Before working with a child in foster care, CASA volunteers must complete our training course which is offered once per quarter.  The pre-service training course teaches volunteer applicants about child development, courtroom procedures, the child protection agency, and child abuse issues. Multiple speakers, including judges, attorneys, volunteers, will share their expertise.

After training, CASA volunteers are sworn in by a juvenile court judge and appointed to speak up for a child in foster care.

Looking for a CASA program outside of East Baton Rouge Parish? Contact the National CASA Association or Louisiana CASA to find a program near you.

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