What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
• A CASA volunteer gathers information about the child’s situation, attends court proceedings and makes a recommendation to the judge so that the judge has the information to make a decision about the child’s future.
• The CASA volunteer advocates for the safety, permanency and well-being of the child.
What is required of a CASA?
• Commitment: The vast majority of cases last one to two years, and the amount of time spent on a case per month typically averages 5- 7 hours. Volunteers must make case time a priority in order to provide quality advocacy.
• Objectivity: Volunteers research case records and speak to everyone involved in a child's life, including their family members, teacher, doctor, lawyer, social worker and others. Their independent, third-party evaluations are based on facts, evidence and testimonies.
• Communication skills: Once a volunteer has fully evaluated a case, they prepare a written report outlining their recommendation for the child's placement. They must be able to attend court hearings and present their rationale to the judge in court.
