A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. There is no typical CASA volunteer; they come from all walks of life, with a variety of educational and ethnic backgrounds. Aside from their CASA volunteer responsibility, approximately 50% are employed in full-time jobs. The average caseload of a CASA volunteer is one to two at a time, but a case includes all the siblings involed. While there is no typical case, a CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance, though more complicated cases can take longer. After the initial court appearance, volunteers usually spend an additional 10-15 hours a month per case until the case is completed.
CASA volunteers make a difference in the lives of the children that they speak for. Research suggests that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have a CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA provides a judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child's future. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in the child's best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, be placed with other relatives, or be freed for permanent adoption. To prepare the report, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child, including school, medical and case worker reports.
Training
No special experience is required to become a CASA volunteer, only a commitment to Missouri's children. When a volunteer is accepted, they are given training in the skills and knowledge necessary to advocate for children. Training is provided by your local program and will cover many topics, including the role of the CASA volunteer, the court system, the child protection system, and understanding families and children. This training takes about 30 hours and includes class time, observation of court proceedings, independent study, and homework. Additionally, there are 12 hours of continuing education required each year.
If you are interested in Standing Up For a Child in your area, please contact your local program.