What is a CASA volunteer? Volunteers serve as an advocate for children, who are in foster care placement. As advocates, volunteers read case files and interview all parties having to do with the child (biological parents, foster parents, school authorities, relatives, etc.) After gathering information, volunteers write a report, which is sent to the Family Court Judge presiding over the case. The report includes facts about the case and a recommendation regarding a permanent plan for the child. What are the volunteer qualifications? Volunteers must be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Basic computer skills are necessary to type reports. The volunteer minimum age requirement is 21. You must be able to pass both background and State Central Record Bureau checks and provide two references from sources other than relatives. How much time is required from a CASA volunteer? It depends on the case, but volunteers can expect to spend approximately five hours a week on their case. Overall, a one year commitment is required. How long does a volunteer remain on a case? A volunteer remains on a case until a permanent plan for the child is in effect, which is approximately a year. Do I need training to be a CASA? Yes. CASA provides a 30-hour mandatory training session, which is required of all volunteers. The training provides information on the child welfare system, and how volunteers work with the children in the system. Additionally, every volunteer is required to attend 12 hours of in-service training per year. Can I be a volunteer if I work full-time? Yes. You schedule your own time. However, some flexibility is required for attendance at day time court hearings. What children are assigned a CASA? Foster care children, who are victims of abuse and neglect, are assigned CASA volunteers. How effective is the CASA program? Children, who have a CASA volunteer, tend to spend less time in court and in foster care, and they have a better chance of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 19:33:54 +0000
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