Volunteer Information

A hundred years from now, it won't matter what your bank account was, the sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove, but the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child.--

CASA trains community volunteers from all backgrounds who simply care about kids. These volunteers become "a voice in court" for abused and neglected children in state custody. The children served by CASA volunteers are the youngest and most helpless crime victims. These children have been victimized by the very people who should have been their protectors -- their parents.

A CASA advocate gives a hurting and bewildered child someone very special: a caring and committed adult, someone the child can trust. CASA provides one advocate who works with just their case, someone who provides continuity to them amid the chaos of the foster care / court system. The role of a CASA is especially supportive for the children as the CASA is an adult who has the time to focus on them, determine their needs, and speak for their best interests in court. A CASA makes a commitment to spend time with the child on a regular, frequent basis and thus gives the child a person they know and can trust to take their hopes, worries, and needs to the people who are making decisions about their life. The in-depth gathering of information done by a CASA can open the way to a permanent solution to the child's needs. Early intervention in these children's lives gives our community the potential to break the chain of abuse that exists in many families.

A CASA volunteer is assigned to a case by a judge and then makes reports to the court based on reviewing records and talking to everyone involved - parents, attorneys, teachers, relatives, and of course, the child. During the life of the case, a CASA visits the child regularly and monitors the child's situation to make sure they remain safe and that their needs are met.

The issues children face in state custody can be devastating. Recent cuts in the state budget for the Department of Human Services are forcing social workers to carry huge caseloads and that allows limited opportunities for one-on-one attention. Children are shuttled between foster homes, institutional placements, family placements, and the children's shelter as DHS does its best to make room for all of the children who need a home. Without someone from the outside looking after their interests and rights, dependent children may become the unintentional victims of a system that is doing its best to help them. Children in foster care lead extremely unstable lives - social workers, homes, friends, foster parents, and schools my change many times during a single year. As a result, it is difficult for these children to connect with other people, and they may demonstrate disrespect for the property and lives of others.

For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their life - until they are placed into a safe, permanent home. It is estimated that children who suffer abuse and neglect are 53% more likely to become juvenile delinquents and 38% more likely to become violent criminals as adults (NCASAA, 2002). A major factor in avoiding bad outcomes for an abused child is the presence of a concerned adult in that child's life.