Becoming a Volunteer

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional,
educational and ethnic backgrounds.

CASA volunteers are ordinary people and no special or legal background is required.
All Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence, and commitment.

What's Involved

Application

All CASA volunteers are required to complete an application form and submit a biographical essay on why they want to become a CASA volunteer.

Selection

All applicants are required to attend an orientation session, a personal interview and submit three references.

Selected applicants will also be required to pass a series of background checks after completing the training program.

Training

CASA volunteers undergo a thorough 30-hour training course. They learn about courtroom procedure, effective advocacy techniques for children, and specific topics ranging from child abuse to early childhood development and adolescent behavior.

Commitment

Each case is different, so the amount of time required to get the job done varies significantly. Typically, a CASA volunteer will spend an average 10-15 hours per month working with their assigned case.

We ask that a volunteer continue with their assigned case until it is permanently resolved which typically involves an 18 months - two year commitment. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike many caseworkers, most CASA volunteers remain a consistent figure during the course of case proceedings. This provides important continuity for children.