Volunteering
A CASA advocate is an everyday person from the community, whom has a passion for children who have been abused or neglected and is going through the foster care system. They are granted with confidentiality tremendous authority by the court, and are able to do what it takes to see that a child's voice is being heard, their best interests and critical needs are addressed.
CASAs are trained to work in the system without being of the system. Throughout the process, CASAs have permission to visit the children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge. CASA advocates help kids through the system safely, quickly, and more effectively.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER:
It takes a special individual to become a CASA volunteer:
• First and MOST important, CASA volunteers need to be passionately dedicated to helping children who have been abused or neglected during their most dire times of need.
• CASA volunteers need to be willing to dedicate 35 hours to training, and commit to seeing their cases through to the final resolution – of a safe and permanent home for the child(ren) involved.
• CASA volunteers need to be objective advocates on behalf of their children. They need to consider what’s best for the child, investigate and accurately communicate the child’s conditions to the presiding judge, as they work to make the child’s experience in the court system safe, efficient and quick as possible.
• A CASA volunteer must be at least 21 years of age and be able to pass reference checks and a criminal background check before becoming a child advocate. You may not be a current foster parent or be in the process of adopting a child from Child Protective Services.
CASAs are trained to work in the system without being of the system. Throughout the process, CASAs have permission to visit the children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge. CASA advocates help kids through the system safely, quickly, and more effectively.
WHO CAN VOLUNTEER:
It takes a special individual to become a CASA volunteer:
• First and MOST important, CASA volunteers need to be passionately dedicated to helping children who have been abused or neglected during their most dire times of need.
• CASA volunteers need to be willing to dedicate 35 hours to training, and commit to seeing their cases through to the final resolution – of a safe and permanent home for the child(ren) involved.
• CASA volunteers need to be objective advocates on behalf of their children. They need to consider what’s best for the child, investigate and accurately communicate the child’s conditions to the presiding judge, as they work to make the child’s experience in the court system safe, efficient and quick as possible.
• A CASA volunteer must be at least 21 years of age and be able to pass reference checks and a criminal background check before becoming a child advocate. You may not be a current foster parent or be in the process of adopting a child from Child Protective Services.
Four Simple Steps to Becoming a CASA Volunteer:
1 Fill out an application and submit it back to us- All potential volunteers must fill out and submit an application to the CASA office.
2 Interview & information session -All potential volunteers have an interview conducted by a CASA staff member. They must also be cleared through a criminal background investigation, as well as the Arkansas Central Registry for Child Abuse.
3 Training-All volunteers must complete a 30-hour training course. As a CASA volunteer, you’ll receive training from professionals in the legal and welfare fields, and you’ll have the complete support of your CASA organization to help you through each case.
4. After completing training, you’ll be appointed by a judge to one foster care case involving an abused or neglected child. You’ll gather information to help identify the child’s needs and guide him or her out of the system and into a permanent, safe home. You’ll make recommendations to the judge as well as serve as a communicator between the child and the court. Your involvement will make a direct impact on a child’s life and perhaps for generations to come.
1 Fill out an application and submit it back to us- All potential volunteers must fill out and submit an application to the CASA office.
2 Interview & information session -All potential volunteers have an interview conducted by a CASA staff member. They must also be cleared through a criminal background investigation, as well as the Arkansas Central Registry for Child Abuse.
3 Training-All volunteers must complete a 30-hour training course. As a CASA volunteer, you’ll receive training from professionals in the legal and welfare fields, and you’ll have the complete support of your CASA organization to help you through each case.
4. After completing training, you’ll be appointed by a judge to one foster care case involving an abused or neglected child. You’ll gather information to help identify the child’s needs and guide him or her out of the system and into a permanent, safe home. You’ll make recommendations to the judge as well as serve as a communicator between the child and the court. Your involvement will make a direct impact on a child’s life and perhaps for generations to come.
If you have what it takes, please volunteer to become a child advocate: your services are needed more than ever! And if becoming a child advocate is not for you, please contact us.
To become a volunteer advocate, fill out the volunteer application below.
To become a volunteer advocate, fill out the volunteer application below.