What CASAs Do
What Does a CASA Volunteer do?
CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interest of a neglected or abused child. The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer include the following:
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Gather information: Review documents and records, interview the children, family members and other parties
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Provide written reports at court hearings
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Appear in court
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Recommend services: Share concerns about the child’s health, education, mental health, etc.
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Monitor case
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Visit child(ren) monthly
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Document hours/mileage
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Time Commitment
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Time commitment typically depends on the stage of the case. Volunteers report that there is a greater time commitment at the beginning of a case. While the CASA volunteer experience is generally flexible and scheduled at the volunteer’s convenience, occasionally there are mandatory court hearings or meetings during business hours. A typical volunteer spends:
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30 hours in pre-service training (15 hours in person/15 hours online)
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10-15 hours per month working on their case
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Requirements
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Be 21 years old
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Completion of the volunteer application including references and background check
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Participation in an interview
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Completion of 30 hour pre-service training
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Available for court appearances, with advance notice
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Commitment to the CASA program for at least 1 year
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Continuing Education and Support
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Each CASA volunteer is assigned a staff supervisor who will be familiar with their case and available for ongoing support and supervision
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CASA volunteers are generally assigned a peer mentor
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In-service trainings are offered by CASA of the TN Heartland on a quarterly basis
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Peer support is available quarterly through our CASA to CASA (C2C) meetings
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Social media pages are updated daily
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Newsletters are sent out monthly
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Continuing Education Resources
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