Thei r goal is to gather information that they can use to make important assessments and report back to the judge, recommending what's best for the child's future. The goal of the volunteer's recommendations is to create a permanent plan for the child so the child won't languish in the foster care system. Recommendations may include where the child will live, visitation with the parents, ensuring sibling visits, therapy, or educational assessments. This is a complex task since the judge assigns our volunteers to the most difficult cases where we can have the biggest impact. Because CASAs work with one family of children at a time, they can provide the focused attention each child deserves.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life.
They have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. No special experience is required. Volunteers are selected on the basis of their objectivity, competence and commitment to children and their needs. Once accepted, volunteers are trained. They learn about courtroom procedure, the social service and juvenile court systems, and the special needs of children who have been abused and neglected.