Volunteer
For volunteers, CASA is a life-changing experience that makes our community a better place. CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving children’s lives, a willingness to learn, and an open mind towards life experiences different from their own. They get to know the child while also gathering information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, caregivers and anyone else involved in the child’s life. Judges highly value CASA’s recommendations which help them make informed decisions in the child’s best interest.
Change a Child’s Story:
Volunteering as a CASA advocate is a life-changing experience that makes our community a better place. It can change YOUR life as much as it can change a Child’s life.
CASA advocates come from every social class and share a commitment to improving children’s lives, have a willingness to learn and an open mind towards life experiences different from their own.
What is the role of a CASA volunteer:
A CASA volunteer (advocate) provides a judge with carefully researched background details about the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child’s future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if the best interest of the child is staying with their parents or guardians, being placed in foster care, or being freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.
STEPS TO VOLUNTEER
- Share your interest by contacting the CASA office at 301-777-1262 or visitng our Contact Us page
- Complete a Volunteer Application
- A Volunteer Advocate Coordinator will contact you to arrange an interview.
- Agree to serve as a CASA for a minimum of 1 year
- Once invited to become a CASA, attend a 30-hour training to learn about the history and structure of the CASA program, proceedings, and expectations of providing recommendations to the Court
- Be sworn in by the County Circuit Court
- You are now a CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocate and you will become the voice for a child in need.
EXPECTATIONS OF A CASA ADVOCATE
- Attend the 30-training (face-to-face or virtual TBD)
- Gather information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, care givers, and anyone else involved in the child’s life.
- Write a Court Report for every scheduled hearing and permanency planning review
- Spend 5-20 hours per month dedicated to the child’s case
- Visit with the child a minimum of once per month
- Make recommendations to the Court that are in the best interest of the child (based on documentation)
At the local level, CASA programs are funded through a state’s department of justice which covers operating expense.
Many programs are privately funded by donations from people like you. Fundraising initiatives on the local level help foster families with birthdays, holiday expenses, and events for Foster families. Donations of goods for the child and the families are always welcome and are shared with every child in the program.
Checks can be sent to: CASA of Western Maryland, 138 Baltimore St, Suite 202, Cumberland, MD 21502
