CASA volunteers are ordinary people who are
committed to doing what
is best for a child. The volunteers help by providing an extra set of
eyes and ears for the Court and child welfare agencies. After gathering
the information, CASA volunteers provide the Court with the information
by way of a report that speaks to what is in the child's best interest.
CASA volunteers are actively involved in their
assigned
cases, adopting roles that include not only advocacy, but also frequent
contact with the children, caregivers, and coordination with involved
parties (including schools, law enforcement,
psychologists, foster and biological parents, caseworkers, counselors,
case managers and the State's Attorney's office). Every CASA volunteer
makes a difference in the lives of the children they choose to advocate
for. Join us today, and speak up for a child.
CASA is excited about the diversity that each
volunteer
brings to our program. We hope to have volunteers of different races,
ethnicities, national origins, religions, economic status, sexual
orientation, ages, gender, and individuals with disabilities and those
who have served our country, working together to help children who have
been victims of child abuse and neglect. Together as a community we can
make a difference for these children and help stop child abuse in the
process.
Now that you have decided to make a difference,
you might be
wondering how to become a CASA volunteer. The steps are listed below.
If you have any questions about being an advocate, visit our Frequently
Asked Questions section, call our staff at (217) 446-5975 or
send an
e-mail to advcoor@casavermilion.org.
Steps to Becoming a CASA
Fill out an application
Visit our office, pick up a training packet,
and meet
with the staff
Enroll in an upcoming training class
Attend and participate in training (30 hours
classroom)
Our advocates are unique in the volunteer
field because they undergo thirty hours of classroom training and are
sworn in as officers of the Court. This allows our organization to
stand out as a model of specialized experts, qualified and certified to
provide excellent service. Once a community member decides to become a
CASA volunteer, our office conducts a personal interview with the
perspective advocate, verifies references, and conducts a thorough
background check. Classes are assembled three times a year, where the
new advocates learn about child welfare and the juvenile court system.
Each class is designed to both educate the volunteer and to provide an
opportunity for discussion of concerns and observations.
CASA of Vermilion County is offering the 30-hour
child
advocacy pre-service course for Court Appointed Special Advocates. All
CASA volunteers are required to attend pre-service training. The
nationally recognized curriculum includes information on the Juvenile
Court Process, Child Abuse and Neglect Laws, Childhood Development,
Risk Factors of Child Abuse, and much more.
Are you interested in training but the training dates and times won't
work for your schedule? Please email
or call us to
express your interest and indicate a schedule that will work for you.
We offer the 30-hour course 3 times per year, and if we have
a
consensus, we will certainly accommodate by scheduling the training
course accordingly!
Qualifications
The most notable qualification to become a CASA
volunteer is a desire to advocate for children. In addition, applicants
must:
Pass routine background checks
Provide three references
High school diploma or GED
Be 21 years of age or older
Have the ability to work with people in diverse
backgrounds
No legal or social service background is
necessary!
Q. What
are a CASA volunteer's main
responsibilities?
A. The three most important tasks for the CASA volunteer is to:
Complete an intensive independent investigation
of the case
Report findings to the Court
Ensure representation of the child's best
interest.
Q. How
much time does it take to be a CASA
volunteer?
A.
Pre-service training is 30 hours and is typically taught over 5-week
period.
As a CASA volunteer, the time you put into investigating your case will
reflect the needs and size of the family in the case you choose. The
average advocate spends about 6-8 hours a month working their case.
Q. Do
I choose my case?
A. The Juvenile Court Judge
decides which cases need a CASA most. We then offer these cases to our
volunteers. We may suggest a case, but the volunteer has the right to
refuse a case for any reason.
Q. I
cannot make one or two of the training dates. Do I have to wait for the
next training?
A. No, please call the office and we can make arrangements for you to
make up one or two missed classes.
Q. I
work full time, can I still be a CASA
volunteer?
A.
Yes, as a CASA volunteer you have control of your investigation
schedule. Some scheduled events (these are not frequent), such as court
hearings and individual educational plan meetings, happen during the
workday. It works best if the volunteer has some flexibility at work
and can attend these meetings/hearings. Call or e-mail the office to
discuss your specific situation.
Q. What
happens if I go out of town or go on
vacation?
A.
CASA staff or another CASA volunteer will cover any important meetings
you would miss. If you are going to be on an extended trip (more than
one month) we might ask that you make phone contact with the child or
children on your case.
Q. Where
is CASA of Vermilion County located?
A. The offices of CASA
of Vermilion County are located in the lower level of the Danville
Township
Building on the corner of North and Walnut Streets at 101 W. North St.,
Danville, Illinois. The office hours are Monday through Thursday from
9am to 4pm; however, due to meetings outside the office, the office is
not always staffed. Please call ahead at (217) 446-5975 to ensure
someone is in the office before visiting.
If you have any additional
questions about being an advocate
please call our staff at (217) 446-5975 or send an e-mail to advcoor@casavermilion.org.
The mission
of CASA of Vermilion County is to
advocate for abused and neglected children within the Juvenile Court
System, by training and managing volunteers to represent those
children's best interest to the Court.
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