Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers get to know the child and gather information from everyone involved in their daily life, including family members, foster parents, teachers, daycare providers, doctors, lawyers, social workers, and other relevant people.
Step 1: Complete a volunteer inquiry form to learn more
Step 2: A CASA-EP staff member will contact you to discuss your interest
Step 3: Complete a formal application
Step 4: Participate in a screening interview with CASA-EP staff
Step 5: Successfully complete a criminal background check and provide documentation of a safe driving record
Here is what it takes to be a CASA-EP Volunteer:
As a volunteer advocate, you can ensure that the voices of children in the Eastern Panhandle are heard and their needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system.
CASA-EP volunteers participate in a nationally accredited training and development program that consists of 35 hours of pre-service training, followed by 12 hours of yearly in-service training.
Meeting the needs of our CASA-EP volunteers is our priority.
Dedicated staff members, our Volunteer Supervisors, provide all volunteers with ongoing support. There is a peer mentoring program, Chat & Chew discussion opportunities, and you can even volunteer with a friend or partner so casework can be shared.
If you do not have the time available to become a CASA-EP child advocate, there are other ways to make a difference and support our mission:
And we do. Children who have a court-appointed volunteer receive more of the services that are critical to their well-being than children who don’t. They are more likely to succeed in school.