Change a child’s story. Become a CASA volunteer! Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are highly-trained volunteers serving as the voice for children in Bay and Saginaw county who are in the court system due to abuse and neglect.
Each CASA volunteer advocates on behalf of one child or family at a time, as opposed to the full caseloads managed by DHHS workers and lawyer-guardians ad litem. These volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child or sibling group is placed in a safe, permanent home.
For many of these children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.
Requirements for CASA volunteers:
- At least 21 years old
- Completion of necessary background and reference checks, including fingerprinting
- Interview
- Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of pre-service training
- Availability for court appearances (advance notice is provided)
- A commitment to the CASA program until your first case is closed
Time Commitment:
A CASA Volunteer works with one child or sibling group at a time and meets with them in person every 7-10 days. On average, our volunteers spend between 10-20 hours a month on a case, which consists of visits, travel time, report writing, court hearings, Family Team Meetings, talking with counselors and teachers, etc. A CASA commits to advocating for the child(ren) until permanency is achieved. On average, this process takes about 18 months but can last several years.
Court hearings are usually every 90 days, and you would know in advance the date of the hearing (the following hearing is scheduled at each hearing, so usually you’ll have 90 days notice).
A CASA is also required to complete 12 hours of in-service training annually, which can be done through various ways, found on your own or trainings that we provide.
