Without our wonderful volunteer advocates, hundreds of abused and neglected children would not have that strong voice in their corner. Henrico CASA Volunteers have advocated for children from newborns to teenagers. Advocates come from all walks of life with a variety of professional and educational backgrounds. No special experience is required. Many more abused and neglected children could benefit from having a CASA Volunteer.
Getting started: Prospective CASA Volunteers can obtain an application here, from the CASA office or send us an E-mail. Applicants are required to undergo criminal and child abuse registry checks.
Training: Volunteers attend 35 hours of training, scheduled in the evenings after work hours. The trainees learn about the court process, the social service system, child development and educational advocacy, domestic violence, substance abuse and the special needs of children who have been abused and neglected. At "graduation", CASAs become sworn in as officers of the Court. New volunteers are likely to be assigned a case very quickly.
Time: Typically, a CASA Volunteer spends several hours a week on a case. Many contacts are made by phone. The amount of time is dictated by the complexity of the case. Volunteers are asked to commit at least one year, but many stay longer, knowing it is best for the child to stay with the case until it is fully resolved.