CASA VOLUNTEER APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. If you have decided that you are interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, please click here to complete and submit an application to the CASA office.
  • Submitting an application does not commit you to participating in the next training class, it simply begins the application process.
  • If you would like to become a Friend of CASA instead of, or in addition to becoming a CASA volunteer, simply call the CASA office.
  1. The CASA office will send reference inquiries to the individuals that you have listed on the application.
  2. Once CASA receives all three, completed reference inquiries, applicants receive a letter that offers an initial interview appointment, which can be confirmed or rescheduled.
  • Interviews are held at the CASA Office and are typically 90 minutes in length.
  1. After the interview, applicants are notified of the outcome in writing and may then be invited to the next pre-service training class.
  2. Applicants participate in the 35-hour pre-service training program (7 sessions).
  3. Court Appointed Special Advocates are sworn in by the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN BEING A CASA?

The CASA office receives court appointments from the Juvenile Court on behalf of individual children and sibling groups.

The CASA is assigned to work with one child or sibling group/family. The assignment is based upon the needs of the child versus the volunteer’s interests and skills as much as possible.

The "work" of a CASA includes:

  • Visiting with the child/family and gathering information, one to two times per month, during the day, evening, or weekend; whichever is mutually convenient.
  • Consulting with all professionals involved in the child’s life on an as needed basis.
  • Meeting with the volunteer supervisor once a month for approximately one-hour to discuss the case and develop an action plan.
  • Attending a minimum of ten, monthly in-service training sessions (on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.).
  • Completing and submitting a monthly time log.
  • Submitting written reports and attending court hearings as necessary (approximately once every six months)