Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering for CASA

Q: What kind of training do CASA volunteers receive?

A: CASA volunteers receive 35 hours of pre-service training, which is scheduled once or twice each year, over a 5 week period of time. Classroom sessions typically include a total of three Saturdays (9am-4pm) and four evenings (6pm-9pm). Also included in the 35-hour schedule is a half-day of courtroom observation, which occurs on a weekday at the Circuit Court in Annapolis. Classroom topics range from navigating the child welfare system to the effects of abuse and neglect on child development. Active volunteers also attend monthly in-service training and case discussion groups for 10 hours of continuing education annually. Individually, CASA volunteers meet with their case supervisor each month to discuss their case and develop an action plan.

Q: How much of a time commitment is required to volunteer for CASA?

A: Volunteers spend an average of 10 hours per month on their cases, including: routine visits with the child (2-4 times/mo.); consultation with family members, teachers, therapists, etc.; and administrative duties, such as meeting with a case supervisor monthly, keeping detailed records, and writing court reports.

Q: Can I work full-time and be a CASA volunteer?

A: Yes! The majority of current CASA volunteers are employed on a full-time basis. Some flexibility is necessary to allow for attendance at Court hearings and other meetings that may be held during normal business hours. Court hearings and meetings are generally arranged three to six months ahead of time to allow for advanced scheduling. Visits and contact with others involved in the case (telephone calls, etc.) can be arranged according to a volunteer's convenience.

Q: What is the average length of a CASA case?

A: Children spend an average of 18 months in "the system" before a safe, permanent home is achieved. Anne Arundel County CASA has been involved with some cases that closed within 9 months and others, that still remain open after several years. Despite this variance, we ask that volunteers be able to commit to working with one case for a minimum of one year or until the conclusion of the first case assignment.

Q: Can CASA children visit or participate in activities with my family?

A: No. The identity of the child and his/her family is confidential and can not be shared with anyone except the CASA staff and those directly involved with the child’s case.

Q: How do children become involved with the CASA program?

A: The Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County appoints each CASA volunteer on behalf of a particular child or sibling group. The child’s attorney or the Department of Social Services may also initiate a request to the Court for a CASA.

Q: What are the age demographics of the children in the CASA program?

A: Children served by CASA range in age from newborn to 21 years. The gender make up is split 50/50 between males and females. Currently, the racial breakdown is 24 African American, 31 Caucasian and 4 Latino.

Q: How are volunteers matched with children?

A: Upon receipt of an Order appointing a CASA form the Court, staff refers to each volunteer's areas of interest or strength (from application and interview material). In addition, CASA staff develops a profile of the child and family situation from consulting with involved professionals before deciding upon a match. The case supervisor will then call that potential volunteer, briefly describe the child’s needs/situation, and give the volunteer an opportunity to make a decision about the assignment. If the volunteer accepts the assignment, an initial supervision meeting is arranged, during which a case plan is developed for the volunteer to begin working on the case.

Q:  Can anyone volunteer to be a CASA?

CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens. No special or legal background is required. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.

Q:  Is there a "typical" CASA volunteer?

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 52% are employed in full-time jobs; the majority tend to be professionals. 82% of the volunteers nationwide are women; 18% are men.

Q:  What training does a CASA volunteer receive?

CASA volunteers complete a 35-hour training course that is conducted by the local CASA program, on weekends and weekday evenings. Volunteers learn about courtroom and child welfare procedures from the principals in the system -- judges, lawyers, social workers, court personnel, and others. CASA volunteers also learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and are educated about specific topics ranging from child abuse to childhood development and adolescent behavior.

Q:  How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?

CASA volunteers are advocates and caseworkers are service providers. Social workers are generally employed by state governments. They sometimes work on as many as 20 cases at a time and are frequently overwhelmed. The CASA is a volunteer with only one case assignment. The CASA volunteer does not replace a social worker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer can thoroughly study a child's case and needs, has knowledge of community resources, and can make recommendations to the court, independent of state agency restrictions and policy.

Q:  How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?

The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. Each child has an attorney to represent his/her wishes. The CASA provides crucial background information. It is important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a child's wishes in court. Rather, they speak to the child's best interests.

Q:  How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child?

CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they are all in court, and the roles the judge, lawyers, and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers.

Q:  How many cases does a CASA volunteer work on at a time?

Each CASA is assigned to one child, or sibling group, at a time.

Q:  Do lawyers, judges and social caseworkers support CASA?

CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice. Anne Arundel County CASA was implemented by the Anne Arundel County Bar Association, with the support of the local Circuit Court and Department of Social Services.