• 53 people are interested
 

Become a Court Appointed Child Advocate (a CASA Volunteer)

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ORGANIZATION: Heart of Missouri CASA

  • 53 people are interested
Because of my CASA

Heart of Missouri CASA speaks up for children in Boone and Callaway Counties who have been abused or neglected by empowering our community to volunteer as advocates for them in the court system. When the state steps in to protect a child’s safety, a judge appoints a trained volunteer advocate to make independent and informed recommendations in the child’s best interest. Volunteer advocates come from every walk of life, yet share a commitment to improving children’s lives, a willingness to learn, and an open mind towards life experiences different from their own.

Volunteers complete an interview, a background check, and a 30-hour intensive training program including courtroom observation and are then sworn into their roles by a judge and assigned to a single child or a sibling group. CASA is not your typical volunteer opportunity... but we’re not looking for typical volunteers.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)volunteers get to know the child(ren) while also gathering information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, therapists, caregivers, and anyone else involved in the child’s life in order to make independent and informed recommendations to help the judge decide what’s best for the child. They are a consistent adult presence for a child or family of children throughout their entire case. CASA volunteers commit to spending 8-12 hours per month for the duration of one specific case (24 months on average).

Specific Tasks

  • Spend quality time with the child or children you’re appointed to
  • Communicate regularly with the child(ren)’s parents, relatives, placement, teachers, doctors, therapists, caregivers and anyone else involved in the child’s life
  • Participate in case meetings and review case files
  • Gather and document information on your case
  • Formulate recommendations on what’s in the best interest of the children
  • Submit a court report and present your recommendations to the judge in the courtroom

The CASA Volunteer Training program consists of 5 in-person 3-hour classes, 3 hours of online pre-work for each class and at least 1 hour of courtroom observation (approximately 31 hours total).

More opportunities with Heart of Missouri CASA

No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.

About Heart of Missouri CASA

Location:

1316 Old Hwy 63 S, Suite 104, Columbia, MO 65201, US

Mission Statement

The mission of CASA is to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts. We promote and support quality volunteer representation for children to ensure that each child has a safe, permanent, nurturing home.

Description

Every year more than half a million abused and neglected children are in need of safe, permanent, nurturing homes. That's where CASA steps in. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was created in 1977 to make sure the abuse and neglect these children originally suffered at home doesn't continue as abuse and neglect at the hands of the system. As trained advocates, CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children in court. The result is that a child is placed into a safe, loving home where he/she can thrive. It is the CASA vision to provide a volunteer for each and every abused and neglected child who needs one.

CAUSE AREAS

Advocacy & Human Rights
Children & Youth
Justice & Legal
Advocacy & Human Rights, Children & Youth, Justice & Legal

WHEN

We'll work with your schedule.

WHERE

Heart of Missouri CASA105 E Ash StSuite 102Columbia, MO 65203

(38.9542,-92.3358)
 

SKILLS

  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • People Skills
  • Cross-cultural Communication
  • Relationship Building
  • Verbal / Written Communication

GOOD FOR

  • People 55+

REQUIREMENTS

  • Driver's License Needed
  • Background Check
  • Must be at least 21
  • Orientation or Training
  • 8-12 hours a month for 2 years
  • empathy, patience, non-judgmental attitude

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