Volunteering
Become an Advocate Volunteer
Be the difference for an abused or neglected child. Each year hundreds of children in our area are removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. What can you do? You can be their voice in court, be their constant, be the difference.
Are you ready? Be the difference. Fill out the Volunteer Application Form and become a CASA volunteer!
What is CASA?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a specially trained citizen who is appointed by a Family Court Judge to speak for the best interest of a child who has fallen victim to abuse or neglect.
What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
A CASA volunteer provides the Family Court Judge with a carefully researched background report on the child in order to help the court make a sound decision about the child’s future. Each foster care or preventive case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteers information helps the judge determine if it is in the child’s best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardian, be placed in foster care, or be freed for adoption. The CASA volunteer may make suggestions or express concerns to the judge, and follows through on the case until it is resolved in court.
How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
To prepare a report, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, foster parents, Attorneys for the Child, case workers, school personnel, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a Department of Social Services case worker?
DSS Case workers are employed by county government. They sometimes work on as many as 10-20 cases at a time. The CASA volunteer carries only 1 or 2 cases at a time. The CASA volunteer does not replace the case worker on a case who provides direct service to the family. The CASA volunteer is an independent appointee of the court and may make suggestions to the court independent of county agency restrictions.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from that of an Attorney for the Child?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation. That is the role of the Attorney for the Child. However, the CASA volunteer may provide crucial information that assists an Attorney for the Child in presenting their cases. A CASA volunteer compliments the work of the Attorney for the Child.
Is there a “typical” volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Within CASA of Chautauqua Co. program in 2007, 9% of the active volunteers are male and 91% are female. 80% of the active volunteers are between the ages of 40 and 65, with 20% being between the ages of 21 and 39 years of age. 7% are high school graduates, 17% have some college, 69% are college graduates and 7% are post-graduates. Over 50% of the programs active volunteers are employed either full or part-time and a little over 40% are either retired or not employed. All current active volunteers are Caucasian leaving the program with a need for more diversity.
Can anyone volunteer to be a CASA?
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens, over the age of 18. No special or legal background is required. Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.
What training does a CASA volunteer receive?
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training course conducted by the local CASA program. The training is based on the National CASA Associations training manual and is 30 hours in duration before they can be sworn-in.
How many cases on the average does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
An average caseload is one to two cases at a time. Cases may involve more than one child.
Do lawyers and judges support CASA?
Yes, Family Court Judges support the CASA program in their courtrooms and assign cases. CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators.
Does the federal government support CASA?
CASA is a priority of the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.
How many CASA programs are there?
There are over 950 CASA programs in 50 states, serving approximately 300,000 children by more than 73,000 CASA volunteers. There are 23 CASA programs in 34 counties in the State of New York, serving more than 3,640 children by 826 dedicated CASA volunteers contributing a total of 110,011 hours.
How effective have CASA programs been?
Studies show that children with CASA volunteers have a better chance of living in a permanent home than children who do not have a CASA volunteer assigned. CASA often reduces the number of times a child is moved from placement to placement. Cases which have a CASA volunteer assigned are more likely to be reviewed on a regular basis by the Court and have fewer adjournments, thereby saving tax dollars. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to secure needed services in a timely manner.
How much time does it require to volunteer?
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends approximately 10 hours per month doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved in a case?
In most cases, the volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved within Family Court. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other service providers involved in these cases, the CASA volunteer is the one constant person in this child’s life, providing continuity.
Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the family court judge to speak for the child’s best interests.
What children are assigned CASA volunteers?
Children who are victims of abuse and/or neglect who have been placed in foster care or are at risk of being placed in foster care are assigned CASA volunteers. All cases are referred by the Family Court Judge.
What is the role of the National and State CASA Associations?
The National CASA Association is a non-profit organization that represents and serves State Associations and local CASA programs. The New York State Association provides training assistance for directors, and volunteers, technical assistance with program operation, case supervision, grant writing support, research, news, and public awareness services to Statewide CASA programs.
How is CASA funded?
CASA of Chautauqua County, Inc. is partially funded by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, The Unified Court System of New York State/Office of Court Administration, Interest of Lawyers Account, private and public grants and private donations. CASA of Chautauqua Co., Inc. welcomes any and all donations.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call the CASA office at (716) 753-4123 or email us.
Board of Directors and Standing Committees
CASA is looking for community members who are willing to attend monthly Board meetings, help with fundraisers and sit on standing committees: Finance, Communications, Human Resources, Nominating, Program, and Resource Development.
The Board meets monthly the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at the Park United Methodist Church in Sinclairville. CASA has been operating for 5 years and had 30 active volunteer advocates in 2007 who served 40 cases involving 75 children.
If you...
- support the mission of CASA, “ …supports approved volunteers, who advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected youth in family court in an effort to find them safe permanent homes”
- have a heart for nonprofits and the unique challenges they face
- want to make a difference in your community
- want to be involved with an organization that provides valuable and necessary services for children in our community
- enjoy being part of the governance arm of an organization
- can commit to regular attendance of monthly Board meetings
...please contact Kathy Park at 753-4123 or by email for more information.
These forms may be printed and mailed or sent to us by email as attachments.
Fundraising
CASA has two annual fundraisers:
- Mad Hatter Tea Party held in the Spring of each year in Mayville
- Hoedown held in August of each year in Chautauqua
We are always looking for community members who are willing to serve on our Fundraising committee. As with all nonprofits, fundraising is built into our budget and needed to meet our expenses. Please contact Kathy Park at 753-4123 or by email if you are interested in attending an event or want to be involved with the Fundraising committee.
Spread the Word
CASA of Chautauqua County, Inc. is always looking for individuals, organizations, and foundations interested in helping us spread the word about our program by:
- Displaying brochures at your place of business.
- Inviting CASA of Chautauqua Co., Inc. to make a presentation to your business, organization, club, church, etc.
- Informing CASA of Chautauqua Co., Inc. of events in the community where we might be able to recruit new volunteers through a booth or another means of advertising.
If you are able to help us in any of the ways listed above, or if you have your own idea about “Spreading The Word,” please contact us by email or by phone at (716) 753-4123.
Volunteer of the Year Recipients
2004 - Donna Vanstrom
2005 - Sharon Green
2006 - Berkeley Adams
2007 - Robert Gunderson
2008 - Catherine Deuink & Brenda Johnson