Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much time is involved?
A: An individual who wishes to serve as an advocate is required to
participate in a 40 hour training program and attend four in-service
meetings annually. CASA volunteers usually work with only one case at a
time and although time commitment varies, they spend an average of 5-10
hours per month on their case. Since CASAs remain actively involved in
the case until formally dismissed by the court, they provide continuity
for a child in a complicated process which has many changing scenarios.
Q: What process does a new volunteer go through?
A: The process of becoming a volunteer advocate includes the
completion of a written application, an initial interview, a complete
reference check and a criminal background check. Applicants that are
accepted into the training program are then required to attend forty hours
of "class" before being sworn in as a CASA.
Q: What does a volunteer do?
A: In representing the child's best interests, a CASA volunteer
serves as a
FACT-FINDER, gathering relevant information and reporting back to the
court; FACILITATOR, assisting the court in eliminating delays in the
progress of the case; MONITOR, checking compliance with court orders and
notifying the court of circumstances which may require modification of a
court order; and ADVOCATE, making sure that each child's needs are acted
upon in a sensitive and expedient manner.
Q: Who does CASA benefit?
A: CASA benefits the children playing an integral role in the decisions affecting the child's
future. A CASA will see that no child falls between the cracks of an
overburdened child welfare system.
Q: Are volunteers really needed?
A: Yes they are! They are an important part of the child welfare
system.
Q: How do I volunteer?
A: To volunteer for the CASA Kane County program, call the CASA
office at
630-232-4484 and request a volunteer information packet.
Q: How else can I help?
A: Other ways to volunteer for the program include:
- as a Pro Bono attorney, assisting advocates with Juvenile Court
cases
- as a member of a special event committee, planning and
coordinating events such as our golf outing, and auction
- as a member of the Board of Directors, overseeing the management
of the program
|
