what is a casa volunteer?

When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe, a judge may appoint a committed volunteer to help them. That volunteer is called a Court Appointed Special Advocate®, or CASA volunteer.  CASA volunteers are screened and highly trained to represent and advocate for a child’s best interests in the child protection system. CASA volunteers are each assigned to help one child or set of siblings at a time, so they can focus on giving that child or sibling group the individualized advocacy and attention they need. ​CASA volunteers save taxpayers money by ensuring children don't remain in the system for prolonged periods of time. 

Watch this video from CASA of Travis County to learn more. 

becoming a casa volunteer.

The Five Steps to Becoming a CASA Volunteer:
1. Attend a one-hour Informational Session (optional)
2. Submit the application. 
3. Have an informal interview—we'll call you to get it scheduled
4. Complete 40 hours of pre-service training—lots more information about this during the Informational Session!
5. Smile when you're sworn in by a judge as a CASA volunteer! 

From helping siblings find permanent placement together, to finding a child a stable home with a relative, to uncovering information that helps reunite a loving family, CASA volunteers make incredible differences in the lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

As a CASA volunteer, you will talk with the child and their family members, teachers and other stakeholders to find out where the child will be happiest and safest: with the parent(s), a relative, a foster family, or an adoptive family. You will speak for the child in court by submitting a fact-based recommendation for placement to the judge. During the life of the case, you act as the one constant in the child’s life as they experience changes in foster placements, schools, and caseworkers.

Time Commitment
You will spend approximately 10 hours  per month working on your case. The beginning of a case is the intensive, fact-finding stage and may require more time. The majority of cases require presenting recommendations to the judge several times over the course of a year. As a volunteer advocate, you will be assigned to an Advocacy Coordinator, a CASA staff member, who will support your efforts and attend court hearings with you. 

Upcoming Trainings: 
January 12 - February 16 - 5-8 pm (Thursdays)
April 11 - May 16 - 5-8 pm (Tuesdays)
August 10 - September 14 (Thursdays)