I’ve been looking for meaningful volunteer work and keep bumping into this. IIRC, a few of you have done/are doing this. Tell me about it.
My concern is that it will be extremely intense and difficult to handle emotionally.
I have not done it myself but have worked with the CASA volunteers in the past professionally to know what an asset they are in advocating for children.
My neighbor recently completed the training. It is intense (as it should be - it’s a serious responsibility) in training and yep, I think there is the potential for it to be emotionally draining - depending on how you handle stress, etc. The training is quite long (at least a few months?) but generally you will be going through it with others who are also training. The rewards can be priceless - if not to you, to the children/families you serve - but that doesn’t mean it will all be ponies and rainbows and happy endings. Just being frank!
However hats off to those who step up to the plate to do this valuable work.
Yes, can be intense and frustrating, as CASA is primarily about the court process. I looked into this for a long time and learned a huge issue is the actual state laws, bio parent rights and how your state pushes for reunification or less so. CASA can be more about court advocacy, preparing and showing up, than the week to week relationship with the child.
There are intermediate programs you can join, mentoring (paired with a child or teen, regular buddying, developing trust,) or another form of mentoring where you work in a more focused way with their life skills, study habits, decision making. (This can be about various kids who need support and guidance, not just those monitored by the state.) See what your local DHS offers. Ymmv.
DH and I qualified for the buddying. Even the training for different roles will vary by community.
DD just did the training for this last year. She found it helpful and comprehensive; it included court observations as well as input from professionals who intersect with the foster care system. She is assigned to a mid-teen who lives in a supervised house (both of his parents are deceased). This is a new role for her and she has found the supervision adequate.
It can be intense and some opt out during the training. Looking into the training might help decide if it is a fit. She sees this teen monthly, has regular contact with his house staff and school personnel, as well periodic scheduled court appearances to discuss his needs. He is receptive to her visits and was already familiar with having a CASA volunteer.
I’ve been a CASA for two years to a teen who just turned 18. I’ve found it extremely rewarding, although frustrating at times–I can’t force my teen to always make good choices, but I can be a stable, positive influence in her life. Each CASA’s role looks different depending on the needs of the child/youth. I don’t agree with @lookingaround that the court advocacy is more important than the relationship with the child–nothing is more important than that, and mentoring/life skills, etc. are a very large part of that relationship. I go to court every six months for my child, but that’s about it. I also attend some school meetings and social worker meetings, but again, that’s not tremendously time consuming and is extremely important to making sure the child’s needs are being met. Also, where we are in Orange County, California, the time commitment is every other week, not weekly, to see a child. In my case, with my teen going to high school and working a huge number of hours, we typically see each other about once a month, but we keep in touch by texting when we don’t see each other. And she’s specifically reached out to me when she had a certain issue, as opposed to her social worker or her transitional housing program director–they have very different professional roles and she felt she could trust me the most to help her.
In our area, there’s an orientation session before the training and some people choose not to do the training afterward once they know more. The training was 30 hours long and was excellent. After you’ve been accepted as a CASA (which includes a background check), you can specify age ranges and other issues related to who you’ll be matched with–everything from how far you’re willing to drive to whether you’d feel comfortable working with a GLBTQ youth or a teen with a baby. You can also decline a case after you review a file if you feel you’re not equipped to be an effective CASA, for whatever reason, for that particular child. Also, CASAs have case supervisors who are paid staff members to help you navigate the system and issues with your child. Mine has been invaluable in giving me support and helping me with various things that come up.
So bottom line, I highly recommend you explore your interest more. I don’t know of any other single volunteer program out there that more directly helps a child. My life has been so enriched by this relationship, and I’ve grateful to her every day.
Several years ago, I looked into this program in the State of CT. At that time, it was geared more towards a case worker type role model with a large caseload, not a role of advocate for one juvenile. It was based more upon home visits and court appearances, not on developing a relationship with a child and being a true advocate. Even with the training, I questioned whether or not the GAL program was being used to take the burden off case managers and that the training was not adequate for what was expected, (I was an ER nurse, 8 yr member of the local board of ed and lobbied for NSBA ). I hope that the program has changed since then as advocates are desperately need for these children.
@ECmotherx2, clearly that program is very different than CASA’s. A CASA has a one-on-one relationship with a child, period.
My niece had a GAL due to very contentious relationships and frequent court battles between her bio parents. It wasn’t volunteer, though. The GAL was paid (by one of the parents, ordered by the court). I think it was very stressful for the GAL.
@TTdd16 you can imagine how Orange County would be different than LA, where I first looked into this. The frustration with the court system comes when a locality (ok, state or, in the case of large states like CA, Texas, or others, the local area) is not responsive to directions or changes a child needs. Advocating isnt always going to produce results the child needs, if the system isn’t working. I also learned how local/state funding affects progress overall, for a child. And where I live now, DHS is so overloaded.
The upside is the goal of one’s consistent affect on the child. And I think that’s the goal many would-be volunteers want. But as I said, in some areas, there are other ways to focus on the child and the relationship. It’s possible that in some areas “CASA Volunteer” does include these other roles. It’s going to depend on where one is.
It’s weird how relevant topics come up. My D is going to an information meeting today to learn about becoming involved with CASA. She presently works for a family law attorney and her boss suggested to D.
I have been a GAL in FL for a few years. My system is much like @TTdd16 explained. I can choose which cases and how many I want at a time. My paid supervisor is a huge help and attends meetings and court when I cannot. I do feel like I’m making a difference, but it is frustrating at times. The process moves very slowly. You should definitely investigate and see if it is for you.
I am an attorney and have been court appointed, on a pro bono basis, to represent children where the Dept of Social Work has removed a child from a home due to neglect/abuse, or the child is in foster care and some issue arises. Sometimes the wishes or interests of the child conflict with the interests of the Department and/or parents/foster parents, and they need their own advocate. It is intense and you have to find your contentment in small victories. As the attorney for the child, it was my job to give them a voice and make sure their wishes were heard and considered. But as you can imagine, often the wishes of a child were not in their own best interests. It was especially hard to go home to my three small children and happy marriage, knowing I had just left a meeting with a child whom no one seemed to want, and who would in all likelihood be raised by the State. It made me appreciate what I and my family had, and made me a better father.
For those of you who have volunteered with CASA or have a family member does, how do you deal with vacations? My time is my own these days so on the one hand I have the time to commit to this and have thought about doing so, along with my other volunteer activities, but I also like to travel and will take trips of several weeks a few times a year.
@intparent, I’m going to again push back because I believe you’re giving wrong information that could discourage the OP or others from pursuing a role as a CASA. The OP asked for experiences of CASAs, and so far on this thread, I’m the only one who actually is one.
1 If you think there's a substantial difference in the social issues between LA and Orange County, you are mistaken. The issues are identical and kids are affected in the same ways. Social services and the family court system are just as swamped here as in LA.
2 The mission of LA's CASA is the same as all CASAs everywhere--and it starts with a direct, one-on-one relationship with a child or teen. How can a CASA advocate for a child's best interests if there's no relationship to understand what the child needs?
3 A CASA's role is a dual one, both mentor and advocate. The time breakdown will vary depending on the individual child or teen, but everything starts with that relationship. A CASA who works with a teen who's in the juvenile justice system will have more court hearings to attend than someone who's not. But that's a small percentage of CASA youths and you have the freedom to choose a child or youth that matches your skills and strengths. I don't have any specific background in working with youth, so there were some kids I didn't think I could work with effectively and I wasn't matched with them. A friend who became a CASA after I did used to be a teacher for special needs--and she's matched with a child with special needs because that's her strength. Bottom line, the reason the CASA program is more effective than other mentoring programs is because CASAs are court appointed to get involved in other areas that, for instance Big Brothers/Sisters can't. For my youth right now, a major focus is her education--and I'm able to talk with her school counselor and attend school meetings to provide advocacy in that area. Privacy laws often prevent other mentors from having those relationships.
4 In the system, a child has both his/her own attorney and a social worker who have more sway with a judge than a volunteer CASA does. CASAs work hand in hand with these professionals but in no way replace them or try to do their jobs--that's a misunderstanding of our role. The 30 hours of training are extremely effective in helping CASAs learn about these issues, and that's why I encourage anyone interested in this vital role to go to an information session and decide for themselves if this is right for them (you too, @intparent. I highly encourage you to re-visit LA of CASA and find out accurate information about the program. Yes, you really could make a unique difference in the life of a child or teen.)
@doschicos, vacations aren’t an issue (unless maybe if you were gone for several months plus a year?) I’ve been traveling a lot lately, and always let my youth know when I’m going to be gone. Many CASAs are retired or semi-retired and travel a lot. I think the only issue would be if you weren’t able to be there on a consistent basis. Also, your specific situation would be a perfect question to discuss with a CASA staff person after an information session.
Also, earlier I wrote GLBTQ and can’t edit anymore. LGBTQ! I’m super tired right now!
@10smomlc has a good point too (I’m not familiar with the GAL program so can only speak to CASAs.) If you can’t attend a court hearing or other meeting, your supervisor will attend for you. It’s part of their job. That’s especially helpful for CASAs who work full-time jobs without a lot of flexibility.
OP here. Thank you all for this information. It is very helpful.
@intparent, my apologies. My comments were directed to @lookingforward and not to you. (Really wish the editing window was longer.)
In fairness, me, not intparent.
And again, I agree with looking into this and other options, as available. My comment about LA starts with “the system,” not the social issues. How one’s local area does this well- or not- is important.
We chose a different route to working with children, a different commitment, and remained active in training others. It’s all important. But one must look into how this is offered and handled in their own area.
I am an attorney with a practice limited solely to representing children as a GAL. I regularly work with and provide training to our local CASA program. CASA is a fabulous program andni could not do my job without them. Many areas are like mine with a serious shortage of CASA volunteers which means not all children who need a CASA get one.
The job is about BOTH building a relationship with the child and advocating in court. The better you know the child the better you can truly assess their best interests and advocate for them. It is not like a weekly big brother/big sister type relationship though, but involves spending time talking to the child and adults involved in their life.
Some states use CASA as the GAL. Other states require an attorney to serve as GAL rules and programs vary significantly from state to state so people’s experience with these programs also varies.
CASA itself has both a national and state organizations that ensure the program is run consistently.
I have been a GAL for maybe 7 years, but I got a little burned out and haven’t had any full active cases for a few years, although I am still involved in the program. The workload varied greatly depending on the case, and I was spared some of the more horrific cases of physical abuse that I have read about in the papers. Most of my cases were precipitated by drug use by the parents, so I have been aware of this opioid epidemic for a long time. If a child is in a relatively stable foster home, then a visit once per month was required. Court cases are typically scheduled every 3 months and the job would be just about a full-time thing for 1 week before a court case. All of the info gathered had to be as current as possible so there was no way to avoid this 1 week cram. If I had a vacation that overlapped with a court date my supervisor would fill in, but I did try to avoid that.
Of course when you are dealing with children being taken away (sometimes permanently) from their parents it is very stressful and emotional. Aside from advocating and helping children the work appealed to me because the written report that I prepared was an important part of the case. The judge typically received written reports only from the social worker and from the GAL and I got very good feedback from the judge that my reports were helpful to him/her in making decisions.
One thing I found frustrating is that when the case is officially closed, which happens for example, if a child is returned to his parents or an adoption is finalized, contact with that child ceases completely. So I have not been able to “check up” on some of my old cases to see how the kids are doing. It is not a mentor role, it is an advocate.