CASA is a unique, challenging and personally rewarding project, and one which needs your help.

We are currently seeking individuals to advocate in Kanawha County, West Virginia. We want people who are willing to make the commitment needed to become a CASA volunteer. Training and ongoing supervision are provided. Volunteer training sessions are held several times a year.

In an overburdened social welfare system, abused and neglected children can slip through the cracks among hundreds of current cases. CASA volunteers change that. Appointed by judges, CASA volunteers typically handle just one case at a time—and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. While others may come and go, CASA volunteers provide that one constant that children need in order to thrive.

THE PROCESS
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training and development program that consists of at least 30 hours of pre-service training, followed by 12 hours of yearly in-service training. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedure from the principals in the system – judges, lawyers, social workers, court personnel and others. CASA volunteers also learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and are educated about specific topics ranging from seminars on child sexual abuse to discussions on early childhood development and adolescent behavior.

After completion of the initial training, volunteers are sworn in as Officers of the Court. This gives them the legal authority to conduct research on the child's situation and submit reports to the court.

QUALIFICATIONS
Commitment: The vast majority of cases last one to two years, and the amount of time spent on a case per month typically ranges between 10-20 hours. Volunteers must make case time a priority in order to provide quality advocacy.

Objectivity: Volunteers research case records and speak to everyone involved in a child's life, including their family members, teacher, doctor, lawyer, social worker and others. Their third-party evaluations are based on facts, evidence and testimonies.

Communication skills: Once a volunteer has fully evaluated a case, they prepare a written report outlining their recommendation for the child's placement. They must be able to speak with authority as they present their rationale to the judge in court.

Background check: Volunteer background checks, completed by the CASA staff, include a criminal background check, child abuse registry check, and driving record check.

Kanawha County CASA, Inc.
serving Kanawha County

Bob Boyles
Program Director

Kanawha County CASA, Inc.

P.O. Box 1307

Scott Depot, WV  25560

(304) 553-3187

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