Volunteer Opportunity Details:

Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained community volunteers appointed by district court Judges to speak for the best interests of children who are brought before the court for reasons of abuse, neglect, or dependency.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is an official part of judicial proceedings, working alongside attorneys and social workers. By handling only one case at a time the CASA has time to thoroughly explore the history of each assigned case. The volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, neighbors, school officials, doctors and others involved in the child's background who might have facts about the case. The volunteer reviews all of these available facts as well as all court documents pertaining to the case. He or she then is expected to submit formal reports to the Judge at every scheduled hearing/ review. The CASA continues to monitor the case to assure that the judicial and child welfare systems are moving ahead to secure a safe, permanent home for the child, and that court-ordered services are provided to the child and family. The CASA can be an invaluable resource for the attorney for the child and social worker in reaching their goals for permanency.

Complete an intensive independent review of each case:

Speak with the child and relevant adults
Review appropriate records and reports
Observe the child and significant others
Report findings to the court:

Provide a written report containing factual information
Attend court hearings concerning the child
Participate in case conferences concerning the child
Ensure representation of the child's best interest:

Attend all court hearings to see that all relevant facts are presented
Attend appropriate interagency meetings regarding the child
Prod public systems into action
Monitor case following a court hearing or decision as designated by the court.

Consult regularly with the volunteer coordinator and develop a CASA case plan and review progress and reports.

Required Skills/Abilities

Ability to keep all client and court information confidential
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Ability to respect and relate to people from various backgrounds (economic, cultural, educational) and in a variety of settings
Access to reliable transportation
Ability to maintain objectivity
Ability to gather and record factual information accurately
A basic understanding of child development
A basic understanding of family relationships
Training

CASA volunteers are required to attend approximately 30 hours of pre-service training.
Training is available in two formats- 30 hours of class time or 15 hours independent study and 15 hours in class.
CASA volunteers follow guidelines established by the National CASA Association.
CASA volunteers will attend in-service training and receive direct supervision and guidance from program staff.
Time Commitment

Volunteers are required to commit themselves to the program for twelve months.
Most volunteers spend between 5-20 hours per month on their case.
How Do I Get Started?

You can begin your application process by completing a Volunteer Application and by contacting us at 973-832-4002 or info@passaiccountycasa.org

This opportunity is sponsored by: Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates

We need volunteers who are free at these times Evenings Weekends Monthly Weekly Weekdays This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Adults (26-54) Individual Adults (55+)

Contact Person: Erica Fischer, Executive Director, (phone), (email) View all agency contacts

Address:

357 Valley Road, Suite 2 Wayne, NJ 07470 (See a map)

Directions:

Park in back off of Sylvan Drive.

Web Site: http://www.passaiccountycasa.org/index.asp

Last updated on June 29, 2009