5 Steps to Become a CASA Volunteer:
1. Attend a one-hour group Information Session - Click here to see dates OR attend a one-on-one Information Session - Click here
2. Submit an Application
3. Have an informal interview—we'll email you to get it scheduled
4. Complete 33 hours of pre-service training—lots more information about this during the Information Session!
5. Smile when you're sworn in by a judge as a CASA volunteer!
*Volunteer advocates must be at least 21 years of age and satisfactorily pass a fingerprint background check (which includes Social Security Number verification, a criminal background check, and sex offender registry checks).
Make an Incredible Difference
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, volunteer advocates make incredible differences in the lives of abused and neglected children.
You’ll talk with the child and their family members, teachers and others to find out where the child will be happiest and safest: with the parent(s), a relative or a loving foster family.
You’ll speak for the child in court, making your fact-based recommendation for placement to the judge.
You’ll act as the one constant in the child’s life as they experience changes in foster placements, schools and caseworkers.
All the Training You Need
CASA of Tarrant County will provide all the training you need in a 33-hour course. You’ll learn about courtroom procedures as well as the consequences of abuse and neglect. After the course, you’ll be sworn in by a judge as an official volunteer advocate. Click here to sign up.
Time Commitment, Support & Flexibility
Throughout most of the case, you’ll be asked to give about 12-15 hours of your time per month. The majority of cases require presenting recommendations to the judge three to six times over the course of a year. As a volunteer advocate, you will be assigned to a Child Advocacy Specialist with CASA of Tarrant County who will guide you, support your efforts and attend all court hearings with you.
Volunteer requirements can be done on a flexible schedule. Requirements involve phone calls, foster-home visits and meeting that can be scheduled according to your availability. Court dates are given a 2-week notice prior to the date of the hearing.
Real Volunteers Share How They Make Time For Advocacy:
AMBER: Working Mother & CASA volunteer
“Often I hear.... "I'm not sure if I have the time for CASA." Let me tell you... the hardest part is taking that first step. I'm a mom of 4, I work a full time job with frequent overtime in the court system and a wife of 10 years. Becoming a CASA Advocate becomes a part of your lifestyle and with commitment and dedication, I find we all have the time to make a difference and be the change.”
JOHN: Dad, Coach, Full-Time Worker & CASA volunteer
“Being a CASA is part of my weekly routine now, and I find it really rewarding. I work during the day and then do my family stuff in the evenings. I coach my son's soccer team on Monday nights and I call my CASA kids on Wednesday nights. My wife went through the Helping Hands program and has enjoyed being involved as well! Balancing life, work, and volunteering has proven much easier than I anticipated.”
Hear From Our Volunteers
Upcoming Group Information Sessions
Ready to find out if CASA is right for you? Ready to take the first step? Have questions about an advocate's role in a child's life? Join us for an Information Session! Not available for any of the below sessions? Schedule a call with us.
Invite a Speaker
Do you belong to a group or organization that is interested in learning more about the CASA program volunteering with CASA of Tarrant County? A member of our staff or one of our passionate CASA volunteers is ready to speak to your employees, colleagues, community organization or place of worship about the role of a CASA volunteer. Presentations can be scheduled for 30-60 minutes.
FAQ
+ What is CASA of Tarrant County?
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Tarrant County assists family courts by providing trained volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children by making recommendations for safe and permanent homes. We are a volunteer-powered agency where children's lives are changed every day.
Every year, hundreds of Tarrant County children are removed from their parents and placed in foster care due to abuse and/or neglect. Child Protective Services (CPS) has gained legal custody of these children, and has approximately one year to either reunite them with family, or place them up for adoption. These children are at risk for falling through the cracks of an overburdened child welfare system. CASA of Tarrant County provides caring, unbiased volunteers who take a stand for the children on the case they represent.
CASA of Tarrant County is part of a nationwide organization of Court Appointed Special Advocates with 920 chapters and 70,000 volunteers in 50 states. CASA of Tarrant County is accredited my both National CASA and Texas CASA.
+ What is a volunteer Advocate?
A volunteer advocate is appointed by a judge to be an independent voice in court for an abused or neglected child who has been placed in foster care. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They speak up for children who have been neglected, abused, ignored. They’re trained and they have a cause - with a first and last name.
+ What is a volunteer Advocate's role?
After completing a 33-hour training class provided by CASA of Tarrant County, newly sworn in volunteers are assigned a Child Advocacy Specialist. The specialist guides, mentors, and supports the volunteer throughout the entire life of the court case. Volunteers follow set protocol for minimum standards, including visiting the child regularly. Volunteer advocates work closely with, but independent of, Child Protective Services and attorneys.
The role of the volunteer advocate is:
- To Be a Fact-Finder for the Judge: The volunteer advocate talks with the child, parents, family members, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The volunteer advocate then provides the judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future.
- To Speak for the Child in Court: The volunteer advocate makes a recommendation to the judge for permanent placement, whether it is in the best interest of the child to live with the parent(s), live with relatives, remain in foster care, or be available for permanent adoption.
+ How does a volunteer advocate relate to the child?
CASA volunteers offer children consistency, trust, and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. Throughout the ongoing relationship, CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinions about permanency while remaining objective observers. Pre-service training includes ways to engage children of various ages and diverse backgrounds. CASA volunteers are not responsible for investigating allegations of abuse. A volunteer's interactions with a child are focused on building a healthy, safe connection with a caring advocate.
+ How does a volunteer advocate differ from a Caseworker with Child Protective Services?
Caseworkers are employed by state governments. They work on as many as 30 cases at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload (an average of 1-2 cases at a time). The CASA volunteer does not replace a caseworker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer examines a child's case thoroughly, knows about available community resources, and makes a recommendation to the court, independent of state agency restrictions.
+ How does a volunteer advocate differ from an attorney?
The volunteer advocate does not provide legal representation in the courtroom; that is the role of the attorney. A volunteer advocate speaks specifically to what is in the best interests of the child and provides crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
+ How do the legal and child welfare systems view CASA?
CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice. CASA is described as "the eyes and ears of the judge," and frequently acts as "the arms and legs" of an overworked child protective system.
+ Which children in foster care are assigned a volunteer advocate?
Any child who has been abused or neglected and has become a ward of the court may be assigned a volunteer advocate per a judge's request.
Our goal is to provide a volunteer advocate to every child who needs one. The staff at CASA of Tarrant County tries to assign every foster child a volunteer, but sadly, there are not enough trained volunteer advocates to meet the need. One of the agency's strategic planning goals is the eliminate the "waiting list" of children who need an advocate but do not have one.
+ Where does CASA receive its financial support?
The Texas Legislature sets aside funds specifically for Texas CASA programs, which are distributed by our state organization. The remaining funds are raised through foundation grants, civic and corporate organizations, individual contributions, 3rd party fundraisers, and CASA's special events.
+ Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA of Tarrant County is the only program consisting of volunteers appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests. We are a truly un-duplicated service.
+ How else can I support CASA?
A great way to support CASA is to make a donation. It costs $1,500 to support a volunteer serving a child through the entirety of the child's case. Every donation makes an immediate and direct impact on an abused child's life. Learn how your donation benefits Tarrant County foster care children.
+ What is a "typical" volunteer advocate like?
Volunteer advocates come from all walks of life, representing a variety of ethnic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Approximately two-thirds of our volunteer advocates are employed full-time, some are college students, and some are retired. The one thing they have in common is the conviction that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home.
+ What is the time commitment for being a volunteer advocate?
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends more time conducting research and interviews prior to the first court appearance. Once the initial investigation is complete, volunteers spend approximately 12-15 hours a month maintaining contacts and gathering information. The length of the case can vary, but typically the case will be between 12 to 18 months long. It's critical that volunteers carefully consider this long-term commitment before accepting a case. These children need a strong advocate to work with them through their difficult time, and consistency is key.
+ Can I complete my volunteer requirements on my own schedule?
Yes! Volunteer requirements can be done on a flexible schedule. A lot of requirements entail phone calls, foster-home visits and meeting that can be scheduled according to your availability.
+ What kind of support does a volunteer receive?
Volunteers have a Child Advocacy Specialist assigned to help them and work directly with them throughout their case.
+ Are volunteer advocates compensated?
Advocates are volunteers and are not monetarily compensated.
+ Does a volunteer advocate need legal training? What training does a volunteer advocate receive?
Volunteer advocates are not required to have a background in law; CASA of Tarrant County provides all the necessary training. We conduct eleven training sessions per year. The 33-hour blended learning course combines online and classroom training. It provides volunteer advocates with an overview of courtroom procedure from judges, lawyers, and caseworkers. Volunteers also learn about specific topics ranging from the causes and consequences of abuse and neglect, to early childhood development, and cultural diversity.
+ How do I become a volunteer advocate?
Volunteer advocates must be at least 21 years of age and satisfactorily pass a fingerprint background check (which includes Social Security Number verification, a criminal background check, and sex offender registry checks). They also must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to be both compassionate and objective. The first step is to sign up for an Information Session!