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Volunteer

You can make a difference. Change a Child's Story.

Imagine a child being removed from their home and family. Everything that they have loved, and cared about is different. Even though their home wasn't safe, they still want to be with their family, in their own home and room. But now their reality is not just the abuse or neglect, but a world filled with people they don't know and who they are not sure they can trust. Decisions are being made on their behalf, but one person is there just to speak for them - a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.

CASA volunteers are not foster parents, they are, as their name suggests, court advocates who speak for and recommend services and resources for children while they are living in foster care. They are often the only consistent adult during a very turbulent time in a child's life.

A CASA volunteer is a court appointed, trained and committed adult who ensures that each child’s individual needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system. They get to know the child while also gathering information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, therapists, caregivers, and anyone else involved in the child’s life to make independent and informed recommendations to help the judge decide what’s best for the child. CASA volunteers are entitled to access information about the child's situation and are required to make reports to the court in the child's best interest.

Follow these five steps to become a CASA volunteer. Email staff@CASAacc.org or

call (609) 601-7800 for more information.

Step 1:

Attend a monthly Information Session

Click here for a schedule of upcoming Information Sessions. Learn more about how CASA volunteers and supporters are making a difference in the lives of children living in foster care, and the ways you can help too!

Step 2:

Apply to volunteer

Apply, via an online application, to be accepted into training.

APPLY

Step 3:

Complete all of your pre-training paperwork

You must complete an interview and depending on the acceptance status will include all necessary documents that must be completed before training. Fingerprinting is required free of cost and background check must be completed before you can move forward to training.

Step 4: