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So…What is CASA, and what do CASA volunteers do? Imagine what it is like for children across Nebraska who are removed from their homes and placed in foster care at no fault of their own. Picture 3,000 children who have to relocate to a new home, a new school, and attend courtroom hearings with a revolving door of adults – all while coping with the trauma of abuse and neglect. The State of Nebraska has removed these children, finding they were unsafe. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are well-trained to research the case they are assigned to, get to know the child(ren), and speak in court for the best interest of abused and neglected children throughout Nebraska. CASA volunteers are appointed to a case by the judge. The volunteer's goal is to provide a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer researches the child's best interests, such as staying with his or her parents or guardians, being placed in foster care, or adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement and follows through on the case until the child is safe in their home. So many things have changed. However, one thing that has not changed is the difference that a CASA volunteer makes in the life of a child. Our program staff and volunteers see first-hand the traumatic impact on the 2,000 children we serve. This includes the lack of services in Nebraska to help children removed from their homes and thrown into a system children do not understand. CASA volunteers are often the one person in all of this chaos who stays with them throughout the entire ordeal. CASA volunteers are not paid but advocate for abused and neglected children because they want to make a difference in the lives of children. Want to know more? Read on to receive answers to your questions. 1. What are the qualifications in becoming a CASA volunteer? Commitment: The vast majority of cases last one to two years, and the amount of time spent on a case per month typically averages 10 hours. CASA 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, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc. 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. 2. What is the process to become a CASA volunteer? 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 procedures from the principals in the system, including 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. 3. How can I get involved? Nebraska CASA is always looking for individuals like you who want to get involved. Visit apply@elkhornvalleycasa.org, stop in the office at 115 N 5th St in O'Neill, or call 402.340.3185 to find out all of the ways you can help. 4. If I were to donate funds, how is my money used? We have a responsibility to our community and our donors and work hard to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization. We make our IRS Form 990 available for review, as required by law. 5. What is your organization's privacy policy? Our organization takes our privacy policy seriously and takes steps to protect and ensure the safety of our supporters. We do not sell or otherwise disclose information about our volunteers or supporters outside of our immediate organization. This policy has no exceptions. We do not sell or exchange your information with any other organizations, public, private, or nonprofit. For more information on how foster care works and becoming a CASA volunteer, go to: apply@elkhornvalleycasa.org, or call Monica Huber at our local office at 402.340.3185 to get started.
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