CASA recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate on behalf of children in foster care in our community. CASA Volunteers do their own investigation, get to know each child, and write reports directly to the judge with recommendations for what’s in the child’s best interests.
CASA Volunteers:
- Work alongside attorneys and social workers.
- Interview parents, family members, teachers, doctors, foster parents, and other adults who may have information about the child.
- Make recommendations to the court about any issues or concerns relating to the child’s educational, medical, or emotional needs, and the most appropriate, permanent placement for that child.
- Form trusting relationships with the children they serve and represent the children’s best interests at all times.
Volunteer Requirements:
- CASA Volunteers must be at least 21 years old.
- Participate in a pre-screening process which includes successfully passing criminal history and child abuse registry checks.
- Participate in pre-service training composed of classroom and self-study components.
- Commit to a minimum of 18 months as a consistent Advocate. Volunteers spend an average of 10-15 hours per month serving as a CASA.
CASA's Impact in 2020*:
- 282 CASA Volunteers donated a total of 7,323 hours, saving county taxpayers $402,765 in county-paid attorneys’ fees.
- 593 youth in foster care received advocacy services.
- 248 youth in foster care found permanency with the help of their CASA Volunteer.
- 96% of the school age children served by CASA Volunteers advanced to the next grade level.
- CASA Volunteers make lasting impressions in the lives of children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect, and positively impact the judicial and child welfare systems.
*CASA 2020 Calendar Year Statistics
To learn more about how you can be a voice for the well-being of a foster child, attend a CASA 101 Informational Session, contact Tabitha Rendon, Recruitment Director, at tabithar@casaofthesouthplains.org, or call (806) 763-2272.
