CASA Volunteer Training
Once an individual expresses interest in becoming a CASA Volunteer, they are required to attend a CASA 101 Information Session, complete an extensive application, attend an in-person interview, undergo background checks, and provide five references. Those who meet the preliminary requirements may then begin the required Pre-Service Training Program that covers all aspects of the child welfare system and helps prepare them for their volunteer advocacy role.
The Pre-Service Training curriculum consists of a total of 42 training hours, including in-person instruction facilitated by CASA staff and local subject-matter experts, self-study, and court observation. Training materials are provided in advance for trainees to refer to and utilize during training sessions. Understanding and navigating the complexity of the child welfare system requires all volunteers to have, at minimum, a baseline knowledge of terms, policies, organizational setup, and laws. In addition, the Pre-Service Training curriculum covers:
- The importance of family preservation and/or reunification
- The importance of collaboration
- The roles in a child welfare court case
- Recognizing child abuse and neglect
- Minimum sufficient level of care
- Collaborative Family Engagement
- The “Best Interest Principle”
- The long-term effects of childhood trauma
- Helping youth build resilience
- Mental illness in children and families
- The effects of substance abuse on parenting
- Domestic violence
- Trauma-Informed approaches
- Permanent resolutions
- Court report writing
- Educational, medical, and legal advocacy
For questions, please contact Mary Jane Ritchey, Training Director, at maryjaner@casaofthesouthplains.org or call (806) 763-2272.
