Serving Bowie, Cass, Miller, Little River, Hempstead, Howard, Nevada, and Lafayette Counties
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Below is a list of frequently asked questions. For additional information, feel free to contact us. We have friendly, helpful team members who are ready to help!
Frequently asked questions
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are committed, highly-trained volunteers who are appointed by a judge to an individual case involving a child or a sibling group, to act and advocate for each child's best interests in court and in all aspects of their life, making a positive difference and giving them the opportunity to thrive.
CASA volunteers are ordinary people from all walks of life who care about the well-being of children. Many work full-time. Some are students, couples, or retired people.
Decisions are made every day which affect the lives of children in foster care. CASA Volunteers help these decisions to be made with greater information and sensitivity to their individual needs. CASA Volunteers work for better outcomes and provide children in foster care with the knowledge that there is a community around them who cares.
Yes. CASA for Children has a training program that requires 30 hours of pre-service training. This training is made up of 20 hours of group classroom and 10 hours of self-study. 2 hours of court observation before case assignment. All volunteers are matched with an Advocate Coordinator who is a member of the CASA staff. Advocate Coordinators provide individual guidance, support, and accompaniment to the volunteer during their time as an Advocate.
CASA volunteers must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, have access to a vehicle and proof of insurance, complete criminal and CPS background checks, and have the desire, time, patience, and heart to work with children and families. No other experience or education is required. We’ll equip you with all the training you need.
It will vary each month and will generally range from 8-12 hours per month. Some of this time can be spent on evenings or weekends, but there are court hearings, phone calls, and meetings during work hours as well. We will work with you to find an assignment that suits your availability and volunteer goals.
The first step is to sign up for a virtual information session so we can give you all the details and make sure CASA is the right fit for you. Click here to check out our upcoming information sessions or email mcree@casacac.org for more information.
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) works with a child or sibling group in the foster care system. CASA volunteers gather information on the child(ren)'s circumstances to make recommendations to the court. Ideally, CASA volunteers will work towards reuniting the child(ren) with their family of origin whenever safe, and if reunification is not possible, they may recommend placing the child(ren) with extended family or family friends. Volunteer Advocates advocate for permanency, well-being, and safety that help each child flourish.
Not at all! Teaming up with a partner for CASA can make it a shared experience. This may be significant other, friends, family, or co-workers. Both people must reach requirements and complete required training.
CASA holds the safety of children as its highest priority. It is in a child’s best interests to remain with their family of origin when safely possible, and CASA is supportive of reunification when it is in the best interest of the children involved. However, CASA will only advocate for children to return home if they can do so safely, receiving the love, stability, and protection they deserve.
Casa for Children and the Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center are sister programs under the umbrella of Northeast Texas CASA, Inc. (501c3) Click here to learn more about our programs. Two Programs. One Mission.