How to Become a CASA Volunteer: Your Steps to Advocacy
Have you thought about becoming a CASA volunteer but wondered where to begin? The process starts with learning more, asking questions, and deciding whether this meaningful commitment is right for you.
At CASA of Central Virginia, we prepare and support volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Here are the steps you can take to advocate for a child.
Register to attend an in-person or virtual information session to learn more about the role of a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). During the session you will learn what a CASA does, the commitment involved, and how our advocates make a difference.
Register for an upcoming session here.
If you think CASA is the right fit for you, submit your application online.
Please have three non-family references and their email addresses ready as well as a short bio about yourself.
Next come a 20-30 minute phone interview and a 1-1.5 hour in-person interview with CASA staff members. These conversations help us get to know you and give you another opportunity to explore the role.
Because we work with children, we conduct a thorough background check on all of our volunteers initially as well as every four years. You will be sent the information to complete after your phone interview.
The CASA pre-service training course meets twice a week in person and covers 16 topics in 4 weeks using an actual case study to practice along the way. Classes are capped at 12 trainees and all classes must be attended.
Trainees learn about the court process, the social service system, child development and educational advocacy, the family dynamics of domestic violence, the realities of substance abuse, and the special needs of children who have been abused and neglected by their caregivers.
Click here to learn more about our training classes, start/end dates, and the application deadlines.
After successful completion of steps 1-5, you will be sworn in by one of our local judges at an induction ceremony. This special ceremony signifies that you are ready to be assigned to one of our supervisors (advocate managers), and ready to accept your first case.
Your assigned Advocate Manager will assist you in choosing your first case. You will have guidance and support as throughout your time as an advocate.