+

What is a CASA Volunteer?

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer (also known as Guardian ad Litem) is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of a child involved in the court system due to abuse or neglect.

+

What is the role of a CASA Volunteer?

A CASA volunteer makes recommendations to the Court based on an independent investigation of the child’s circumstances in order to help the court make sound decisions about that child’s future. The CASA helps to coordinate services for the child, monitors the case to ensure that all court orders are being followed, researches services to benefit the child, and builds a relationship with the child in order to advocate for their best interest.

+

How do CASA volunteers advocate for children?

CASA volunteers build a relationship with the child that allows them to provide sound advocacy throughout the onerous legal process. The volunteer reviews all records pertaining to the child (school, medical, case file, etc.). In addition, they talk with parents, family members, care providers, social workers, school officials, health providers and others that are familiar with the child or family and able to provide input on the history and/or needs of the child. Through this investigative work, the volunteer is then able to make objective recommendations and advocate for the needs of the child with Child Protective Services and the Courts.

+

What training does a CASA volunteer receive?

Each volunteer is thoroughly screened, including an extensive background check, and must complete an initial 30-hour training before taking a case.. In addition, each volunteer receives one-on-one mentoring throughout their first case. Each month the program also offers an hour long in-service training and peer-to-peer gathering opportunities.

+

Who are the children CASAs serve?

Children who have been removed from their parents or caregiver due to abuse and neglect. CASAs are assigned to children of all ages, races and ethnicities. Many of these children have learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or severe emotional and mental problems due to the trauma they have experienced. Some are just “typical” kids caught up in a very difficult situation. All of these children have experienced some level of loss and trauma and could use the help of someone who cares about them.

+

Why does CASA make a difference?

In an overloaded and bureaucratic system, the CASA is able to focus solely on the child’s needs and feelings about the situation. Through providing a voice for the child, the CASA can be the difference between a system that is cold and impersonal and one that helps the child thrive. Hope can make all the difference to a child struggling to understand the confusion and hurt these cases bring to their lives. Having a CASA to talk to, to lean on, to provide consistency and care, is often the catalyst to grasping on to hope and coming out the other side resilient and stronger. The CASA is often the most stable presence in the life of a child in foster care. They are the only person not paid to care for them and the only person expressly appointed to advocate only for their best interest.

+

How effective is the CASA/GAL of Gallatin County Program?

The District Court Judges in Gallatin County have noted the value of the information that CASA’s bring to the proceedings and are appreciative of the unique perspective presented. In addition, national studies show that a child who has been assigned an advocate spends less time in court and in foster care than those who do not have a volunteer advocate assigned to them.

+

Is there a “typical” CASA volunteer?

Our CASA volunteers range in age from 21 to 70+, come from all walks of life, and have a variety of professional and educational backgrounds. There are no special requirements other than a flexible work schedule to accommodate court hearings and a heart for children. Volunteers must agree to a comprehensive background check.

+

How many cases does a CASA carry and how much time does it require?

Volunteers generally have only one case at a time and spend an average of 10 hours a month on their case. The beginning of a case is typically more “court heavy” and may require additional hours. Moving forward in a case, the bulk of the volunteer time is spent visiting with the child, phone calls with various individuals knowledgeable about the child, and occasional Child Protection Services meetings and court hearings.

+

How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved?

The volunteers continues until the child has permanency and the case is dismissed. Permanency is achieved in one of four ways: Reunification; Adoption; Guardianship; or placement with a protective parent. One of the primary benefits of a child having a CASA assigned is that, unlike others involved (foster placements, social workers, etc.); the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings and provides continuity in their life.

+

How are CASA volunteers different from social/case workers?

Social workers are employed by the State of Montana and are sometimes working on as many as 20+ cases as well as working on voluntary plans with families, doing investigations, and maintaining other ongoing related workload. The CASA volunteer has more time and is usually serving only on one and sometimes two cases at a time. They are solely devoted to the wellbeing and advocacy of that one child or family of children. They do not replace the social worker and do not have decision-making authority. The CASA is an independent appointee of the court.

+

How are CASA volunteers different from attorneys?

The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation or give legal advice. However, in cases where the child is not also appointed an attorney (more often than not), the CASA does convey to the judge the child’s expressed wishes in addition to advocating for their best interest.

+

What if I don’t have time to be a CASA?

You can donate financially to help CASA/GAL of Gallatin County continue to have the funds needed to serve every child involved in an abuse and neglect case in our community. You can become a “Friend of CASA/GAL” and serve in other ways – participating in or hosting a fundraiser, providing gift cards to help us meet the material needs of the children we serve, volunteering for an hour at an event, donating snacks or a meal for one of our trainings, or helping out with office work.

+

How can I donate?

It is safe and secure. The money you donate will strengthen our agency and help provide advocacy for our community’s most vulnerable children. You may also donate by mail: CASA/GAL of Gallatin County, 615 S. 16th Ave, Suite 313, Bozeman, MT 59715. CASA/GAL of Gallatin County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

DonateVolunteer