CASA Volunteers Needed for Abused & Neglected Children Informational Meeting

CASA of Chautauqua County is in need of more volunteers to help provide advocacy to the 40 plus children waiting for a volunteer. Those interested do not have to have a legal background or one in social services. CASA volunteers are “everyday people” they come from all walks of life and possess a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. They are people that have a heart for kids and want to stand up for them.

A volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court and offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They help explain to the child the events happening involving the case, reasons they are in court and the roles of the judge, lawyers and case workers. While remaining objective observers, CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes about their case. Volunteers stay with each case until they are resolved and the child is placed into a safe, permanent home. Volunteers are able to help judges by getting to know the child and talking with the adults in that child’s life — from foster parents to teachers, physicians, attorneys, social workers and others.

Advocacy volunteers must be at least 21, go through 30 hours of training, pass a background check and be available to volunteer approximately 10 hours per month but there are many places to serve within CASA. 

You may contact the CASA office at 753-4123 or email kparkcasa@gmail.com for further details or visit our website atwww.chauautauqcasa.com.