Advocate Responsibilities

Becoming an advocate for a child is an important choice, and it is one that CASA's dedicated volunteers take very seriously. Children who have been removed from their homes live in a world without stability, reliability, and commitment. That is why it is so important that CASA volunteers embody those qualities through some basic responsibilities of the advocate role.

• Visit the children monthly wherever they are living for the duration of Juvenile Court involvement. Observe children and significant others in their life and record findings.
• Whenever possible, attend court hearings, school, and interagency meetings about the children.
• Prepare written reports for the Court providing factual, objective findings and recommendations regarding the children’s best interests. Reports and court hearings typically occur 2 to 3 times per year.
• Attend 30 hours of pre-service volunteer training. Click here to see this year's training schedule.
• Spend approximately 10 – 15 hours per month on active casework.
• Obtain 12 hours/year of continuing education credit (through CASA or independently). Click here for additional information about Continuing Education.
• Commit to remaining with the case until permanency has been established and the Juvenile Court case has been closed, or for at least two years.

Advocate Manager Support

Every advocate volunteer has an Advocate Manager. The manager is on staff at CASA and is available to advise, explain, help, and support the advocate as they work on their case. Advocate Managers co-write and edit court reports with the advocate and accompany the advocate to court hearings on the case. If the advocate is unavailable for a court hearing, the manager will attend on behalf of the advocate.