A CASA advocate is a volunteer who is passionate about protecting the best interests of abused and neglected children in his or her community. Anyone with this passion can be successful as a volunteer—regardless if you work full-time, part-time or not at all; regardless if you do or do not have experience in social service, child development or the court system; regardless of your gender, race, religion, culture or economic status. We are willing to train you if you are willing to pursue a child’s case with enthusiasm and persistence.

We do require some specific qualifications to become a CASA advocate. You must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. If you do not currently meet these requirements, you might be interested in joining our Friends of CASA auxiliary group to support the CASA program in our fundraising and community awareness efforts. Also, you must pass a federal criminal check with fingerprints and child abuse and neglect screening.

When you become a child advocate, you are more than simply a volunteer—you are a sworn officer of the Family Court. With this title, you are given permission to access the child’s records, interview people involved with the child and present a formal recommendation to the judge. You will also be assigned to a Case Advocacy Supervisor who will ensure that you fulfill your advocate responsibilities. Each case will have different needs, but overall the CASA program has three main expectations of its advocates: commitment, confidentiality and communication.

Commitment
Many professionals come in and out of these children’s lives. We want the CASA to be committed to the child and to follow the child’s case until successful closure. At a minimum, we expect the CASA to stay with a case for a year unless the case closes before that time. Volunteers are required to visit children monthly. On average, CASAs spend between 15 to 20 hours on their cases.

Confidentiality
As an officer of the court, you will have access to sensitive information about the child and his or her family. You must maintain complete confidentiality —You may share information with your Case Advocacy Supervisor, your child’s Guardian ad Litem, the Children’s Division and the Deputy Juvenile Officer.

Communication
Perhaps the most important skill a CASA advocate needs is effective communication through writing, speaking, and listening. This communication applies to people involved in the child’s case but also to your CASA supervisor. We ask that you maintain regular contact by phone, e-mail or visits to the office, including a monthly report to track your work. CASA supervisors offer valuable support for our advocates. They are experts in the field and can assist in developing strategies, suggest community resources, act as a liaison to other agencies and help compose court reports. Strong communication with CASA supervisors is crucial.

Beyond these general expectations, a CASA advocate has several specific duties as part of protecting the best interests of abused and neglected children:

1. Complete pre-service and in-service training
2. Accept assignment of a case of an abused, neglected, or abandoned child under the jurisdiction of the Family Court of St. Louis County
3. Make an independent assessment of the facts of the case and the needs of the child
4. Identify possible resources to meet the child's needs
5. Maintain a case file that includes information from interviews, pertinent records and written recommendations
6. Prepare a formal written report of recommendations for the court
7. Attend all court hearings and reviews to present information and recommendations
8. Assist with the development of a permanent placement plan for any child who is removed from the custody of his or her parent(s) or guardian
9. Monitor the case until permanency is achieved and report any problems or noncompliance to the court

All of the skills necessary for completing these duties will be reviewed in our extensive training program, CASA University, before you are sworn in as a CASA. For more details about CASA University click here.

If you are interested in becoming a CASA advocate, the next step is attending an informational meeting held at various times throughout the month at the CASA office in Clayton. For more details about our informational meetings click here.

CASA of St. Louis County
121 South Meramec Avenue, 2nd Floor
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 615-2908

Sitemap | Contact CASA of St. Louis County