Serving Cochran, Hale, Hockley, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum Counties of Texas
faq sheet
Questions and answers about becoming a CASA volunteer
What do children gain from having a CASA volunteer?
Are CASA volunteers trained and supervised?
Are volunteers really important in the child welfare process?
Is there a 'typical' CASA volunteer and are there special qualifications?
How does CASA feel about family reunification after child abuse?
Do CASA volunteers wield authority in child welfare cases?
How much time does it take to be a CASA volunteer?
Can I include my family in my volunteer work?
What are the drawbacks of being a CASA volunteer?
What do I gain from becoming a CASA volunteer?
What do I have to do to become a CASA volunteer?
Ordinary people who care about kids. CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds. Many work full time. Some are students or retired people. Most CASA volunteers work on one case at a time. No legal expertise is required. Top of Page
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA volunteer is someone who speaks for the best interest of children in foster care, helping to find them safe, permanent homes. CASA volunteers get to know the children, their caregivers, and the facts of the case. They take part in such processes as child and family visits, court hearings and meetings about the children's needs. CASA volunteers make recommendations and help to explore all of the options for permanent homes. Top of Page
What do children gain from having a CASA volunteer?
Decisions are made every day which affect the lives of children in foster care. CASA volunteers help these decisions to be made more promptly and with greater information and sensitivity to their individual needs. CASA volunteers work for quicker, better outcomes, and provide children in foster care with the knowledge that there is a community around them that cares. Top of Page
Are CASA volunteers trained and supervised?
Yes. CASA has a training program which features 30 hours of training. All volunteers are matched with a supervisor who is a member of the CASA staff. CASA supervisors provide individual guidance, support and accompaniment to the volunteer during the volunteer's time as a CASA. Top of Page
Are volunteers really important in the child welfare process?
Definitely. CASA could not serve the children of the south plains area without its many dedicated volunteers. Courts all over the country depend on their local CASA volunteers to help inform and expedite the child welfare process. Judges implement the CASA program in their jurisdictions and appoint CASA volunteers to as many cases as possible. Child Protective Services includes CASA in meetings, visits and other proceedings. CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the office of Juvenile Justice and delinquency Department of Justice. Top of Page
Is there a 'typical' CASA volunteer and are there special qualifications?
CASA volunteers come from a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Over half are employed full-time. Volunteers must be 21 or older, undergo a background check and a personal interview, complete the training curriculum, and agree to abide by the policies and guidelines of CASA of the South Plains. Volunteer advocates must be patient, open-minded people who have good communication skills, a history of following through on commitments and a willingness to accept guidance. Above all, they must care about children. Top of Page
How does CASA feel about family reunification after child abuse?
CASA holds the safety of children as its highest priority. A child's best chance for love and protection is often with his or her birth family, and CASA is supportive of reunification when it is in the best interest of the children involved. However, CASA will only advocate for children to return home if they can do so safely, receiving the love, stability and protection they deserve. Top of Page
Do CASA volunteers wield authority in child welfare cases?
Volunteer advocates have court-mandated access to certain information and proceedings, but they do not have authority to decide outcomes. Rather, they rely on their communication skills, their informed recommendations and the respect of the courts to influence outcomes. Top of Page
How much time does it take to be a CASA volunteer?
It will vary each month, and will generally range from 3-15 hours per month depending on the type of volunteer assignment you choose. Some of this time can be spent in evenings or on weekends, but there are court hearings, phone calls and meetings during working hours, too. We will work with you to find an assignment that suits your availability and your volunteer goals. Top of Page
Can I include my family in my volunteer work?
Only trained volunteers are able to volunteer with the children we serve. Married/couple volunteers are very beneficial to CASA. Children in foster care are assured a degree of confidentiality, and the friends and family of advocates are not allowed to meet them or to know their identity. Only volunteers who have been fully screened, trained and sworn in as officers of the court may have contact with CASA children. For the entire family to volunteer with CASA, we have a "Friends of CASA" auxiliary program. Top of Page
What are the drawbacks of being a CASA volunteer?
Being a CASA volunteer is both rewarding and challenging. The child welfare system is bureaucratic and overburdened, and advocates often have to work hard to get the system to respond. Because of court decisions, social service plans, and other factors out of our control, the volunteer can face disappointments. However, many volunteers feel a sense of purpose knowing that they helped a child through the system. Top of Page
What do I gain from becoming a CASA volunteer?
The most important benefit of being a CASA volunteer is the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the life of a child who desperately needs your help. Top of Page
What do I have to do to become a CASA volunteer?
To become a CASA volunteer, complete a volunteer application and return it to the CASA office. To receive an application, click here. Top of Page
To report child abuse,
call the Texas Abuse
and Neglect Hotline
1-800-252-5400
or report online at
