Become an Advocate

Volunteers attend at least 40 hours of pre-service training and court observation. Trainees learn about the court process, the social service system, child development and educational advocacy, the family dynamics of domestic violence, the realities of substance abuse, and the special needs of children who have been abused and neglected by their caregivers. At "graduation," CASAs become sworn in as officers of the court.

Typically, a CASA volunteer spends a few hours each week on a case. Volunteers will complete home visits, follow up with people involved in the case, write a report to the judge and attend court. The CASA's specific time commitment varies, as it is dictated by the complexity of their assigned case.

Volunteers are asked to commit at least one year or until a case is fully resolved.

CASA volunteers work closely alongside social workers, attorneys, treatment providers, and others involved in helping children. Each volunteer is guided and assisted through the complexities and challenges of his or her case by a member of the Henrico CASA staff.

In addition, learning and development opportunities are available on an ongoing basis.

• Is the in-person training mandatory
  Yes. The training schedule is posted on our website and provided during the application and interview process to ensure that prospective volunteers can commit to attending all training sessions. The content taught in training is vital, in terms of knowledge and how to work a case as a volunteer advocate. The in-person nature allows for valuable dialogue as the training class works through a practice case together.
• How quickly after training will I start my role as an advocate?
  Many children are waiting for advocates, so new volunteers are likely to be assigned a case very quickly after the completion of training.
• What support can I expect in my role as a volunteer advocate?
  All volunteers are assigned a supervisor who is a Henrico CASA staff member. This supervisor is a constant source of encouragement and provides guidance to help volunteers navigate their case and the complexities of the legal and child welfare system. In addition, volunteers are invited to monthly continuing education opportunities and regularly scheduled case processing sessions.
• How long will my case last?
  The length of a case varies based on several variables. Some end within weeks, others last years. The children we serve have experienced a significant amount of change and instability. CASA’s volunteer advocates are a consistent source of security for these children. Therefore, we ask that volunteers remain committed to a child until their case is fully resolved or CASA is relieved by the Judge.
• Is safety a concern for volunteer advocates?
  Henrico CASA prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of not just the children we serve, but also our team of volunteer advocates. Since 1994, no volunteer advocate has been harmed while working with the children and families we serve. We encourage advocates to understand that the cases we serve involve allegations of abuse and neglect that may or may not have merit. If the physical safety of children was of significant concern to Child Protective Services, the children are oftentimes removed from that environment prior to CASA’s involvement. Our staff trains volunteers on how to proactively prioritize safety and utilize available resources to ensure the ongoing safety for our advocates.

If you want to speak to someone about becoming a CASA volunteer, please contact us at (804) 501-1670 or email our Program Manager, Trish Stewart.