Volunteers

CASA's 2nd Annual
Community Awards Celebration
Join us as we honor exemplary community members who support our work with children.
May 8, 2008
6-7:30 p.m.
Watsonville Civic Plaza
Community Room
275 Main Street
RSVP at
761-2956, Ext. 102
or to joanne@casaofsantacruz.org
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Thanks to
all those
who participated in the 2008 Big Sur International Marathon!
2008 Photos

What Advocates Do Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASAs, are women and men who are dedicated to the vital role of advocating on behalf of an abused or neglected child. The children served by CASA range in age from birth to 18. Were it not for the voice of his or her CASA, the child's own voice might not be heard. When the judge appoints a CASA volunteer to a child's case, the CASA becomes responsible for developing a consistent, emotionally supportive relationship with his or her CASA child, gathering information from all appropriate sources, and making the most suitable recommendations in the child's best interest, to the judge. If you have any doubt as to whether or not one individual could have much of an effect on the life of an abused or neglected child, talk to anyone who has ever been a CASA volunteer. He or she will tell you that one person, unquestionably, can and does make huge, positive life changing differences in an abused and neglected CASA child's life.	You can give an abused child a reason to smile.
Who Advocates Are Although Court Appointed Special Advocates come from a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds, all share a desire to, and a belief that one person truly can and does, make a difference in the life of an abused and/or neglected child.
How To Become An Advocate You begin by attending one of our monthly orientations. There, you will have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like, and will become acquainted with the general framework of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County. An interview between you and a designated CASA staff person is then scheduled. Next come comprehensive, skillfully taught training classes, which involve an initial 35 hours time. Training includes instruction in courtroom procedures, child development and confidentiality. Following graduation, you meet with CASA staff, choose a case and are assigned a Case Supervisor. You will be asked to make a commitment of 3-5 hours per week to be spent advocating for your CASA child. CASA volunteers continue with his or her child's case until it is permanently resolved; usually 18 months to two years.
What You Will Accomplish As a child's volunteer advocate, your goal is a safe and permanent home for your CASA child. You closely monitor his or her situation, advocate for services, and help guide your CASA child through what is a very confusing period of time for him or her. You are also a crucial source of emotional support for your CASA child. The tree that grows from the seeds of attention and compassion you plant in your CASA child, produces sturdy branches bearing good, healthy fruit, the effects of which are unimaginably profound and far reaching.