CASA of Carson City—882-6776

Speak Up For A Child.

Volunteering

How much time does it take to volunteer?

The CASA organization provides 30 hours of training. We ask that you commit to two years. As a CASA volunteer you are assigned one or two cases during that time--depending on your schedule. A case can have one child or several

children. Each case requires about 12 hours of time early-on, then a couple hours each month. You are required to attend all hearings. These take about 2 hours of your time every three months in each case.

Do I spend a lot of time with the child or children?

The CASA volunteer gets to know the child or children but is not serving as a mentor. You will need to spend enough time to get to know the child. This varies and is determined, in part, by how important getting to know the child is to issues in the case and what the child may have to say.

Do I need to talk to the parents?

In general, we believe that it is important to listen with respect and in a safe place. While our volunteers have never had a problem with violence from parents, we do not encourage you to put yourself in a dangerous position—either physically or emotionally.

Can these cases drag on forever?

During the last couple of  the laws have changed greatly. Now, a permanency hearing is to be held one year from the date a child is removed from the home. At that time, the court is to recommend that the child have a permanent placement--return to the parents, be put up for adoption or go into long-term foster care. This being said, getting the system to work is why we are here. The law is simple. Life can be complex. To find ways to solve difficult problems is a part of advocacy.

Can anybody be a CASA?

Individuals will not be rejected because of race, color, national origin, religious creed, sex, age or marital status. Applicant fingerprints are submitted to the FBI and local authorities for a background check. As a practical matter, you must have a phone, a means of transportation and a safe driving record. Come visit and we’ll talk about your volunteering as a CASA.