A CASA volunteer is an individual who has been screened and trained by a recognized CASA program and appointed by the court to advocate for children who come into the Court as a result of abuse and/or neglect. An advocate volunteer reviews records; facilitates a prompt and thorough review of the case; and interviews appropriate parties in order to make recommendations on what would be in the best interest of the child.
To become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Pass a local, FBI, and Child Abuse Registry background check
- Complete a 32 hour CASA training which covers the following areas to help prepare you for your role in a child's life:
- Child Development
- Cultural Diversity
- Substance Abuse
- Family Violence
- Sexual Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Court System Report Writing
- Make a commitment to the program for at least 24 months unless your case is closed beforehand
- Complete 12 hours of inservice training each year (view documentaries & movies, read articles and books, webinars, in-house presentations and lectures, etc.)
- Have a genuine interest in children
- Have proactive communication skills
- Be objective, responsible and committed
To begin the process of becoming a child advocate, click below on "Advocate Application" and follow the instructions. If you have any questions, go to our "Contact Us" page for telephone numbers and email addresses of our staff. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
If, at this time, you are unable to meet any of the above criteria, you can still become active in CASA of Lafourche's efforts to help our children. To view a list of ways you can help, click below on "Additional Ways to Help."
