Are you ready to make a difference in a child’s life and interested in becoming a CASA volunteer?
As a first step to becoming a CASA volunteer with Kids’ Voice, join us for a virtual, one-hour info session. All upcoming info sessions are listed on our events page.
About our CASA Program
What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer?
A CASA volunteer with Kids’ Voice is a dedicated advocate who represents a child’s voice in court. When a judge determines that ongoing court intervention and involvement of the Department of Child Services (DCS) are necessary to keep a child safe from abuse or neglect in Marion County, Kids’ Voice is appointed to the case. As you can imagine, this is a scary, vulnerable, and complicated time in a child’s life. Our volunteer advocates get to know the child, advocate for their needs, and present their best interests to the judge who is making consequential decisions on the child’s behalf.
Who can be a CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. They are dedicated, trained, and supervised volunteers, appointed by the courts to gather information and make recommendations about what is in a child’s best interest. To become a CASA volunteer, you must be at least 21 years old and successfully complete criminal and DCS background checks. If you’re passionate about advocating for children and ready to make a meaningful impact, you might be the perfect fit!
How is this different than a GAL volunteer?
While CASA and GAL volunteers both advocate for children’s best interests, they work on different types of legal cases. CASA volunteers focus on cases involving abuse and neglect. GAL volunteers at Kids’ Voice are appointed to cases related to adoption, divorce, paternity, and guardianship. Learn more about volunteering as GAL here.
How do I become a CASA volunteer?
The first step toward becoming a CASA volunteer with Kids’ Voice is to sign up for an upcoming info session! During this session, you will learn about the need for CASA volunteers, the specific tasks involved in the work, time commitments, and more. Additionally, please complete our CASA volunteer application. Both attending an info session and filling out the application are required steps before you can register for a training class.
With over 3,100 children in Marion County who have experienced abuse or neglect, every child deserves a dedicated CASA volunteer advocating for their best interests in court. We hope you’ll consider joining us to make a difference!
