Every child who has experienced abuse or neglect deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in school, in court, and in our community.

What is a CASA, and what does a CASA do?

CASA has been best described as the "eyes and ears" of the court and often acts as the "arms and legs" of an overworked child protective system. From helping siblings find permanent homes together, to helping a child access needed services, to uncovering information that helps reunite a loving family, volunteer advocates make an incredible difference to the lives of abused and neglected children.

CASA volunteers are appointed by the Family Court Judge to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer are as follows:

  • Visit with the child: Maintain a consistent and regular visiting schedule with the child, minimum of once per month.

  • Gather information: Review documents and records, interview the children, family members and professionals in their lives.

  • Court reports: Provide written reports to the court in preparation for all court proceedings.

  • Attend court: Advocate for the child’s best interests “Be the Safety Net”: Seek cooperative solutions among individuals and organizations involved in the children’s lives.

  • Recommend services: Ensure that the children are receiving appropriate services by keeping the parties involved informed of any needs currently not being addressed. Bring concerns about the child’s health, education, mental health, etc. to the court’s immediate attention.

  • Monitor case plans and court orders: Assist the Court by reporting any deviation from what the court has ordered for the life of the case.

The CASA program is not a mentoring program.

CASA volunteers conduct an independent investigation on behalf of the Family Court and advocate for the needs of the child in order to ensure their well-being and safety while in the system. The goal of each CASA case is to see it through until the child reaches a safe and permanent home. All CASA volunteers agree to remain active on their assigned case until it is closed by the court: this timeframe can be anywhere from a few months to a few years. 

Sounds like a lot? Don’t worry. We’ve got you!

Pre-service Training

Being a CASA requires training. So we train you! The curriculum includes the following topics: the role of the volunteer, the child welfare system, needs and development of children, trauma, mental health, poverty, professional communication, cultural competence, educational needs, and permanency. Through training, trainees write their first ‘sample’ court report, so that by the end of training, CASA volunteers have written their own template, and have produced a sample court report in a safe space.

Advocacy Supervisors

Once training is complete, we continue to support you. Every CASA is assigned to an Advocacy Supervisor, a professional full-time staff member who supervises the volunteer and stays close to the case. The Advocacy Supervisor is there to guide the CASA, and provide advice when needed. CASA volunteers are not on their own. Advocacy Supervisors even attend court with their CASAs.

In-service Training

Training doesn’t end once a volunteer is sworn in. We offer a range of in-service training throughout the year, where volunteers can learn more about a variety of subjects. We have training online and we often have guest speakers present — and it’s a great way to meet other CASA volunteers!

CASA volunteering is a great opportunity for individuals from many walks of life particularly empty nesters, retirees, and anyone with the flexibility and availability to make a long-term commitment to improving the life of a child.

CASAs make a difference.

This is Hunter’s Story.

Hunter was removed from his biological parent at birth and placed into foster care. He was assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Robyn, who helped him find a loving and permanent home.

See the difference that a CASA can make.

Five steps to becoming a CASA

Step 1:
Attend an Information Session. We host Information Sessions several times a month. During the Information Session, participants will learn about the volunteer program, the foster care system, CASA training, and how CASA volunteers change lives.

All Volunteer Information Sessions are currently scheduled to take place in our Wayne office, at 415 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ07470.

For more information on attending a session, call Julie Ritsema at 973 832 4002 or email julie@casapassaicunion.org

Step 2:
Apply, via an online application, to be accepted into training. Online applications may be completed before or after attending an Information Session.

Step 3:
Complete all of your pre-training paperwork, including an interview and background check.

Step 4:
Sign-up for the next training session—about four times per year, we offer a 36-hour training that teaches volunteers how to advocate for the best interest of children living in foster care. Training times vary from day to evening and various days of the week. The training curriculum will guide you through the role of the volunteer, the child welfare system, the needs and development of children, trauma, mental health, professional communication, cultural competence, and educational needs. These resources and tools will help prepare you to advocate for a child, or children, living in foster care. Training is currently scheduled to take place in our Wayne office.

Step 5:
After your 36 hours of training is complete, and all of your paperwork is completed and cleared, you are sworn in as an official court appointed special advocate and will be appointed to your first case.