CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio offers a volunteer opportunity like no other. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interests of an abused or neglected child. The ultimate goal of a CASA volunteer is to help make sure the child has a safe, permanent home. CASA volunteers are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of these children.
Since the inception of CASA advocacy in 1977, volunteers have helped well over 2,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes in which they thrive. Last year more than 68,000 CASA volunteers advocated for 240,000 abused and neglected children, an impressive number yet just half of the children in the child welfare system at any given time. In Allen and Putnam counties last year 340 children were involved in the court system primarily due to abuse and neglect. Volunteers are an amazing force for good, but we need more of them. Our goal is that every child who needs a volunteer will have one.
So what does it take to become a CASA volunteer? After passing a background check and completing a 40-hour training course, our volunteers will average about 10-15 hours of service per month. We also ask that volunteers dedicate themselves to a case until it is closed. The average case lasts about a year and a half. Our advocates are supervised every step of the way and will always have a network of resources readily available.
As a result, we will change children’s lives. Statistically, children with a CASA volunteer are half as likely to spend time in long-term foster care, defined as more than 3 years in care. Support from individuals like you is vital to provide CASA the ability to advocate for all children in need. CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties aims to provide a volunteer advocate for every child who needs one. Your volunteering will bring us one step closer to achieving that goal.
If you would like an application to become a CASA volunteer, please click on the following link to download an application form. _uploaded/file/Allen Putnam Volunteer Application(1).pdf Send the completed form to: CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, Crime Victim Services, 116 W. North Street, Lima, OH 45801,
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