CASA WHITE NAMED PRO STAR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Sept, 25, 2023 Volunteer Tim White was presented with the Pro Star Volunteer Award during the 28th Annual Celebrate Kids! Conference,...
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CASA
Advocating for children
The mission of Crime Victim Services' Court Appointed Special Advocate / Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Program is to advocate for the best interest of abused, neglected, and dependent children.
Continuously trained volunteers focus on investigation & assessment, relationships, and report to the courts so each child can have a safe and permanent home.
CASA® of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio was started in 2009 as a program of Crime Victim Services and is a member of the National CASA Association and Ohio CASA. We currently have more than 80 active volunteers and have served more than 700 children since 2009. In Allen County, our CASA volunteers are appointed to dependency and neglect cases from the Juvenile Court. In Putnam County, our CASA volunteers are appointed to divorce and custody cases from the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court.
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VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Every CASA/GAL Volunteer must successfully complete screening requirements including a written application, personal interview, reference and background checks and participate in a 30+ hour pre-service training course. After training is complete, the volunteer is sworn in as an officer of the court and appointed to a case. CASA volunteers are asked to commit to a case until it closes. CASA volunteers complete 12 hours of ongoing in-service training each year while they remain advocates.
The average time commitment to a case assigned in Allen County is 5 to 10 hours per month, and the average case lasts a year and a half. In Putnam County, the average time commitment to a case is 10 to 20 hours per month, and the average case lasts two to four months. CASA volunteers are assisted by staff every step of the way.
PRE-SERVICE
TRAININGS
Pre-Service Training is the learning process of becoming an advocate. During the training, volunteers learn about courtroom procedure and the parties involved in the proceedings. CASAs also learn effective advocacy techniques for children and are educated about specific topics ranging from the welfare of children to reporting to the court.
CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties offers National CASA’s curriculum both In-Person and as Flex Learning held over 4-6 weeks. (see calendar for next scheduled training)
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In-Person training consists of two (2) 3-hour sessions a week at the CASA office.
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Flex learning consists of 3-hours online course work and 3-hours in-person each week.
Join us in advocating for children.
CASA holds regular pre-service trainings throughout the year where you can learn what it takes to become a volunteer CASA, get your questions answered and hear from current volunteers.
To register, contact
casa@crimevictimservices.org
567-940-2272
Volunteer Trainings
CASA blog
CASA Blog
Lift up a child's voice. A child's life. Download the free song, "Who Will Be Their Voice."
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