CASA Volunteer

CASA for Children

Serving Multnomah, Washington, Columbia, & Tillamook Counties - Oregon

CASA Volunteer Position Description

Purpose: 

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who has been abused or neglected, and is going through the trauma of the foster care system. They are adult volunteers who are trained, appointed by the court, and are committed to ensuring each individual child’s needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system. A CASA works to ensure that each child is placed in a safe and permanent home within a reasonable time frame.

Responsibilities:

Investigate Thoroughly and conscientiously investigates all of the relevant facts of the situation. Speaks to the various parties involved in the child’s life to gather information and identify their needs.

Advocate Ensures that the relevant facts of the situation are presented to the court. Reports to the court and makes recommendations in the child’s best interests.

Facilitate Promotes collaboration among relevant parties in the case. Encourages appropriate service delivery in meeting the child’s needs. Expedites the placement of the child in a safe permanent home.

Monitor Observes the welfare and wellbeing of the child outside of the legal proceedings happening within the court system. Watches to ensure compliance to court orders by all parties. Brings to the court’s attention any change in circumstances that may require modification of the court order.

Qualifications:  

• Passionately dedicated to helping children who have been abused or neglected during their most dire times of need. 
• Able to maintain compassion, perspective, and objectivity in an emotionally charged situation.  
• Capable of adhering to time commitments for training and seeing a case through to the final resolution. This includes attending court proceedings and maintaining communication with relevant parties involved in the case, including your CASA Supervisor.
• Proficient in interacting with individuals in a cooperative fashion using tact and positive human relations skills. 
• Skilled at maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Cognizant of timelines and able to meet deadlines for matters such as reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to maintain current and complete files on each assigned case. Ability to accurately communicate a child’s status to the presiding judge.

Requirements:  

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Successfully complete background checks.
• You may not be a current foster parent or be in the process of adopting a child from DHS.
• Satisfactory completion of initial and on-going training requirements.  
• Maintain strict adherence to program policies, guidelines, CASA’s role, and ethics standard.