FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers are trained community members appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
CASA volunteers build relationships with children, gather information from everyone involved in the child’s life, and provide recommendations to the court to help ensure the child has a safe and permanent home.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, complete training, pass background checks, and have a heart for helping children.
Most CASA volunteers dedicate approximately 10–15 hours per month to their assigned case, including visits, communication, and court-related activities.
No. CASA provides all necessary training and ongoing support. No legal or social work background is required.
It’s not easy to be a CASA volunteer. It can be time consuming, frustrating and at times, and heartbreaking. But, at other times, it is incredibly rewarding. It is rewarding when you realize that without you, the judge wouldn’t have known a key piece of information that impacted his/her decision; or the child wouldn’t have received desperately needed therapy or services without your input; or that a parent wouldn’t have received needed resources that helped them create a safe and stable home for the child. Moments like these make it all worthwhile.
CASA volunteers can specify the age and gender preferences of the children they would like to work with.*Â Volunteers are assigned one child or a set of siblings at a time so they can focus on giving them the individualized advocacy and attention they need.
*Please keep in mind that these requests cannot always be accommodated.
CASA volunteers are appointed to children who have come to the attention of the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect. Like a mentoring program, the CASA volunteer does develop a relationship with the child through frequent contact; however, the primary role of the CASA volunteer is to gather information about the child, write reports to the court and attend court hearings. The CASA program is not a mentoring program. The CASA volunteer does not go on social outings with the child or play an active role in the child’s day-to-day life. Instead, the CASA volunteer is involved with the child and the case while the child is in foster care, to help him or her during this difficult time, to help have the best possible outcome. Once the case has ended, the CASA volunteer does not typically remain involved in the child’s life.
Volunteers typically stay with a case until it is resolved in court, which usually lasts a year, but could go on longer if the children cannot be reunified with their parents.Â
Children are referred to CASA through the court system in cases involving abuse or neglect.
Yes.
Absolutely. CASA programs rely on donations, community partnerships, event support, and awareness efforts to continue serving children in need.
You can apply online, attend an information session, or contact our team to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer or supporting our mission.
CASA Resources for Volunteers, Families
& Community Support
Explore helpful child advocacy resources, CASA volunteer training materials, frequently asked questions, and national and Indiana CASA information designed to support children and families in Knox County.