Volunteer

Stand up for abused children so they can stand a chance

Every year, abused and neglected children are placed in foster care because they are unable to live safely at home. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they cannot or will not take care of you. Now, into these children’s lives comes dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a CASA Volunteer. CASA Volunteers watch over and advocate for these abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed, and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many children, their CASA volunteer is a constant adult presence and is the one who advocates for them.

Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer

CASA is the only volunteer organization that empowers everyday citizens as officers of the court. As a CASA you establish and maintain contact with a child. CASAs are community volunteers who are professionally trained to gather information about the child and his/her family, identify needs and possible services, speak on behalf of the child in court, monitor court orders and case plans to make sure that the case is moving forward. Responsibilities include meeting with the child monthly, talking with case managers, parents and foster parents, as well as, writing reports for and attending court hearings.

Requirements to become a CASA Volunteer

  • Volunteers must be 21 or older
  • Volunteers need to commit one to two years of service after completion of training
  • Volunteers must commit to 8-15 hours per month of volunteer work
  • Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license, access to transportation, and be able to travel to surrounding counties if needed
  • Volunteers need some daytime flexibility to attend court hearings and case related meetings
  • Volunteers must submit to a criminal background check
  • Volunteers must attend a 33-hour training before becoming a volunteer advocate
  • College students will need to live in or be near Bloomington during the summer and over breaks

Become a Child Visit Monitor

The Child Visit Monitor (CVM) is a trained volunteer who temporarily looks after the interests of a child who is involved with the court system due to allegations of abuse or neglect. When the CASA program does not have enough CASA volunteers to assign to cases, there may be a waitlist and a CVM can be assigned to the case. Until a CASA can be assigned, the CVM will visit with the child(ren), wherever they are living, on a monthly basis. As the CVM, you will then complete a report that is submitted to CASA staff following each visit. Volunteering as a CVM is a great opportunity for those who are interested in becoming a CASA but do not currently have the availability or flexibility in their schedule to be an advocate.

Requirements to become a Child Visit Monitor

  • Volunteers must be 21 or older
  • Volunteers must commit to approximately 3 hours per month of volunteer work (depending on child’s location)
  • Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license, access to transportation, and be able to travel to surrounding counties if needed
  • Volunteers must submit to a criminal background check
  • Volunteers must attend a 9-hour training before becoming a Child Visit Monitor
  • College students will need to live in or be near Bloomington during the summer and over breaks

To become a CASA volunteer or Child Visit Monitor, please apply here

Other Ways to Help:

  • Join the community engagement committee to help recruit volunteers through public speaking, staffing tables at events, and helping to host informational sessions/events
  • Hang CASA posters in the community
  • Invite CASA staff to present a program to your community, church or civic group, recruiting volunteers, requesting a donation, etc.
  • Distribute CASA information in your workplace via e-newsletter, posters, brochures in pay envelopes, etc.
  • Join the fundraising committee to help plan and implement CASA’s fundraising events
  • Present an in-service training workshop for our CASA volunteers on a topic about which you have professional expertise
  • Make your home, workplace or other facility available to the CASA program for training, volunteer recognition, special events, etc.
  • Serve on the governing board or advisory council or their committees
  • Spend a few hours per week in our office purging files and scanning documents
  • Like, comment, share and retweet Monroe County CASA’s posts on social media

Please contact our office if you are interested in volunteer opportunities.
If you prefer to communicate via email, click here.