Volunteer With CASA of Central Oregon
Interested in becoming a CASA? Read Megan's story for an example of how a CASA volunteer made a difference.
A 12-year-old girl was taken into Department of Health Services - Child Welfare (DHS) custody because of physical abuse. After months in foster care, DHS was unable to locate relatives and determined that Megan would remain in foster care for the duration of her childhood. But CASA volunteer, Mr. Smith, remembered the girl mentioning an uncle she had never met. Because no one knew where the uncle lived or how to contact him, Mr. Smith searched the internet. After hours of investigation, Mr. Smith found one of the girl's uncles living on the East Coast. Mr. Smith contacted the uncle, who in turn contacted other relatives from around the country. At the next court hearing, twelve family members were present to tell the judge that each was willing to take the child in. They agreed to place the young girl in the care of an aunt and uncle, who are now adopting her.
~ Megan's story is courtesy of the National CASA program.
Megan's story is just one example of how a CASA took initiative and positively changed a child's life. There are infinite ways to advocate for each child. Regardless of the approach you take, as a CASA volunteer, you play an important role in the life and future of a child in need.
To volunteer with CASA of Central Oregon you must be 21 years of age or older. Volunteers are required to pass a background check and complete 30 hours of training plus 4 hours of courtroom observation. For information about our volunteer training schedule, please visit Training. As part of the training, reference letters are sent out and interviews with CASA staff and a local judge are conducted. Once sworn in, volunteers spend an average of 10 to 15 hours per month on their case(s). An additional 12 hours per year of on-going training, provided through our office or on your own, is also expected. We ask that volunteers dedicate themselves to a case for at least one year but preferably until it is closed given that consistency in the child's life is important. The average timeframe from start to finish for a case is approximately 2 years.
CASA of Central Oregon provides excellent ongoing support for every volunteer. Once sworn in, each volunteer is assigned a Volunteer Coordinator who they will work with closely throughout the life of their case. Monthly volunteer meetings offer additional training opportunities to allow volunteers to network and expand their knowledge of the various facets of their casework.
Please contact our office to answer any questions you might have about becoming a CASA volunteer. To become a volunteer please visit our volunteer interest page, download the online application, and return it to our office at your earliest convenience. You may also contact one of our staff to have an application e-mailed or sent via regular mail.
If you are short on time or prefer to involve yourself in a different manner with CASA of Central Oregon we can find the right fit for you. In addition to becoming a CASA, you may bec ome a leadership volunteer on our Board of Directors, help out in the office, or volunteer at one of our events! For more information about the various forms of volunteering please e-mail veronica@casaofcentraloregon.org.
1130 NW Harriman St, Ste. 122 ‹› Bend, OR 97701 ‹› 541.389.1618 ‹› 541.383.2826 fax
Madras 541.475.9426 ‹› Prineville 541.447.7220