FAQs & answers

Anyone 21 and older can apply to be a CASA, and no special educational or legal background is required. Effective CASAs are reliable, work well as part of a team and have strong communication skills. They can carefully gather and assess information, have time to serve and are good listeners.

Volunteers come to CASA with a variety of life and work experiences, and we strive to have a volunteer corps that reflects the diversity of the children we serve. All CASA volunteers must successfully complete background checks, an interview and our training program before being matched with a child. If you’re wondering whether CASA is a good fit for you, please explore this site and give us a call. (540-710-6199)

Rappahannock CASA provides equal employment and volunteer opportunities to all employees, volunteers and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, disability or any other protected characteristic as established by federal or state law. 

 

A national survey of family court judges has validated the importance of the work CASA volunteers do. In the study, judges reported that volunteer input is very effective in helping them reach difficult decisions regarding the children’s lives. The survey revealed that judges are most likely to assign CASA volunteers to the most difficult and complex cases.

Rappahannock CASA submits CASA reports at nearly all court hearings involving the children, and these reports typically include several recommendations related to the children’s well-being. Each year, local judges incorporate the majority of our recommendations into their court orders. It’s not uncommon for local judges to remark on the value of information included in our CASA reports.

National CASA reports that children with a CASA are less likely to linger in foster care, more likely to be adopted or have another permanent placement plan, less likely to be expelled from school, and more likely to have a sense of acceptance and the ability to work out conflicts.

New CASA volunteers take part in 32-36 hours of training before being assigned to their first case. Veteran volunteers undergo another 12 hours of training each year. Training includes information about family strengths and challenges, Adverse Childhood Experiences, child development, the court system, substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty, effective advocacy, and more.

No. Rappahannock CASA is the only program appointed by judges to speak up for abused and neglected children’s best interests. We work collaboratively with other agencies and professionals, but our role, and our child-centered mission, is unique.

CASA volunteers commit to serving each child for the duration of the child’s case, which often lasts at least a year. The child may face many changes – of schools, homes, teachers, etc. — so their CASA should be a consistent presence.

It’s hard to nail down how many hours a week CASA work requires. CASA volunteers tend to be busiest at the start of a case, when they’re getting to know everyone, and in the weeks leading up to court hearings, when they’re preparing reports for judges. We tell volunteers to expect to spend 15-20 hours per month serving children, but the time can be more or less depending on the case.

CASA volunteers must meet in person with the children they serve at least once each month. They also spend time interviewing other people central to the children’s lives. Many of our CASAs have been with our program for more than 5 years.

Rappahannock CASA has continued to provide high-quality advocacy throughout the pandemic. We have carefully adhered to guidance from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health, and our Board of Directors has established policies that guide our operations. Safety has been, and remains, our top priority. We are committed to minimizing the risks of transmission and illness.

Since the pandemic started, our COVID policies have included guidance on masking, risk assessment and what activities volunteers may participate in depending on their vaccination status. Our Board of Directors periodically reviews our policies, and detailed policies are communicated to our volunteers and volunteer candidates, who must agree to abide by them. 

Among other things, social workers investigate child abuse allegations, remove children from home when that’s deemed necessary, oversee foster care placements, and offer a range of services to strengthen families and keep them together. CASA volunteers advocate for children’s best interests by thoroughly examining the children’s lives and potential homes and making recommendations to judges that prioritize the children’s well-being. CASA volunteers typically have much smaller caseloads than social workers because each CASA serves no more than two children/sibling sets at a time.

Contact Rappahannock CASA at (540)710-6199 or by email at [email protected]