Becoming a CASA (court appointed special advocate) is a great community service opportunity for college students, those wanting to work with kids, and those wanting to enter the court system. 

Kayin McDonald a current CASA volunteer said, “My role entails a lot of visiting with the different families involved, getting a full scope of the situation, [and] interviewing the children.”  

A CASA’s job is to get a full understanding of a child’s, in the juvenile system, situation and explain their findings before a court and a judge.  

McDonald explained the position requires honesty for what they believe is best for the child because their opinion could be a deciding factor for the final decision. This information is conveyed in both written and verbal communication.  

McDonald broke down the importance of understanding the juvenile system, “You have to appear in court and you [must] write a court document saying something along the lines of ‘Hey, I’ve seen all this stuff, and I have this evidence, and I think the best thing for this child is….’” 

Unlike case workers, CASA workers have a single family they work with, whom they visit with, on average, once or twice a month. These cases typically last up to two years and usually involve many children within one family.  

A single representative works with the entire family, but they only get one case at a time.  

As Jenny Keesee, the director of Ashland’s CASA program said, “It’s a good way to get an inside look [and] It’s a great opportunity to have experience in the field of working with children.” 

“The goal is that the child is paired with the CASA the entirety of the case,” Keesee said.  

This job helps teach them about the legal system, how to care for those in need, and sympathy. 

After a case is over, the CASA isn’t usually permitted to have contact with the family or the child involved. 

Becoming a CASA takes lots of effort, and it comes with a few requirements and recommendations.  

To enter the program and become a representative, the volunteer must be over the age of 21, complete the 30-hour training, have basic computer knowledge and communication skills. 

Keesee explains it is highly encouraged for applicants and volunteers to have a heart of empathy and care for children, “We recruit community members to advocate for the best interest of children involved in the juvenile court though no fault of their own.” 

Volunteers should keep in mind that being a CASA is no easy task and should be seen as a huge commitment. It is not encouraged to take on this role if time commitment is an issue. 

As Keesee emphasized, “The goal is always reunification.”