CASA FAQs

What are the requirements to become a volunteer?
CASA Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, and complete 30 hours of preservice training. Additionally, 12 hours of inservice training is required every year to comply with National CASA/GAL continued education standards.

What is the role of a CASA Volunteer?
A CASA Volunteer provides a judge or magistrate with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA Volunteer must determine if, in their opinion, it is in a child's best interest to stay with parents or guardian, to be placed in foster care or to be freed for permanent adoption or some other appropriate option. The CASA makes a recommendation on placement and services to the judge or magistrate and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

How much time does it require?
Every case is different. When a case is initially assigned, a Court Appointed Special Advocate usually spends about 5-10 hours a month monitoring their cases. Usually, the bulk of your time is invested at the beginning of the case.

How does the role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate differ from an attorney?
The CASA Volunteer does not provide legal representation. That is the role of an attorney. Instead, the CASA Volunteer advocates for the best interest of the child. They provide crucial background information that assists judges or magistrates in making the best decision for the child.

How does the CASA volunteer differ from a Guardian ad Litem?
CASA Volunteers and Guardians Ad Litem share the same Order of Appointment and have the same statutorial mandates. In Mercer County, the CASA Volunteer may serve as GAL. In some cases, attorneys are appointed as Guardians Ad Litem. In either instance, the CASA Volunteer or the attorney Guardian Ad Litem, work to ensure the child receives the best representation possible.

Is there a "typical" Court Appointed Special Advocate?
CASA Volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Some are employed, retired, at-home parents, full-time volunteers, and are any and all ages above 21 years. They are ordinary citizens and no legal background is required.

How many CASA Programs are there?
In Ohio, there are 45 programs serving 56 counties. Nationally, there are more than 940 CASA Programs in 49 states.

How many children have been served by CASA?
Every year, more than 9,800 children and their families in Ohio benefit from having a CASA Volunteer.

How effective have Court Appointed Special Advocate programs been?
Preliminary findings show that the children who have been assigned a CASA tend to spend less time in the court system and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. They are more likely to receive professional services, and also less likely to reetner the foster care system. Judges have observed that Court Appointed Special Advocate children have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.

Click here for more information on the efficacy of CASA Programs from National CASA.

Is this a mentorship program?
CASA is a court advocacy program. Although some relationship-building activities volunteers and youth participate in together may seem like mentoring, that is only a piece of the difference a CASA Volunteer can make in the life of a child in need.

Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but Court Appointed Special Advocates is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interests.

How are CASA Volunteers supported throughout the case?
In addition to ongoing training, CASA Volunteers are supported by CASA of Mercer County staff for legal support and otherwise. The Ohio CASA staff is also available to support local programs and volunteers.