A CASA volunteer is a community volunteer who is recruited and trained to act as a first-hand expert and appointed as an officer of the court to advocate for the individual needs of specific children in the Department of Child Services system due to abuse or neglect, giving them the best possible chance at a hopeful future. A Juvenile Court Judge appoints CASAs to represent the best interest of specific abused or neglected children in court proceedings. A CASA volunteer will work with attorneys, mental health professionals, and service providers to meet the needs of these children and help them find safe permanent homes.

Our judges assign SEI Voices for Children at all the initial hearings involving our children. First, our program triages the child's case through a Wellness Program Score sheet. Then the Lead Volunteer Coordinator assigns it to a CASA volunteer that will best serve that specific child.

The 2020 report stated that 93,225 CASA/GAL volunteers advocated for 243,236 children in the system nationally. For example, in Ripley County, Indiana, SEI Voices for children served over 160 child victims in 2020.

• Must be 21 years of age, pass a background check, and complete 30 hours of initial training provided by our program.
• Commitment: Volunteer Advocates devote a minimum of 10 hours per month to case activities, including visiting with the child; participating in meetings and court hearings; communicating with professionals, family members, and caregivers; and documenting visits and advocacy progress. Court appearances and some case activities (e.g., making contact with caseworkers, teachers, therapists, etc.) require availability during regular workweek hours. Court hearings are scheduled weeks or months in advance, which helps with planning. The vast majority of cases last one to two years and the amount of time spent on a case per month typically ranges between 10-20 hours.
• Objectivity: Volunteers research case records and speak to everyone involved in a child's life, including their family members, teacher, doctor, lawyer, social workers, and others. Their third-party evaluations are based on facts, evidence, and testimonies.
• Communication skills: Once volunteers have thoroughly evaluated a case, they prepare a written report outlining their recommendation for the child's placement and services needed. They must be able to speak with authority as they present their rationale to the judge in court.

CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training and development program that consists of at least 30 hours of pre-service training, followed by 12 hours of yearly in-service training. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedures from the principals in the system – judges, lawyers, social workers, court personnel, and others. CASA volunteers also learn effective advocacy techniques for children. In addition, they are educated about specific topics ranging from seminars on child sexual abuse to discussions on early childhood development and adolescent behavior.

After the initial training, volunteers are sworn in as Officers of the Court. This gives them the legal authority to research the child's situation and submit reports to the court.