3 Steps To Becoming A Child Advocate Volunteer With Casa of Autauga County

Posted March 5, 2021

In 1977, Judge David Soukup noticed there wasn’t much support for children who were abused and neglected.

So, he decided to come up with a pilot program to train individuals to be a support system, a mentor, a friend, or just someone other than the courts for the child to depend upon. Eventually, this program became known as the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, also known as CASA. There is an active representation for 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The Autauga County CASA mission is to ensure every abused, neglected, and abandoned child in Autauga County has a competent, caring volunteer appointed to advocate for the child’s best interest. How do you make sure a program like this continues to impact the lives of over 275,000 children annually? Volunteers. Volunteers provide a voice and a stable influence in the child’s life. You are the eyes and ears of the court to promote the safety and well-being of the children in the protective services system. Let’s talk about how you can become a volunteer!

Step 1: Get the Information

Being a court advocate volunteer takes time and determination. You’ll be working with a child until the court determines they are in a safe and permanent home. You’ll get to know them, spend time with them, and be one of their biggest fans. If this is something you are interested in doing, then keep on reading to step two. If not, there are non-advocate options available! You can help with administrative tasks, volunteer at events, make or purchase birthday cards for the children, and more! Call us to find out how you can help. 334-610-5962

Step 2: Fill Out the Application

Whoa! That seems sudden- it isn’t. If you’re over the age of twenty-one, just fill it out. The application is needed in order to go forward toward becoming an Autauga CASA volunteer. The application is on the website at www.autaugacasa.org. Filling out the application will not only make a difference in the life of a child but in your life as well.

Step 3: Go Through In-Depth Training

You didn’t think you were going to just show up in court after being approved, did you? No- CASA will make sure you are trained and prepared to advocate for the child. You’ll also be spending a lot of time with the child to build a relationship and gain their trust. You’ll be gathering information from everyone involved in the child’s life- family members, foster parents, teachers, daycare providers, doctors, lawyers, social workers, and anyone else they are around. The information you gather will help the judge decide what is best for the child at the end of the day.

We want to be able to give children a safe space while they are waiting on their forever safe space. We provide all training you’ll need in order to successfully be there for the child.

There are different ways to volunteer, whether it is as a court advocate or not. Autauga CASA appreciates all the help and donations that help make the lives of children a little easier in a time where nothing is steady and everything feels lonely. Make sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms to help spread the word to your family, friends, and co-workers.