CASA for Hunt County Volunteer Recruitment

VOLUNTEERS

Download a Volunteer Application (PDF)

If you are interested in being a CASA for Hunt County Volunteer, please read the steps to become an advocate below. If you meet the requirements, download the Volunteer Application then schedule a time to meet with our Executive Director or Case Manager. If you have any questions regarding the Volunteer form – please call our CASA for Hunt County Office at

903-450-4410.

Here are your steps to become an advocate:

1. Complete a new volunteer application and return it to our CASA office.

2. Attend a 1-hour personal interview with the Executive Director or Supervisor.

3. Agree to criminal and personal background checks.

4. When all of these steps are complete, you may be accepted into the CASA training program.

Background Requirements:

Must be 21 years of age.
Willing to commit at least one year of your time to a child's case.
Able to pass an extensive criminal background check.
Willing to attend an in-depth 30-hour training program and attend 12 hours of continuing educational trainings every year.
Able to interview a variety of individuals (parents, teachers, neighbors, etc.)
Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
Mature in dealing with emotional issues.
Willing to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and ethnic differences.

Supervision by the CASA staff:

All CASA volunteer Guardians are closely supervised by the CASA staff, which at this time, is the Supervisor and Executive Director The Supervisor or Executive Director will attend every court hearing, mediation, child staffing, and most parent visits with the Guardian. The CASA Guardian will attend child visits on their own time. While the courts want to hear directly from the CASA Guardian, it is helpful to have a CASA staff person available to help guide them through the child welfare and legal system.

Monthly Time Requirements:

A CASA volunteer Guardian Ad Litem will typically be required to volunteer at least 10 hours per month on a case. A child's case may last up to 1 year depending on the outcome of the case. The following represents an example of the typical meetings a CASA would have throughout the month:

1. Attend daytime court hearings with at least 60-90 days’ advance notice from the courts. Court hearings can last anywhere from 1-3 hours.

2. Attend daytime mediations with the family, the mediator, the CPS (Child Protective Services caseworker, and others to discuss the plans for the child(ren) in care. Mediations are usually 1 time per year and can last anywhere from 2-4 hours.

3. Able to visit the child(ren) once a month for at least 1 hour. Visits with children are scheduled around the foster parent or group home or placement facility where the child temporarily resides. Children are typically placed in homes located in Hunt or surrounding counties.

4. Able to observe parent/child visitation each month, at either the CPS office in Greenville or other designated location by the CPS office and are held during the daytime hours.

5. Able to visit with parents or other relatives monthly. Visits/Interviews usually take place at the parent's home and last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the information gathered.

6. Able to attend Permanent Placement Meeting Staffings or PPT meetings regarding the progress of the children to whom you are assigned. These meetings are held during the day, at the CPS offices in Greenville and typically take place every six months and can last up to 15-30 minutes.

7. Additional duties throughout the month are typically phone calls to the therapists or the children's school, and even the parent's attorneys, if necessary.

8. It is important for the potential CASA Guardian to have some flexibility in their daytime job so they may work their case.