Upcoming CASA training beginning June 13th at 5:30pm at the CASA of Sebastian County office (1216 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith).
Call 479-785-4171 for more information or to schedule an interview.
Sebastian County CASA is currently recruiting candidates for our next Advocate Training class.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. They are carefully screened through an interview, a criminal background check, and a reference check. Volunteers must commit to following a case for its duration, usually about one year. They receive thirty hours of pre-service training and court observation.
CASA volunteers are assigned one or two cases at a time, requiring an average of 10-15 hours per month each. They are provided ample support and supervision from the CASA staff, experienced volunteer mentors and monthly volunteer meetings. CASA’s curriculum provides the opportunity to actually practice skills that will be used in CASA work. It produces volunteers that feel confident and competent to begin working on a case.
CASA volunteers are given a court order to enable them to gather information. They monitor the child’s situation as well as the parents’ progress toward reunification goals. They also attend all court hearings and family meetings with DHS. Prior to each court hearing, they write a report detailing their concerns and outlining their recommendations. Children with a Court Appointed Special Advocate have a much greater likelihood of receiving needed services and finding safe permanent homes in a timely manner. Professionals serving these children are able to make better decisions on their behalf with up-to-date information provided by the volunteer. We conduct a training every 2-3 months .