Frequently Asked Questions

CASA volunteers are assigned to a child in the child welfare system, ensuring their voice is heard in court and advocating with a focus on their best interest. They build relationships with the child, gather information from caregivers and professionals, and others involved in the life of the child and their family, and make recommendations to the court.

No prior experience is necessary, but volunteers must be a safe and caring adult who is at least 21 years old, can pass a background check, complete 30 hours of training, and has a desire to help children from Douglas County who have experienced trauma.

CASA volunteers typically commit to 10-15 hours per month (hours may vary), and we ask for at least a one-year commitment to provide stability for the child.

No. CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds and receive comprehensive training to prepare them for advocacy work.

Training for CASA volunteers covers a wide range of topics to prepare them for effective advocacy. Core areas include the roles and responsibilities of CASA volunteers, the child welfare system, and relevant state and federal laws related to Child In Need of Care (CINC) and Juvenile Offender (JO) cases.

Volunteers also receive instruction on definitions of child abuse and neglect, child development, and the dynamics of families, including the impacts of mental health, trauma, substance abuse, domestic violence, and poverty.

Training further addresses permanency planning, the CINC court process, and domestic relations such as custody, divorce, and related Kansas laws.

In addition, volunteers learn about effective advocacy, confidentiality, and program-specific practices.

At least four of the 30 hours of training are dedicated to the local program, including communication, information gathering, record keeping, local policies and procedures, the local courts, report writing, and community resources available to meet the needs of children and families.

CASA advocates submit reports to the court and are required to appear approximately every three to six months, depending on the child’s case.

Every CASA volunteer is assigned an Advocate Supervisor who provides guidance, support, and resources throughout the case, and will attend or participate in all meetings with the volunteer as long as the volunteer wants that support. .

Yes! Many CASA volunteers have full-time jobs and manage their advocacy responsibilities through flexible scheduling.

Ideally, a CASA advocate remains with a child throughout their entire case, which can last an average of 12-36 months.

You can give us a call or apply online through our website. After submitting an application, you’ll be contacted for an interview and background check.

Background checks are required by state and national standards, and the purpose is to protect the children we serve and their families.  Often people make assumptions that they will not be able to be a volunteer because they have a parking or traffic ticket or other criminal history.  If you have questions about background checks please reach out to discuss and do not assume you cannot be a volunteer!

We acknowledge that people grow and change over time, and that often past experiences can be a great strength for volunteers as they work to be a mentor with a child and their family. That being said, there are of course certain crimes that bar you from being a volunteer (sexual offender, violent crimes against a person, etc.).  

We run national, state, and local criminal history checks, which includes a finger print, 

Screening process and background checks verify identity and identify any undisclosed criminal history. The screening and background check process includes the following: 

• Criminal records checks from the state, county, and local court jurisdiction in which the applicant has lived and worked for the past seven (7) years. 
• Fingerprint Criminal History Check via the KBI/FBI or other national criminal database.
• National sex offender registry check.
• Child abuse registry or child protective services check where permissible by law.
• Social security number verification or the equivalent that allows for additional names, aliases and/or addresses to be obtained for the individual for further checks.
• Motor Vehicle Registration Check
• Three (3) written references from persons not related to the applicant.

An applicant is not eligible if the applicant (Kansas CASA Standards I.E.2.):

1. was convicted as an adult of any felony;
2. was convicted as an adult of any misdemeanor which is a sex offense, a crime against public morals, a crime affecting family relationships and children, assault, battery, crime against the public peace, crimes against persons, crime against public safety, crimes involving controlled substances, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit any such misdemeanor;
3. was adjudicated a juvenile offender because of having committed an act, which if done by an adult, would constitute the commission of a felony;
4. was adjudicated a juvenile offender because of having committed an act which, if done by an adult, would constitute a misdemeanor as described in section b. (above).
5. entered into a diversion agreement involving a charge of child abuse or a sexual offense; or
6. was convicted or adjudicated of any act that would pose a risk to children or to the credibility of the program.

Additionally, an applicant with pending criminal charges is not eligible unless and until the charges have been dismissed or the individual is found not guilty.

The applicant cannot be certified if it is found that the applicant has a criminal history as described above unless an exception is granted by the chief judge, which Douglas County CASA can help facilitate.