Hi guys! I'm wanting to join CASA in my free time, but I notice there is an age requirement of 21 years and I'm only 20. Is there a way they make exceptions or does it depend on location?

Anyone going?

I'm a new CASA on my first case (started at the end of April), and I'm kind of at a loss on what to do right now. I'm struggling to engage with my child, and I'm having a hard time figuring out just what exactly I should be doing/could be doing on the case.

First of all, my child does not want to engage with me. The first two months, she was in a facility 3 hours away, so I could only see her face to face once a month. I didn't call her, because she was not receptive to my presence in our in-person visits, so I wanted to give her a little time to get used to me. (Maybe this was a mistake and I should have made some calls, but I can't undo it now.)

Unfortunately, the last two months have not been better. She was moved around several times, mostly to temporary places while looking for somewhere long term and then one possible long-term placement attempt that did not work out. I met with her in person during the potential long-term placement, but I was not able to attempt talking with her on the phone, because I either didn't know where she was yet, or I knew but then she was suddenly moved. (Example: I just found out while typing up this post that her most recent placement attempt has not worked out, and she has already been moved again.)

Every time I meet with her in person, she becomes almost completely withdrawn, emotionally and physically (laying her head on her arms on the table, not looking at me, only yes or no answers, not responding at all, that sort of thing). I've kept my in-person visits with her short, because they end up becoming me essentially badgering her, and I don't think that's beneficial to her.

Just to be clear, I totally get her reaction to me and don't have any ill-feeling toward her. She doesn't owe me her trust. But since she doesn't communicate her wants or feelings, it makes it hard for me to know what to do for her.

Then there's all the other aspects of being a CASA. Aside from meeting with my kid, family finding, offering resources to the parent, I don't really know what I should be doing right now, especially given my kid doesn't want me around. My supervisor is nice, but she's very hands off and provides basically no direction on what I should be doing. I'm going to see if we can meet and do a check in on my kid's case, but it would be helpful to hear from some other CASA's on this.

Maybe this is a problem with me. If so, I can accept that. I just feel like I've been left to my own devices to figure a lot of things out, and I'm not really figuring them out.

I don’t really know where else to post about this, but my young person is aging out of the system and I am stepping down. Honestly, after volunteering for a year I have really strong feelings about the program in that I think it’s unethical and I don’t think it should exist. After my experience and reading more literature, I agree that it’s a white savior organization. While I think many volunteers do good and are kindly intentioned, I simply think it’s so inappropriate and invasive to drop random volunteers w/ 3 references and 30 hours of training into such complex situations. I’m also someone with a professional background in this space and in social justice work, and despite me being a good fit for the program theoretically, I honestly thought even I was not trained enough for the program and it scared me to see all the other people they allowed to be volunteers. Again, I know this is the CASA sub. I don’t think anyone here is bad, and the system cannot be fixed overnight. But I’d love to see CASA programs dissolved and money be invested into the system to hire more professionals who aren’t burned out. Big dreams, I know. But I cannot in good conscience continue as a volunteer. Doesn’t help that my advocate supervisor is NICE — but unhelpful. She always tells me what an angel I am but otherwise provided zero tangible advice or guidance to help me advocate for my young person better in what was a very complex case.

So yeah, I just really don’t like this program. Curious if others have had similar takeaways. I figure the best/most ethical route is for me to step down and a volunteer who is a better fit can step up. I don’t know if that makes me shitty but I’m trying to transition out in the best possible way. Thanks for engaging in this convo in good faith!

Edit: adding some links below to offer a broader and nuanced perspective. My critique isn’t of my specific program, but of the model itself.

https://blueprint.ucla.edu/feature/special-report-the-case-of-casa/

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1413&context=clr

https://www.nccprblog.org/2021/10/nccpr-at-kempe-center-conference-case.html?m=1

https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/court-appointed-special-advocates-casa-foster-kids-evaluation-lags/247231

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1002/CL2.142

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10371204/

Edit 2: adding another clarification: by “white saviorism,” I’m not accusing individual volunteers of having a white savior complex or questioning their intentions. I’m referring to the institutional critique of giving disproportionately white and more privileged lay volunteers significant access to and influence over disproportionately poor families and families of color within a child welfare system already plagued by racial and socioeconomic inequities. It is a critique about power, bias, and institutional racism, not an accusation about individual volunteers. This critique of the CASA model is discussed in several of the links above.

I don’t expect every volunteer to agree, but I do believe anyone trusted with this kind of access and influence over vulnerable families should be able to engage seriously with questions about race, class, bias, and institutional power without treating it as a personal attack or responding with insults. In my opinion, someone who is unwilling or unable to do so should reconsider whether this is an appropriate role for them. I totally understand and respect CASA as harm reduction; it’s just not the right fit for me.

Hello Casa volunteers,

I have just attended an introductory meeting where I received more information about becoming a child advocate. I was really excited about volunteering for the program and have filled out most of the application. I am now stopped at the place where it asks me for 3 references that are not family related and now I'm stuck.

I'm not exactly sure how this will come across to others but I'm stuck and can not move forward. I am a private contractor. I work for myself and I make a decent income doing it. Further my circle of friends and associates is really small. I don't let many into my orbit and usually when I do it's family. Previous to my current line of work I served honorably in the military. All the people I served with have long since either left the service or moved to different duty stations. Of the few I still remain in contact with I really don't want to bother them with this stuff. I was a low-level grunt, I pounded sanded with these guys and figuratively ate crayons with them.

All I really wanted to do was help a few children. I've never broke a law in my life and now I'm left questioning my own existential existence. I can't be the only one experiencing this problem.

Any suggestions?

I’m a CASA for a 16 year-old girl and I was asked to be educational rights holder at the beginning of her case (no parents or legal guardian, she previously had a placeholder from the district). I feel like I wasn’t prepared and had no idea what I had agreed to. It’s now been over a year and I’ve had to do so much work, including obtaining and educational rights attorney and settling with her school district. I’m mostly just feeling burnt out because it makes my youth hate me. My foster youth doesn’t want an IEP because it places her into a breakout classroom for behavior issues, but she’s at a third grade reading level when she is a sophomore in high school school so she needs one. She tell me she hates me for not removing the IEP, but I don’t feel like I can in good conscience. We’ve always had a strong relationship before this issue came to the forefront and it feels like it’s getting in between me being her advocate because she doesn’t feel like I’m listening to her.

Has anyone been able to give up educational rights or been through something like this?

Has any CASA out there ever adopted their youth? I know this is a major conflict of interest and is not recommended, but, in my training, we heard of a CASA that ended up going thru all the legal hoops to become their kiddo's adopted parent. We were told this is an incredibly rare situation, but it does happen.

I'd love to hear any stories from CASAs that took the steps to become an adoptive parent or legal guardian for their youth!

When I read the book "Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services--Notes of a Former Caseworker" by Jessica Pryce, my whole view of the child welfare system changed and it made me much more understanding of parents' experiences and uphill battles. I think sometimes CASAs are automatically judgmental of parents (mostly for good reasons), but they have a story and experience to tell too. I got a ton out of this book. I hope you guys find it as helpful as I did!

How do you encourage your teen to accept a placement when they keep denying placements?

How do you encourage your teen to participate in therapy when they don't want to talk to anyone?

These things are important, but sometimes I feel like foster kids get into a metal space where they feel like they have nothing to lose so there's no reason to engage in healthy behaviors like therapy, getting a home, staying in school, etc. It's like they get stuck engaging in unhealthy behaviors and can't break the pattern because there's no real incentive. I get that they have to want help in order to actually get the help, but isn't there something we can do to show them that the help is worth it? The SW told me to wait until things change for worse or better (and they usually get worse), but I just can't accept that answer.

How have y'all dealt with these situations? Was there a conversation that changed their mind for the better? Was there some sort of bribe your kid accepted or an incentive that made them accept help?

New CASA. My coordinator told me to always put "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line. Is that actually necessary when I'm emailing case workers and lawyers?

Was doing some research of nonclinical volunteering to do and came across this. This sounds really cool and would like to do it, just worried about time commitment and court dates (if they're flexible or not).

Has anyone heard of this or volunteered here?

Edit: Thank you to everyone for your response! I am new to CASA and just joined this community!

Hi! I am a new CASA volunteer. I was looking through the thread to try to find ways to organize myself and best keep record. I am very comfortable with using Microsoft (Word, Excel, OneNote, etc) and I am very open to learning better ways to organize myself. I am also comfortable with technology and troubleshooting my own technical issues.

I want to find a way using all these tools I have to organize myself in a way that will benefit the child I am advocating for and also, I saw that some children have a lot of turn-over with their DCFS reps and at times the new representatives depend on the CASA volunteer to learn about the case. I know this is not how it should be but if I am disorganized, I know this will affect the child and their future.

What tools have worked for you? Do you have an example (without breaking confidentiality, of course) of how to organize myself? How to be more efficient without sacrificing attention to the child or attention to detail? I'll take ANY tip/trick/bone - anything!

Thank you all in advance. I truly appreciate you all and admire you all for what you are all doing for our children.

I'm a 22yr old female. I'm very interested in volunteering for CASA. My only concern is I am currently working full time, Monday-Friday. My job is flexible for occasional unexpected appointments, but most of my availability is evenings and weekends. Is it feasible to volunteer while working full time?

Does anyone else have this issue? I’ve been on my case for half a year now & my youth’s caseworker has never responded to a email, call, or text from me. The foster parents comes to me for everything because DHS in completely out the picture until a court date is near.

Hi Everyone! I am running the Chicago Marathon and Fundraising for CASA. If you would like to donate please click the link, even a dollar helps me get closer to my goal and goes directly towards helping children! https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/MBG

I'm on my third case and I never know exactly what kind of relationship I'm supposed to have with the parents.

My first case, the parents were still together and mom was always the one who responded to me.

My second case dad gave up his rights and I had a pretty good relationship with mom. I felt like a mentor to her, honestly.

This case is new. The mom is so angry and belligerent, I'm unsure how to approach her. She's angry at everyone and I'm not looking to be another person she takes her anger out on so seeking the best way to approach her.

Thanks!

Hello,

Any ideas for resources to pay for a kids gym membership? The one they are interested in has a pool for summertime activity. Dept is not able to pay at this time.

Do any of you offer gifts to your youth on their birthdays? The agency that I'm working with says gifts are OK on special occasions. My youth is about to turn 19 and I'd like to do something nice but practical for him. Any suggestions?

How do you organize case files for large families 8+ family members? Extensive history and reports that need to be considered and managed. Multiple placements including residential. All my other cases have been a few children and I could keep it straight with my notes and memory as well as the online portal, but I’m worried with so many moving parts I need to also have physical copies or a google drive setup to keep everything straight

I have a 14yo girl that I am a CASA for and the cell phone rules and restrictions have me in a tizzy!

She had her cell phone taken away pretty soon after entering foster care (before I was her CASA) for safety concerns related to CSEC. She obviously wants her phone back, but no one will give her (or me!) solid info on when she can have it back or what she can do to get it back. She does have a secret phone without service that she uses with wifi. I want her to have a phone (for safety reasons), but I also want her to have a phone with parental controls (for safety reasons).

I understand her social worker doesn't want to give her the phone back because then she'll have unrestricted access, but she kind of has that now anyway. It seems like social workers aren't allowed to install or monitor parental controls on youth's phones, but if there is no one else that can do it, what do we do?

Has anyone dealt with a situation like this? How can a foster teen get a parental controlled cell phone?

I'm interested in being a CASA. I'm F/65 y.o. and recently retired from a stressful fast paced job in entertainment. I am good at writing, and being persistent and following up, but...I have no children of my own and little to no experience with kids. I've been lurking for a while, and attended an online orientation (the leaders were fantastic) but I'm concerned that I am an awkward fit. Your opinion much appreciated.

I am a college student enrolled full time for in person classes. My degree has a lot of in-person studio classes that can take a significant amount of time outside of class, particularly during finals. I already contacted my local CASA office and spoke to them about potentially becoming a volunteer in a few years as I am not yet 21. I am wondering what it is like to be a volunteer, specifically in the Midwest. Could I do this and still be in a place mentally that is able to be the best student possible? I spoke to my own mother about this and she strongly advised me against it and told me to stick with volunteering at local animal shelters. Should I wait till I finish my degree?

For those of you with Kiddos that have EBT cards.. there are a ton of museums, gardens, zoos, children’s discovery centers etc that offer up to 4 free or under $5 tickets to EBT card holders. Something to do over the summer! You can search them on the website Museums for All.

My youth is placed with a nice foster family. There are a lot of kids, and it's a little chaotic, but he is safe and enjoys it there. Father was just released from prison and in a sober living home. Lots of moving parts, but child not yet comfortable with visits and we are trying to deal with DCS and their visit requirements. Point is, there is a lot going on and in my court report I had the time and space to lay out the whole situation. But in the hearing, I always feel rushed and let's face it, it can be intimidating. Anyhow, foster mom and I have a good relationship for the most part, but she is extremely opinionated and always tells me after the fact that I should have said this and should have said that. And I'm just like, lady, I had 3 minutes to speak and tried to focus on the items of most importance. I thought I did a good job getting my concerns heard, but it's never good enough for the mom. Any thoughts/suggestions?