Why
are CASA volunteers needed?
Alaska has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in
our country. At any given time over 2000 Alaska children are living
in foster care, and the professionals in the child welfare system
often have very high caseloads. In contrast, CASA volunteers are
assigned one or two cases and are able to give the cases the
attention they need. National studies have shown that when a CASA is
assigned to a case, the case is resolved in a shorter period of time
and that CASA volunteers perform as well as trained attorneys in the
child advocate role.
How
can I help?
 You can offer your skills
and your time as a CASA
—one of the most challenging and rewarding volunteer
opportunities you can find. Children in our state need you to be
a powerful
voice for them. Alaska CASA
provides free training and supervision for you to learn to become that voice for a child.
© Barbara Lavallee (1993)
CASA
volunteer candidates must undergo a screening process that includes a written
application, personal interview, references check, fingerprint and child
protection records check. Potential volunteers must also attend an information
meeting prior to participating in training. Check the training
calendar
for
upcoming information meetings and training. If you need more
information, please contact the
program coordinator in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau or
the Mat-Su Valley.
Please
note: Due to the nature of this volunteer opportunity, we
regret that not every applicant is accepted.
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