Has anyone here ever volunteered as a CASA or a GAL?

[Fridays Child]

If so, what did you think of the experience and would you recommend it? I'm thinking of volunteering and I'd appreciate any advice my fellow DUers have to share on the subject. Thanks! :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I have wanted to volunteer to be a CASA for a long time now

There is an intense training program and I don't really have the time. But one day I will do it.

[spindrifter]

2. I have not--but I have worked with

many of these volunteers. The training is good, and it is a much needed area for people who have the time to volunteer.

[Horse with no Name]

3. My best friend was a CASA

She loved it.
Do it. Those kids need advocates.
:thumbsup:

[Fridays Child]

4. I'm sending a letter of inquiry.

I'm thinking seriously of pursuing it. Is your friend still doing it?

[Horse with no Name]

5. She died of breast cancer 3 years ago

I don't want to make you feel weird or bad about asking.
She was one of those "once in a lifetime" forces that you meet. I was lucky to be her friend. She left three kids of her own--a 3 yr old, 7 yr old and 16 yr old. She simply adored kids--it didn't matter whose kids they were.
She was a CASA for quite a few years--I met her 11 years ago and she had been doing it for a year when I met her. It was a very worthwhile mission to her.
It was very near and dear to her heart. Those kids are in real need.
It was a perfect fit for her.

[Fridays Child]

7. Oh, how sad! I'm sorry you lost your best friend...

...and from your description of her, her death was a terrible loss to many people. :(

[Horse with no Name]

11. Thank you

Her death was incredibly sad. I still cry (selfishly) for my loss. But her life, even though it was brief, was such a wonderful one. We should all be so lucky to have that kind of legacy at the age of 34.

[leftofthedial]

6. I work closely with some CASAs

I started a nonprofit working with at-risk kids and we partner with a local CASA organization and their kids. I can't imagine much that would be more worthwhile than being a CASA.

And the training is great.

[Fridays Child]

9. I'm getting some very encouraging feedback.

It sounds like a good thing to do. And how wonderful that you run a nonprofit for at-risk kids. How, if I may ask, does your organization work with CASA? Is it a mentoring program?

[leftofthedial]

17. we offer a creativity mentoring program

we partnered with a CASA to do a pilot program with their kids.

[Czolgosz]

8. Do it. The need is great; the commitment is small in comparison . . .

[AspenRose]

10. I was a paralegal for a GAL.

I remember one particular CASA who would come to the office to speak with my supervising attorney about her kids. She was frustrated more often than not because sometimes the social workers and the attorneys would look down upon her because she wasn't a "professional" like they were and didn't always understand the politics of how the 'game' was played in the courtroom. (Unfortunately it's still seen as a 'game.')

I'll also add that my supervising attorney's GAL case load was so huge (all the GALs were overloaded) she seldom had time to sit down with the CASA to hear her concerns.

If you can handle that kind of scenario, and if you can take care of your mental hygiene (because it's very easy to get attached to those kids, even to an unhealthy level), then I say go for it.

[Fridays Child]

12. It's sad that attorneys involved in these cases would view the...

...the process as a game. But, that's the way most work environments are so I suppose it would be naive to think that this one would be any different.

I'm familiar with one family law judge, here, and I know that he's unrelentingly focused on protecting the kids whose cases cross his bench. I would hope that, regardless of attorneys' attitudes and the politics of the courthouse, most judges understand the stakes for the children.

[AspenRose]

13. Courthouse politics can be ugly...but don't despair

Remember the starfish story. You'll help make a difference in the lives of kids, one at a time.

[Fridays Child]

14. The starfish story? What is that?

:hi:

[maveric]

15. I googled CASA and got several different groups.

Which one are you speaking of?

[Fridays Child]

16. Here's the program I'm looking at...

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/casa/

It's Arizona's branch of the national CASA program found here: http://www.casanet.org/