The Champaign County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is seeking additional volunteers to speak up for abused and neglected children.
According to a press release, the volunteer advocates work with the child and social services agencies to ensure that the child’s best interests are met through the court process.
“It’s a much needed volunteer opportunity,” said Rush Record, executive director of the Champaign County CASA. “It helps give the kids a voice in court.”
Applications for volunteers are due Jan. 10. All applicants must be at least 21 years old and are required to get a background check.
Record said they are hoping to get a class of 20 or more volunteers.
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CASA provides a 30-hour training program for new advocates beginning Jan. 18. The program will be held three times per week until Feb. 10.
“We go through all kinds of curriculum,” Record said. “We’ll give (the volunteers) the tools to be able to write a court report, teach them how to conduct a home visit, how to ask interview questions, explain what happens in court and the court procedures. We start from square one.”
Record said after completing the training, volunteers will be asked to look at several cases and choose a child. They are then required to contact the child once a month, attend all court meetings and write a court report.
More information can be found on the CASA website or by calling (217) 384-9065.
