Project: CASA volunteer (court appointed special advocates)

Location: Seacoast of NH

Description:

CASA volunteers are ordinary people who step forward to advocate in New Hampshire’s court system for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Volunteers spend time getting to know the child or children they are working with and gather information from the important adults in each child’s life so they may make qualified, unbiased recommendations to a judge about what they believe to be in the best interests of the child.

Responsibilities:

Volunteers help change a child’s story from one of abuse or neglect, to stability and security. Volunteers:

  • Spend quality time getting to know the child on their case

  • Speak regularly with parents, relatives, foster parents, social workers, teachers and medical providers

  • Identify any unmet needs of the child and determine solutions with child’s support team

  • Write a court reports, attend court hearings and speak to the judge about the child’s progress

Time commitment:

Volunteers spend about 10-15 hours a month on their case, with more time spent in the first 90 days of the case assignment. They stay with the case until the child is in a safe, permanent home or another permanent solution is in place.

Start date/end date:

Varies, rolling

  • Virtual training beginning March 12.

  • Hybrid training beginning March 14 and April 14.

Requirements:

  • Attend a virtual information session.

  • Complete an application.

  • Interview.

  • Attend 40 hours of training.

  • Meet your program manager.

  • Advocate for a child.

Contact:

(p) (603) 617-7115

(email) greaterseacoast@casanh.org

Website:

https://casanh.org/volunteer-to-become-an-advocate/

Appropriate for children/youth: No. Volunteers must be 18 years old.