CASA of Gila County welcomed two new volunteers on Aug. 10, 2023 in Payson, Arizona. Linda and Joanne completed their Oath of Service before the Honorable Judge Timothy M. Wright.
This Oath of Service marks the completion of 30 hours of pre-service training, a thorough background check, and a personal dedication to serving youth in foster care. CASA of Gila County provides free training both in person and virtually to all qualifying applicants.
As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, Linda and Joanne will fill a vital role in the life of a child or sibling group who has been placed in foster care due to abuse or neglect at absolutely no fault of their own. As a CASA volunteer, they will serve to advocate for the best interest of the child. They will visit the child, attend meetings and learn about the family, and use that gathered information to speak on the child’s behalf for their needs, best interest and safety.
The CASA volunteer role is unique and helps to ensure that our children in foster care do not fall through the cracks of the overburdened child welfare system. These volunteers are not foster families; they do not have a role in the removal of the children, but instead they make objective recommendations for the child. They are appointed by a judge after a family’s case has opened and it has been determined that the child would benefit from a consistent adult who can focus their attention on the child’s needs. But more volunteers are needed in Gila County.
There are over 90 children from Gila County communities who do not currently have a CASA appointed to their case. Applicants do not need to live within Gila County to serve. We encourage those who may be interested in volunteering to contact our office today.
CASA volunteers do not need any prior special training and come from all walks of life. Anyone 21 years of age or older, who can pass a thorough background check and complete 30 hours of training, is encouraged to apply. Another way to get involved is a program with similar requirements called the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB). A judge appoints volunteers to a five-member panel that meets online one weekday per month to review the cases of children in foster care.
Our local children who have been placed in foster care need our help. To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.CASAofGilaCounty.org or call the CASA of Gila County Office at 928-402-4427. To learn more about becoming a FCRB volunteer or to watch a video about volunteering, visit www.AZFCRB.org.
