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4 people are interested
CASA for Children of Columbia County
ORGANIZATION: CASA for Children of Columbia County
Please visit the new page to apply.
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4 people are interested
Do you like to investigate? Can you facilitate communications between people who can't see eye to eye? Can you advocate for the best interest of a child, even when the system thinks there's an easier way? Are you willing to spend time monitoring a child's process through the juvenile dependency courts? You may just make a GREAT CASA Volunteer!
Training begins in May and it takes time to apply so contact us today.
Every day, abused and neglected children in Oregon are taken from their homes and placed into foster care because their parents are unable to safely care for them. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers are needed to ensure that the educational, emotional, medical and practical needs of these children are identified and met in an often overburdened child welfare system.
CASAs are ordinary people... men and women, executives, stay-at-home parents, retirees, and busy professionals who give of their time and hearts to make an extraordinary difference for some of Oregon's most vulnerable children.
As a CASA volunteer, you will get to know the child for whom you are advocating by visiting them at least once a month and speaking to those involved in the child's life. You will investigate and gather information, advocate for the child, make recommendations to the Court, and monitor the progress of the case as you attend periodic meetings and hearings. The information you gather and your recommendations help the Court make informed decisions.
We will provide all of the training you need to be a powerful voice for a child's best interest. A CASA volunteer typically spends 10-20 hours per month on his or her case.
Attending an orientation is the first step in becoming a CASA. Schedule yours today by responding to this listing, emailing mrush@casahelpskids.org, or calling 503-410-5097.
More opportunities with CASA for Children of Columbia County
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About CASA for Children of Columbia County
Location:
2514 Sykes Road., St. Helens, OR 97051, US
Mission Statement
CASA for Children of Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. screens, trains, and supervises volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in juvenile-dependency court system. Its goal is to ensure that each and every child is permitted to grow up in a safe and permanent home.
Description
In 2006, the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the National CASA Association, as required by Congress. Following are highlights of the findings.
- Children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care, defined as more than 3 years in care: 13.3% for CASA cases versus 27.0% of all children in foster care.
- When a CASA volunteer was involved, both children and their parents were ordered by the courts to receive more services. The audit concluded that this was an indication that 'CASA is effective in identifying the needs of children and parents.'
- Cases involving a CASA volunteer are more likely to be permanently closed than cases where a CASA volunteer is not involved. The statistics vary from only 1.4% of children with a CASA volunteer reentering the CWS (CASA Data Request) to 9% of CASA children reentering the CWS (Youngclarke Review). This is in contrast to 16% for children not served by a volunteer.
- Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to be adopted and less likely to be reunified with their parents than children not assigned a CASA volunteer. The audit explains this finding as the result of CASA volunteers serving on typically the most serious cases of maltreatment and therefore cases where children are less likely to be reunified with their parents.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
2514 Sykes RoadSt. Helen's, OR 97051
DATE POSTED
April 22, 2019
SKILLS
- Child Welfare
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Background Check
- Must be at least 21
- Orientation or Training
- 10 - 20 hours per month
- Writing skills, able to use Google docs, and attach docs to email