Apr 21
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Apr 26
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Tukwila, WA 98188
We are looking for volunteers to act as Family Law CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in King County. A CASA advocate is a Court Appointed Special Advocate who receives training and volunteers their time to investigate and report on the best interests of a child. In tough custody cases, parents are often unable to focus on the needs of their children. Many of these children are so young they cannot speak for themselves. CASA volunteers give these children a voice in court by focusing on the needs of the child and striving to strengthen parenting skills and family relationships. 58% of the families we serve are BIPOC, and we encourage BIPOC to apply to volunteer. Our Mission Statement: Family Law CASA advocates for local children in high-risk custody cases so they have a chance for a safe, secure home life, significantly reducing the risk of abuse and neglect. Our Racial Equity Values Statement: At Family Law CASA, we exist in response to the family court system that disproportionately impacts BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) families. We strive to uphold the dignity and respect of all individuals by developing transparent and authentic relationships. We aspire to elevate BIPOC voices and experiences in decisions and hold ourselves, leadership and partners accountable through ensuring that we provide equitable advocacy for BIPOC children in court. What does a Court Appointed Special Advocate do? After 21 hours of training (provided by Family Law CASA) and an orientation meeting with an Advocate Supervisor, new advocates spend an average of 60 hours over 6-9 months conducting an investigation and writing report(s). Throughout the investigation, Court Appointed Special Advocates are supported by an Advocate Supervisor (paid professional) who guides them through each step of the process. Advocates are also represented by the Family Law CASA Attorney. While each case is unique, a Court Appointed Special Advocate generally completes the following tasks: * Interviews parents, teachers, doctors, the child and others who might provide helpful information (Due to COVID-19 these interviews can be done virtually!) * Reviews background checks, CPS reports, chemical dependency reports and medical or psychological reports * Asks screening questions during interviews to assess for unreported domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse and/or mental health concerns * Observes the child's interactions with parents and watches for developmental delays, educational delays, safety concerns or other unaddressed needs * Writes a report that includes recommendations about what is best for the child in the case Requirements: Advocates come from all walks of life, careers, ages, backgrounds and demographics to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates. To volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, you must: * Be 21 years of age or older * Have access to a car and the ability to drive to/from appointments * Own and be able to use a computer, including email * Have good communication skills and strong writing ability * Speak and write in English (court is conducted in English without reliable access to interpreters in our cases) * Have reasonable time available to investigate the case & write reports by the court specified due dates * Have no criminal record * We have opportunities for advocates in all areas of King County. For more information and to register go to www.familylawcasa.org This training will be on April 21st, 2023 from 9am-4pm. There will be a required Implicit Bias Training on April 26th, 2023 from 1-4pm. Both will be in-person unless otherwise announced. There will be recorded materials for completion by the first training date sent out on March 31st, 2023. Please apply before March 24th, 2023 to attend this training. Learn more and apply here: https://www.familylawcasa.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer/
Date Posted: Feb 2, 2023