CASA of Oklahoma County’s thorough training process provides the volunteer with in-depth information about the courts and case dynamics. Please contact our more information on our training options.
Our Info Sessions are a great opportunity to learn more about CASA, tour our facility, and get answers to your questions about volunteering. These sessions are low-pressure, information dense, and very casual. We hope you can join us for one!
Pre-Service Training is a two-part system: half of the training process is completed online the other half is done in person at the CASAofOKCO office. There are two options to attend training on either Tuesday evenings or Thursday afternoons.
At the beginning of a training session, an online classroom is open to each participant where they can devote at least three hours a week to complete work on their own. The online classroom includes message boards, individual reading, and videos. The in-person portion of training takes place once a week.
Training Dates:
National CASA standards state that new volunteers must complete 30 hours of pre-service training before being sworn in as an officer of the court. These classes consist of discussion, individual activities, and group activities with videos, debates, and reading to complement the adult learning experience. Classes also include a case study which is based on real-world situations that provide new volunteers with opportunities to help them understand what it’s like to advocate for children in the child welfare system.
Court observation gives these new volunteers an opportunity to sit in on actual court hearings that take place in Oklahoma County. Volunteers witness what a hearing may look like when it is their time to attend one for their own CASA child.
The volunteer is emailed pre-work regularly that they are expected to review prior to coming to the next class. The pre-work consists primarily of reading so that, during class, rich discussion can take place on topics like the dynamics of substance abuse, domestic violence, and resources available for LGBTQ youth – among others. In addition to reading, the volunteer may be asked to do some independent research like the poverty guidelines for families in Oklahoma.
After becoming a volunteer, additional training is required annually in compliance with national standard. In-service formal training is available quarterly to help volunteers meet the twelve hours of continuing education annually. This is a great way for practicing advocate volunteers to keep their basic skills sharp and to provide a more in-depth study of critical issues relating to child abuse and neglect. In-service and other trainings can be found on our Training Portal.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a unique volunteer commitment. The CASA volunteer functions as an officer of the court and advocates for the best interests of the children they serve. As an officer of the court, the CASA volunteer has access to all confidential information pertaining to the child. The CASA volunteer is a consistent adult for a child in foster care when others in their life may change due to moves in placement or other circumstances.
CASA volunteers are guided by their advocate supervisors who provide coaching and oversight throughout the case. CASA volunteers are trained, dedicated adults who advocate for a child’s best interests in juvenile court. The information gathered by the volunteer is submitted to the court. Recommendations and concerns in court reports help to better inform the the Judge as they make decisions on the case.
MISSION
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Oklahoma County provides trained volunteers to be champions for the individualized best interests of children in foster care.
CASA of Oklahoma County complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights Laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, military service or lack of military service, religious affiliations or belief, or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
CASA of Oklahoma County is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. EIN: 13-4364692
