2020 NEW VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Training will begin once stay at home orders are lifted. However, we are accepting applications now.
Contact Heather Upton for more info
517-425-4145 (Text)
casaofhillsdale@gmail.com
Why Become A CASA?
Become a voice for the voiceless! Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Hillsdale County!
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteer community members who are appointed by a judge to advocate, on a one-to-one basis, for a child who has been removed from home due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The volunteer gets to know the child and then lets the judge and others in the child welfare system know the child’s perspective and the child’s needs. The CASA offers consistency to the child and a voice for them in court.
To inquire about becoming a CASA you can call 517-797-6020, email casaofhillsdale@gmail.com, or fill out the contact form on this website. A staff member will then contact you to set up a time for you to come in and talk. An application with the necessary forms for background checks will be given to you at this meeting.
Background checks are necessary to protect the safety of the children we serve, and because CASA volunteers are sworn officers of the court. When you have been thoroughly pre-screened, you will be notified about the outcome of your application.
You will then be enrolled in our training program which is approximately 30 hours plus 3 hours of courtroom observation time. Training is usually conducted over a five week period twice a week for 3 hours. Following successful completion of training; a post-training interview; and approval by CASA staff, a swearing in ceremony is conducted by Judge Bianchi. Once sworn in, advocates are ready for a case assignment. While assigned to a case, volunteers work closely with the CASA staff to assure that all of the work meets CASA standards.
Training will begin once stay at home orders are lifted. However, we are accepting applications now.
Contact Heather Upton for more info
517-425-4145 (Text)
casaofhillsdale@gmail.com
Why Become A CASA?
Become a voice for the voiceless! Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Hillsdale County!
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteer community members who are appointed by a judge to advocate, on a one-to-one basis, for a child who has been removed from home due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The volunteer gets to know the child and then lets the judge and others in the child welfare system know the child’s perspective and the child’s needs. The CASA offers consistency to the child and a voice for them in court.
To inquire about becoming a CASA you can call 517-797-6020, email casaofhillsdale@gmail.com, or fill out the contact form on this website. A staff member will then contact you to set up a time for you to come in and talk. An application with the necessary forms for background checks will be given to you at this meeting.
Background checks are necessary to protect the safety of the children we serve, and because CASA volunteers are sworn officers of the court. When you have been thoroughly pre-screened, you will be notified about the outcome of your application.
You will then be enrolled in our training program which is approximately 30 hours plus 3 hours of courtroom observation time. Training is usually conducted over a five week period twice a week for 3 hours. Following successful completion of training; a post-training interview; and approval by CASA staff, a swearing in ceremony is conducted by Judge Bianchi. Once sworn in, advocates are ready for a case assignment. While assigned to a case, volunteers work closely with the CASA staff to assure that all of the work meets CASA standards.
TESTIMONIALS
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” Proverbs 30:8. This quote sums up exactly what CASA advocates do for children in the foster care system. Almost 2 years ago my husband and had the pleasure of bringing home a newborn baby boy from the hospital, we would quickly learn that this little boy would need someone other than us to speak for him, to advocate for him within the court system, to make sure that this little boy received all that he needed to receive. May of 2016 we were blessed with meeting our CASA advocate. She became not only an advocate for our little boy, but a friend for our entire family. She was the person I leaned on, vented to, cried to, and smiled with throughout our entire case. Without CASA I truly believe our case would have taken an entirely different route. CASA advocates not only make a difference for the child they are advocating for, but for the entire family they have connected with. - Paige H. Foster & Adoptive Parent
"Our CASA volunteers have made it possible for the children in our Family Treatment Court cases to have a voice in weekly team meetings and review hearings. CASA volunteers provide unique insight solely based on the best interest of the child, which is the most important information needed in these cases. I take comfort knowing that our CASA volunteers are with us by choice to advocate for each child."
- Amber Reynolds, Hillsdale County Family Treatment Court Case Manager