The Life of a CASA Volunteer

​Many potential Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers ask, “What all is involved with being a CASA volunteer? How much time will this really take for me to make a difference in the life of a child?"

​While the answer varies from case to case, the 15-20 hours per month spent as a CASA volunteer generally involve a regular set of calls, emails, meetings and visits. Of course this can be more or less depending on your case specifics, but here is a rough idea of what an “average” month can look like:

The Background
11 year old Flora is placed with a fictive kin resource, “aunt” Vanessa. Her mother Diane has been working hard to secure appropriate housing and complete parenting classes. Her CASA is Kathleen.

The Report
2/1: 0.5 Hours
Kathleen talks to Flora every other week on the phone. This week, Flora tells Kathleen about her dance lessons and her upcoming recital. She also has an upcoming dentist appointment that she is nervous about.

2/4: 1 Hour
Kathleen  spends some time at home updating CASA’s Optima database with her calls with Flora as well as the emails between CASA, DFCS case manager and Flora’s attorney. She also makes a note to follow up about the dental appointment and other medical appointments for the upcoming court hearing at the end of the month. 

2/6: 2 Hours
Kathleen visits Flora in the home with her “aunt” Vanessa, the fictive kin resource. They made beaded bracelets together, talked about how school was going, and how much she was enjoying her dance lessons. Everyone decided to go outside and sit on the front porch. Flora practiced cartwheels in the yard while Kathleen spoke with Vanessa about how everything was going and if she felt they needed anything. Vanessa felt that Flora was really struggling in math and could possibly benefit from a tutor.

2/11: 0.2 Hours
Kathleen calls the school and speaks with the counselor and a few of Flora’s teachers. She is still doing well, but as Vanessa had suggested, Flora could use some tutoring in Math. Kathleen contacts the DFCS worker to inquire about a tutoring referral and to share notes from the home visit and the conversation with the counselor and teachers. Kathleen also inquires about when the overnight visits with Diane, Flora’s mom will begin.

2/16:  0.5 Hours
Kathleen documents her efforts this month and makes a note to follow up with DFCS about the tutoring in the next week if it is not put in place. She also calls Diane to schedule a good time to come by her home. 

2/19: 0.5 Hours
Kathleen has her bimonthly call with Flora who just returned from dance lessons. She was really excited to share the news that there will be a recital soon. Flora also told Kathleen that she started tutoring  yesterday and that her visit with her mom was great. She brought cupcakes and they colored together.

2/20: 1 Hour
Kathleen visited Diane, Flora’s mother, at her  home to see how things were going . They talked about Flora’s tutoring and the upcoming court hearing. Diane is doing really well at work and is continuing to attend her classes that are required per her DFCS case plan. They talk about the upcoming overnight visits and it's clear that Diane is happy to have more time with Flora. She has her room all set up for her with a new bedding set that Flora chose.

2/21: 2 Hours
Kathleen updates her notes with news about Flora and the calls and visits she has made in the last few weeks. 

2/22: 1 Hour
Kathleen and her CASA Coordinator work on the court report for the upcoming review hearing. 

2/23: 1 Hour
Kathleen follows up with Flora’s school to make sure that tutoring is consistent. Kathleen also speaks with Vanessa while Flora is at a friend's house, to see how the overnight visit with her mother went. 

2/26: 2 Hours
Kathleen finishes her court report with the last details about tutoring services and also calls Vanessa to set a time to come by when Flora is there.
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2/28: 2.5 Hour
Court was running behind, but that gave Flora, Kathleen and Vanessa extra time to be together. Kathleen brought snacks and a book that Flora was excited to read. Kathleen asked Flora if there was anything she wanted to share with the Judge or if she wanted to speak to them in chambers. Flora said that she did and wanted to make sure they knew how much she wanted to return home and that she is going to be in a recital. 

After the hearing, Kathleen and Diane scheduled their next visit while Flora would be home, since the Judge ordered weekend visits.  

The Impact
Although the life of a CASA volunteer can be somewhat unpredictable, depending on the case, it is certain that their impact in the life of a child is priceless. Their voice in a courtroom and their words to a judge could be life-changing for a child experiencing foster care. We are so grateful for all the Savannah CASA volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts for the best interest of the children that we serve. To learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer, click here: Change a Child's Story!
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About the Author

Susan Ryncavage is the Lead Advocacy Coordinator. She serves as the CASA liaison to the Juvenile Court's Family Treatment Court which is a highly intensive program for parents with substance use disorder. Susan has been with CASA for a year but it's her second go around. Prior to having her amazing and creative son, Eli, she worked with Savannah CASA for seven years. She has her Bachelors in Social Work from Savannah State University. ​