CASA is how you can be a hero

You want to make a real difference in the world. You want to do something that matters - something that still counts years or even decades from now. You want to be a force for good.

Serving as a CASA volunteer is how you can.

You don’t need a specialized degree. You don’t need to dedicate your life to a specific career. You just need to show up and show a kid they matter to someone.

 What does a CASA volunteer do?

CASA volunteers are matched with abused and neglected children in the family court system. Each volunteer visits their matched child every month, getting to know them and giving them a consistent, positive person in their life. CASA volunteers also collect information from others about the child’s life and tell the judge on the child’s case what they have learned.

CASA volunteer reports and recommendations prevent kids from slipping through the cracks and ensure everyone has the information they need to do what is best for the children. CASA volunteers have helped reunify families, find adoptive homes, get teens into college, prevent further abuse or neglect, and even save lives of the children they serve.

What is the time commitment?

It usually takes 5-10 hours of volunteer time per month to serve a CASA child. That time includes visiting the child, gathering information, writing reports, and attending court once every few months. We ask every CASA volunteer to commit to serving for at least two years, to give the children consistency when everything else might change at any moment.

Am I doing this alone?

Absolutely not. We provide you with a thorough 30-hour training class on a schedule that works for you. Then, one of our Volunteer Managers will match you with a child based on your background and preferences, so that you can bond with and advocate for them easily.

Your Volunteer Manager is available every step of the way to answer questions, help track down information and support you. Each of our Volunteer Managers is trained to know how the system works inside and out, and they supervise a limited number of volunteers so they have plenty of time for you.

We also have a thriving community of volunteers, supporters and staff at CASA of Lexington. We schedule CASA lunches together, host book club discussions, bring in speakers and panels for continuing education classes, and celebrate our work with volunteer appreciation events.

What’s my next step?

If you’d like to become a CASA volunteer, you can fill out our online application. Then, we’ll be in touch to schedule an initial interview and provide background check forms. At your initial interview, we’ll get you into an upcoming training class that works with your schedule.

If you’re not ready yet, you can watch our Intro to CASA video series to learn more about the training process and what it’s like to serve as a CASA volunteer. Or you can contact us with questions at info@casaoflexington.org or (859) 474-0747 (call or text).

If you’d like to support the CASA mission without becoming a CASA volunteer, you can make a donation or become a Friend of CASA.