CASA Volunteer Training
Every new CASA volunteer completes a 30-hour training class that prepares them to advocate for abused and neglected children. CASA of Lexington uses the newest curriculum available from the National CASA association for in-person and virtual training classes.
Our own Volunteer Managers lead our training classes. That means the same people who guide you through training will also be supporting you when you are assigned to your first child.
Learn more about our training and what it’s like to serve as a CASA volunteer by watching our Introduction to CASA video series or reading more below.
Training Formats
You can choose between in-person or online training classes. All classes are free to take.
In-person training classes typically take place over one to two months, with classes on evenings and weekends. We also offer a condensed training every summer, allowing you to complete an in-person training class in a single week, with classes during the day.
Online training classes include seven live Zoom sessions with your instructor and the other new volunteers in your class. The majority of your training time is spent completing course assignments on your own time. Schedules for online trainings are determined by the availability of the instructor and the participants.
Before you join a training class, you need to fill out a volunteer application. Then, we’ll schedule an initial interview with you. At that interview, you can let us know what training format you prefer and what your availability is. We’ll find an upcoming training or schedule a new one that works for you!
After Training
After completing training, you will be sworn in by a family court judge. Then, we will work to match you with a child who needs a CASA volunteer. You have the choice to say “yes” or “no” to any case we present to you. If you say no to a case, we will look for another child who matches with your preferences and background.
Once you say yes to a case, you will receive a court order appointing you as the child’s CASA volunteer. Your CASA Volunteer Manager will go with you on your first home visit and help guide you each step of the way as you begin to learn about your CASA child’s case.