From helping siblings find permanent placement together, to finding a child a stable home with a relative, to uncovering positive information that helps a loving family reunite, to something as simple but yet important to that child as ensuring that their shoes are not too tight for their feet, volunteer Advocates make incredible differences in the lives of children.

• You’ll talk with the child and with their family members, teachers and others to find out where the child will be happiest and safest: with the parents or another relative, with a loving foster family or through adoption.
• You’ll speak for the child in court, making your fact-based recommendation for placement to the judge.
• During the life of the case, you’ll act as the one constant in the child’s life as they experience changes in foster placements, schools and caseworkers. You’ll ensure the child's needs are met and the case is resolved swiftly and appropriately.

Download an application to become a volunteer Advocate

Training

CASA of Tarrant County will provide all the training you need in a 30-hour course. You’ll learn about courtroom procedures as well as the symptoms and effects of abuse and neglect. After the course, you’ll be sworn in by a judge as an official volunteer Advocate.

Time Commitment

Throughout most of the case, you’ll be asked to give about 10-12 hours of your time per month. The beginning of a case is the intensive, fact-finding stage, and may require more time. The majority of cases require presenting recommendations to the judge three to six times over the course of a year. As a volunteer Advocate, you will be assigned to a casework supervisor with CASA of Tarrant County who will guide you, support your efforts and attend all court hearing with you.