(Gila County, AZ –) Volunteers are needed to make a difference for local youth placed in foster care. The month of July is National Make a Difference for Children Month. The CASA of Gila County program is asking our community members to help our youth in care by volunteering as Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA Volunteers are adults in the community who complete a thorough background check and are provided free training and ongoing support while advocating for a child or sibling group from our community who have been placed in foster care due to abuse or neglect, at absolutely no fault of their own. Volunteers who serve with CASA of Gila County donate approximately 10 hours a month to their case. These hours are spent visiting the child, attending a monthly service meeting, providing an update to the Dependency Team and completing various case related tasks when it is convenient for the volunteer.
The CASA of Gila County Program is excited to announce that the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of Arizona is hosting the required CASA Volunteer training academy in Payson, AZ Aug. 25-27. For those interested in serving as a CASA Volunteer for children from Gila County, we highly encourage you to apply before July 31, 2022, in order to attend this event. For those who do not live in the Payson area, lodging will be provided. For those who cannot attend this event in Payson, there are several alternative training dates and locations throughout the year.
No special background or education is required to become a CASA volunteer, a caring and generous group that represents a wide range of cultures and professions, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Once accepted into the program, CASA volunteers receive all necessary training. CASA volunteers must be at least 21 years old and willing to complete necessary background checks, provide references and participate in an interview. While serving as a child’s CASA volunteer, you will receive ongoing support and assistance from a local CASA Coordinator.
To learn more about how you can become a part of the CASA team and make a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child from your community, contact the CASA of Gila County Program staff by calling 928-402-4427 or visiting the website: www.casaofgilacounty.org.