Opportunities From: Advocates for Children

Few things in life are more fulfilling than helping a child in need. Advocates for Children provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to support abused or neglected children in foster care through a national program called Court Appointed Special Advocates® (CASA). Well-trained volunteers are appointed by juvenile courts to be the voice of the children in the confusing and challenging world of court proceedings.

This best-interest advocacy makes a life-changing difference for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect, most of whom are in foster care. Our goal is to advocate for a safe, permanent home for each child.

CASA volunteers are the most intensely trained of Advocates’ volunteers, with more than 30 hours of class time and 10 hours of court observation, as well as experience with the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), Juvenile Court and other related entities.

Feel free to watch this video to learn a little more on how a CASA impacts the life of a child experiencing foster care.

The program is designed for youth ages 12 – 17 who have committed non-criminal acts considered a law violation because of their status as minors. Children and youth graduating from the program have their cases closed without an appearance before a judge and do not acquire a court record. Additionally, families are given a 90-day plan and resources to resolve family issues and keep children in school, out of detention, out of court and out of foster care.

As a mentor, you would start with participating in our monthly group connections to allow you to meet with clients in the program and build relationships and trust. Our program manager will help determine the relationship match between mentor and mentee after a determined amount of time.

With the expansion of our residential services, Newman House now provides a new, state-of-the-art home where foster youth can find safety and belonging. Our goal is to ensure that every child we serve has the opportunity to maintain important community ties while preparing for a successful future.

As a mentor, you’ll play a vital role in providing emotional support, guidance, and positive role modeling to youth navigating challenging life transitions.

Why It Matters: Mentorship can be life changing. For youth in foster care, having a stable, supportive adult can make a lasting impact on their self-esteem, decision-making, and future success.