WHAT DOES
A CASA DO?
The mission of the Sunflower CASA Project, Inc. shall be to make available trained volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children and youth who come into the court system of the 21st and 2nd Judicial Districts.
Court Appointed Special Advocates.
The Role of a CASA
Court-Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers from many different backgrounds who give their time to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Our program is based on the principle that each child deserves a safe, permanent, nurturing home where they can thrive. Our volunteers are the difference between abuse and hope.
TRAINING TO BECOME A CASA
To become a certified CASA you must complete 30 hours of pre-service training. We offer training three times a year and have adjusted our training to accommodate COVID-19 safety protocols, and it is now all virtual training. Pre-service training is held for eight weeks, with a three-hour class every week. You must attend all eight weeks. There is also a volunteer application you must complete, as well as background checks, reference checks, and an interview with CASA staff. Throughout the training, we will cover the topics of child welfare, poverty, domestic violence, trauma, substance abuse, the court system, and a variety of other topics that you will encounter in your role as a CASA. Our goal with training is to properly prepare you to begin this new role as a CASA.
Spring CASA training will start in May. Sign-up below.
IN-SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
CASA volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education training each year after the year they are certified.
Sunflower CASA Project offers monthly in-service opportunities to help volunteers complete their hours. In-service opportunities include guest speakers, CASA book club.
In-service opportunities
In addition to attending an event hosted by Sunflower CASA Project, volunteers can independently complete in-service hours. Here is a list of independent in-service opportunities:
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Check out a book from the CASA Office or from the National CASA Association’s recommended reading list, read it, and write a reflection (4 hours)
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Listen to a National CASA podcast and write a reflection (length of podcast plus one hour for writing reflection)
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Watch a movie or TV show about a topic relevant to your work as a CASA and write a reflection (length of the movie or TV show plus one hour for writing reflection)
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Turn in your syllabus from a college class that covers topics relevant to your work as a CASA (6 hours)
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Submit your agenda from a workshop or training that covers topics relevant to your work as a CASA (length or workshop or training)
2023 CASA STATS
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47 CASA Volunteers and three staff advocated for 108 children
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CASA volunteers contributed 2,463 hours of service - equivalent to $78,323, and drove 27,090 miles
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We held 3 pre-service trainings with 18 potential volunteers
DID YOU KNOW?
Over 400 youth age out of the foster care system in Kansas each year? These young adults do not have permanent families and are often lacking the support they need to transition to successful adulthood?
