Northwest Oklahoma CASA urgently seeking volunteers
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March 10, 2017
Northwest Oklahoma Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization that empowers community volunteers like you to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Northwest Oklahoma CASA services Woodward, Woods, Ellis, Beaver, Harper and Texas counties. We are critically low on volunteer advocates and are seeking your help to assist us in providing a voice to the children of our communities that are left unserved by this devastating shortage.
As an advocate, you assure that every child is heard and that no child gets lost in the overburdened legal and child welfare systems. Advocates are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child’s best interests. You are not a foster parent; you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child’s life.
Advocates get to know the child while also gathering information that enables the court to better understand the child’s situation. Advocates are in touch with people such as the child, the child’s parents, DHS, foster parents, teachers and counselors. Advocates report the information gathered to the court along with their concerns and recommendations stemming from the information received. Advocates essentially become an extra set of “eyes and ears” for the court while at the same time becoming a source of support for the child.
Prior to service, volunteer advocates receive 30 hours of training to properly equip them to advocate for the children. Training covers topics such as CASA’s role and responsibilities, the roles and responsibilities of DHS and other agencies, the basics of child abuse and neglect, communicating with children, writing court reports, and other aspects necessary to prepare you for your role as an advocate. There are several options available to complete the 30 hours of training: flex training, one-on-one, and independent study. Additionally, Northwest Oklahoma CASA program staff is available to travel to counties outside of Woodward for training.
Please contact us today to get started providing a voice to our communities’ children that are left silenced. These are our children and they need our help. They need you.
For more information regarding the Northwest Oklahoma CASA Program and training options, visit http://www.nwokcasa.com.
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