Absolutely! Many of our volunteers have full-time jobs and families. Most of the CASA’s duties are carried out on their own time. Such tasks may include conducting independent research, reviewing relevant documents, visiting/interviewing biological and foster families, and of course, visiting the children in their placements. With that said, there may be some challenges regarding scheduling. We often have to work around the schedules of others since we are asking to enter their homes — and as of this last year, their screens! Foster families tend to be busy people!
There are certain necessary CASA commitments that take place during regular business hours, such as case meetings or court hearings. Court hearings typically occur 3 to 4 times a year and are scheduled months in advance. We encourage potential volunteers to have a conversation with their employers about taking time off for these appointments. We generally find that employers are willing to be flexible, particularly for such a good cause. If a volunteer must miss one of these important meetings, their CASA staff supervisor will participate and communicate on their behalf, later providing the volunteer with a summary of what they missed.
The time commitment of a CASA volunteer is definitely something to consider, but it is often the case that people are able to balance the workload and schedule accordingly with sufficient notice.
Answered by Advocate Supervisor Statler Kramer