Volunteer Opportunities

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer is a trained community member who becomes a sworn officer of the court by the Juvenile Court Judges to represent the best interests of a court-dependent child. CASAs come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational, and ethnic backgrounds. CASAs ensure children involved with dependency or delinquency courts have a voice in their proceedings.

Requirements: be at least 21 years of age, pass a thorough background check and screening process, and successfully complete a 40-hour training course. Volunteers, on average, spend 12-15 hours per month on each case.

Click the title of this section to learn how to apply to be a CASA Volunteer.

The Infant & Toddler Advocate role is a specialized opportunity for CASA Volunteers to support children ages 0–3 during a critical stage of development. Advocates are sworn CASA Volunteers who work to ensure the youngest children in foster care are safe, nurtured, and represented.

Volunteers visit children in their placement to observe development and milestones, engage with them in their daily environment, and collaborate with resource and biological parents to support the child’s overall well-being. Monthly visits are scheduled based on the volunteer’s and caregiver’s availability, and transportation of children is not required.

To serve as an Infant & Toddler Advocate, volunteers must first meet CASA requirements: be at least 21 years old, pass a background check and screening process, and complete a 40-hour training course. Volunteers typically spend 12–15 hours per month per case. Once sworn in as a CASA Volunteer, individuals may choose to join this specialized program.

Friends of CASA is a group of volunteers, some of whom are also CASA Volunteers, who organize community events that raise funds to support the organization and increase awareness about the needs of foster children and the role CASA plays. The group meets every first Thursday of the month in Westlake. In Friends of CASA, you will not come into contact with children or confidential information (you are a non-office volunteer). You may assist with monthly newsletter, mailings, fundraisings etc., and may work on one-time events.

Requirements: may be under age 21 (depending on assigned tasks) and must sign a confidentiality form.

To join Friends of CASA, contact pam@casaofventuracounty.org.

Click the title of this section to learn more.

The Outreach and Communications Committee is a group of volunteers (some CASAs, some non-CASAs) who are dedicated to raising awareness for CASA of Ventura County throughout the county through speaking opportunities and events. We are frequently asked to speak to local service groups, churches, clubs, etc., or to host information tables at county-wide community events.

Requirements: may be under age 21 (depending on assigned tasks) and must sign a confidentiality form.

To join the Outreach & Communications Committee, contact info@casaofventuracounty.org.

Click the title of this section to learn more.

As a board member of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Ventura County, you will do more than help children in foster care (though you’ll do that, too). You will find reward in serving as a volunteer to help the most vulnerable children in our community.

This is a “working” board, meaning our members provide strategic and financial direction to the organization’s leadership team, and they actively participate in fundraising and networking activities. On average, board members commit four hours a month to this volunteer role.

For more information on how to become a board member email us at info@casaofventuracounty.org.