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Volunteer Requirements
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
If you are interested in volunteering for SBCAP as a Court Appointed
Special Advocate, you must complete an application. Upon receipt of the
completed application package, the Recruiter/trainer initiates contact to schedule a confidential interview. At
that time, an opportunity is provided to discuss, more completely, the
various aspects of the SAN BERNARDINO CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM and to
determine the applicants ability and availability for involvement in the
program. As soon as the interview is completed, information is provided
regarding the orientation and training schedule.
The CASA/GAL program takes great pride in its sensitivity to the
cultural diversity in our communities county wide. Therefore,
individuals of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Those
individuals who are interested in this program are required to comply
with the program's policy statement regarding discrimination.
A COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE/GUARDIAN AD LITEM (CASA/GAL)
There are four different CASA/GAL model types throughout the Nation
according to records from National CASA/GAL Association. They are
identified as CASA/GAL as Party to the action; CASA/GAL as a Friend of
the court; CASA/GAL and Attorney Team; and CASA/GAL as Monitor. San
Bernardino Child Advocacy Program is the CASA/GAL As Party to the action
model .
A CASA/GAL is a volunteer child advocate who has been approved,
accepted, trained and is under the direct supervision of the program
staff of SBCAP. The volunteer serves in the privileged position of being
recommended to and appointed by the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile
Court to represent the best interest of children who are under the
court's jurisdiction (as defined by the California Welfare &
Institutions Code Sections 300 and Section 602). During the time the
child remains under the jurisdiction of the court, the CASA/GAL
investigates the child's circumstances, provides factual information and
makes recommendations to the Court.
CASA/GALs supplement the efforts of social workers, psychiatrists,
attorneys and other professionals involved in a child's case working at
all times with the CASA/GAL program's staff to further the best
interests regarding the child's welfare by making recommendations to the
court.
The CASA/GAL's ultimate goal is to help ensure that the court has the
all pertinent information to make sound decisions on behalf of the child
for a permanent home within the time frames of the law. This could be
return to the parents, adoption, the appointment of a legal guardian, or
some other permanent living arrangement that fulfills the child's needs
and satisfies the Court. The volunteer CASA/GAL is NOT a surrogate
parent and must not involve himself/herself in any manner which would
suggest otherwise, directly or indirectly, to the child or other
involved parties. CASA/GALs must avoid becoming so personally involved
that they lose focus on the best interest of the child.
KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE - SCREENING PROCESS/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
Screening Process:
Because SBCAP is involved with the Juvenile Court process of providing
safety to children who are under the court's jurisdiction, we ask that
you participate in a complete security clearance. Part of that clearance
will include a fingerprint clearance, letters of reference and
interviews. We ask that you cooperate to ensure a speedy process by
providing the following:
- •Completed and Signed Application with attachments of: •DMV Printout; •
Names, Addresses and Phone # for three (3) Letters of Reference;
- Signed Reporting Law Agreement;
- Release for Criminal Investigations Check;
- Declaration of Current Insurance Coverage;
- Pledge of Confidentiality.
- Personal Interview
- Fingerprint Card (2)
- 40 Hours classroom training consisting of:
•Child Abuse Dynamics/Effects and Impact on Children and Families
•Establishing Trust/Building a Child's Self-Esteem
•Family Preservation/Reunification/Permanency Planning
•Roles/Responsibilities/Job Description of CASA/GAL/Court Conduct
•Conflict Management/Mediation
•Investigation / Documentation / Court Report Writing / Testifying /
Rules of Evidence
•Self-Awareness/Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity/Managing Diversity
•Special Educational Rights
•Site visits and Court room observation-prep for Court appearances.
•Child Protective Services and Juvenile Court Systems
•Oath of Confidentiality/Reporting Law Agreement/Duties as Officer of
the Court
•Stress Management/Maintaining a Healthy Balance
This training is very intensive and is designed to provide the
volunteers with adequate and necessary skills, knowledge and supportive
resources to be a successful Child Advocate in court.
•Once the initial screening, selection and training are complete you
will be issued an I.D. card which must be validated yearly.
•On-going in-service training of ten (10) hrs. required per year.
•Monthly submission of documented hours of service minimum of ten (10)
to seventeen (17)
•Submission of quarterly case updates and court reports within the time frame
outlined by supervising staff.
•Accept on-going support and assistance from agency personnel.
•Participation in the yearly renewal assessment and submit required
documentation to determine continued eligibility of "good standing".
Thank you for your understanding of and cooperation in this necessary
screening process. If you have any questions, concerns or want more
information, please contact one of the CASA Child Case Managers, at the
San Bernardino Child Advocacy Program office (909) 881-6760 or eMail to
'sbcap@eee.org'.
Training Program: The training program includes and exceeds all of the
area specific mandated training requirements addressed in California
Rules of Court # 1424. Forty (40) hours of required training is
conducted by the Director and Program Staff three times yearly. The
training hours include an additional 4 hours orientation, 4 hours of
mandatory court observation, thirty-two hours of instruction time for
four week- ends and 16-20 hours of reading and reviewing the mandatory
curriculum. The program has adapted and uses the National Court
Appointed Special Advocate (NCASAA) training manual as the basic
training curriculum and includes other germane instructional material.
The screened and selected volunteers each receive the complete manual
and other appropriate educational and resource material as a part of the
training package. The program also uses the experience and expertise of
community professionals (Deputy District Attorney, Parent Attorney,
Social Worker, Psychologist, Clinician, and Special Educational Rights
Instructor) in the training process. Every effort is made to ensure
speakers reflect an ethnic balance to provide an awareness and
sensitivity to the cultural diversity issues of the population served by
the program. In addition to the initial training volunteers are required
to complete ten (10) hours of in-service training yearly. Quarterly
in-service training sessions with guest speakers, are arranged by
program staff, topics are based on input and need assessments addressed
by the volunteers and from staff observations. The staff inform the
volunteers of additional training opportunities, given by other private
and public agencies.
Volunteer Supervision: The screened, selected and trained CASA/GAL
volunteers become Officers of the Court and are subject to the rules of
the court. They are sworn in, appointed by and become responsible to the
presiding juvenile court judge under SBCAP's supervision. The volunteers
are provided with a policy handbook that outlines in detail the this
agency's and court's expectations. The volunteers are required to sign a
statement of receipt and expectation of their adherence to the
guidelines regarding their conduct, role, duties and responsibilities to
the child, the court and the program as representatives of SBCAP.
Volunteers receive a list of phone numbers for (24) hour emergency
coverage through office staff, assigned mentor and/or the CPS hot-line.
The Judges monitor CASA/GAL volunteers' effectiveness through quality
written court reports, court appearances, and testimony. Additionally,
SBCAP's policies and procedures are in place regarding monitoring
requirements by program staff. Staff monitors each guardian and his/her
assigned cases according to the mandated standards of the state and
local rules of court.
This includes:
A) weekly contact;
B) monthly stats for number of volunteer hours;
C) quarterly case review, case conferences, planning and progress
reports;
D) court reports; case logs, and testimony in court
E) his/her participation in required yearly in-service training; and,
F) yearly evaluation feedback from attorneys, social workers, judges and
the clients.
Staff evaluate the performance of the CASA/GALs. The volunteers complete
yearly evaluations on the staff, program and services and are provided
with a photo ID with a yearly expiration date to ensure that updated
renewal requirements are completed before their ID is re-validated.
Use of Volunteers: Court Appointed Special Advocate / Guardians ad Litem
serve under the State Rules of Court # 1424 and Local Rules of Court as
sworn Officers of the Court. CASA/GALs to help define the best interests
of children in juvenile court proceedings, including guardianships,
actions to terminate parental rights, and adoption. They are evaluated,
annually, for compliance. All volunteers serve at the pleasure of the
court under the direct supervision of SBCAP; appointment is a privilege
and not a right. The Presiding Court Judge or his/her designee has the
sole authority and power to appoint and/or remove a CASA/GAL volunteer
to or from a case and there is no appeals process. CASA/GAL volunteers
commit to two (2) years of 10-17 hours per month, to fulfill the mission
of SBCAP.
The trained volunteers are carefully matched to the referred dependents
to maximize success for both the child and the volunteer. They conduct
independent investigations; prepare detailed written reports to the
court covering all aspects of the child's life (medical, dental,
medications, school, educational rights, placements, relationships,
special needs, etc.); ensure court order compliance, and service
delivery; locate resources; give supplemental and supportive one-to-one
care, quality time and attention; function as positive adult role models
of consistency, dependability, and friendship; and, become the ONE vital
factor of continuity and stability in the lives of assigned children.
While the primary role is to ensure the safety, well-being and best
interest of the child, another important concern is to preserve and
reunify the family, if possible, and/or expedite an alternative
permanency plan for the child. CASA/GAL volunteers provide the most
precious gift that can be given. They give intensely and wholeheartedly
of themselves with their care, time and attention. In the course of
their non-paid work, they positively impact the directions of and
outcomes for children whose futures were previously destined for
failure.
Eighty four percent of our volunteer pool are employed full-time.
Eighty-five (85%) of the volunteer force are post graduate level
professionals, volunteering to serve abused children. They have made a
significant difference in the lives of children and their families.
OR
Snail mail us at:
San Bernardino Child Advocacy Program, Inc.
P.O. Box 30936
San Bernardino, CA
92413-0930
Our physical address is:
1635 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA
Phone us at: (909) 881-6760
or fax us at : (909) 881-6764
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