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 Michael Piraino, CEO of National CASA Association, which supports more than 900 local and state CASA programs aiding abused and neglected children nationwide
CBS CARES: How large a problem is child abuse in the United States?
PIRAINO: Every day, roughly 9,000 children are reported abused or neglected. It's a staggering number, but I encourage people to think in terms of every single child. It's at that level that we can act to make a difference.
CBS CARES: And how many volunteer advocates are working with these children?
PIRAINO: We have over 50,000 volunteers working in more than 900 jurisdictions. They are an amazing force for good, but there are not nearly enough of them. Last year, our volunteers worked with 225,000 children. That left about 580,000 not yet served. Our objective is a volunteer for each of those children.
CBS CARES: Can you describe a typical child?
PIRAINO: Their stories are varied, but most are in foster care or group homes. Every one is under the protection of a court due to abuse or neglect at home, so a judge is responsible for deciding where the child can find a safe, permanent home. Our volunteers help that judge make an informed decision about how to meet the needs of the children they are responsible for.
CBS CARES: What are the characteristics of the typical volunteer?
PIRAINO: Most have been successful in a career. Many are retired professionals or empty nesters - parents whose children have left home. All of them have the combination of communication skills, compassion, and time required to be good advocates. But our volunteers run the gamut and everyone willing to commit is encouraged to apply.
CBS CARES: What qualifies someone for being a CASA?
PIRAINO: Caring and commitment are tops. You don't need to be a lawyer or social worker; very few of our CASA volunteers are. But you do need to make a serious commitment to the child, including the training and about 10 hours per month of service.
CBS CARES: What skills are needed to be an effective volunteer?
PIRAINO: They need to care about children, be open and understanding about both children and families who may come from different backgrounds, be good communicators, be independent-minded, and have a high degree of integrity.
CBS CARES: How do you prepare volunteers?
PIRAINO: First, they go through careful screening and background checks. If qualified, they complete at least 30 hours of training on a variety of issues before they are assigned to their first case.
CBS CARES: What is the average commitment that a CASA volunteer makes?
PIRAINO: Being a CASA volunteer is a significant commitment. However, most of our volunteers work and are still able to be effective advocates for children. Many activities - interviewing children, making phone calls, reading documents - can be done at night or on weekends. Our volunteers spend most of their time in contact with the child. The in-court time, while important, is not as time consuming.
CBS CARES: What kind of recommendations might a CASA volunteer make?
PIRAINO: A CASA volunteer might recommend that a child be returned home, or if that is not possible, that the parents' rights be permanently terminated. The volunteer may identify a critical educational or medical need and make sure it gets met. A CASA volunteer might help find a lost relative willing to assume care of a child. These are only a few examples. A CASA volunteer can change the course of a child's life, and that's why they cherish their role.
CBS CARES: Being a CASA volunteer sounds like a rewarding but challenging job. How do you and your volunteers handle the sometimes difficult issues?
PIRAINO: It is not for the faint of heart, but the work is enormously rewarding. CASA volunteers get excellent training and support and they advocate with the authority of a court appointment. They make a huge difference in a child's life. Of course, if you love children, you can't help but feel their hurt. But all children are growing and changing and learning, and their lives really can be turned around. What they often don't have is the voice. When caring adults speak up for their interest, you would be amazed at the difference it can make.
CBS CARES: What support systems are there for volunteers?
PIRAINO: Each volunteer is carefully screened, and receives comprehensive training to equip them to be good advocates. Staff supervisors help them with every stage of their work. Every CASA program also has legal counsel available, if needed. They can also call on the resources of state CASA organizations and the National CASA Association as needed.
CBS CARES: If someone volunteers and needs to withdraw, how is that handled to minimize harm to the child?
PIRAINO: We do ask volunteers to make a commitment to see the case through. If that becomes impossible, we can assign other volunteers to take over or, if no volunteers are immediately available, staff can step in. [continue]
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