by Donna McBride, Pinal County Juvenile Court Program Administrator II
With 2023 almost here, we all can feel the crunch of holiday spending, travels and family get-togethers. Now is the time to get down to business and figure out how to save some money and get rich. Resolutions are at the top of list, too!This resolution won’t necessarily help put money in your bank account, but I guarantee you’ll feel lighter, be more culturally enriched, and feel worth a million bucks.
How you ask? By volunteering!
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a program through Pinal County Juvenile Court that is always looking for volunteers. Our volunteer advocates serve primarily in an advocacy role and speak up for an abused or neglected child’s best interest in court.
Unlike volunteer programs that focus on mentoring, CASA is the only organization that empowers everyday citizens as appointed officers of the court who recommend the best possible outcome for an abused or neglected child’s future.
Our volunteers do not need to have any specific educational or professional background. All they need is the desire to help children.
We provide specialized 30-hour training that is flexible to any personal or professional schedule. You must be 21 years of age, complete an application, interview process and successfully pass background requirements, including a polygraph. We do this to ensure the safety of the children and to protect your integrity on behalf of the court.
Children with a CASA advocate are more likely to receive services, twice as likely to find a safe, permanent home and half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.
But what about the volunteer? Ask any of our advocates and they will often tell you it is the hardest volunteer experience they have ever had. But it is also the most rewarding.
They “get rich” from all the hours spent helping their child be safe, get what they need to grow up and find a place to call home. It can’t be measured in dollars. It won’t put money in the bank or pay off those holiday spending sprees. But it will make you rich in so many other ways on a personal level.
Our communities offer many opportunities to get involved. Whether it is with your church, a nonprofit, service group, your local school or the courts, there is something for everyone. Many are family friendly so you can teach your own children or grandchildren about the richness of volunteerism.
