Clark County

About the Clark County CASA Program

The Clark County CASA Program was established by the YWCA Clark County, a nonprofit organization, in 1982. Our program provides one of the most effective ways of ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect that is so prevalent in our society. Through the use of citizen volunteers, we prevent children from getting lost in the child welfare an court systems.

Today in Clark County:

• There are 537 children appointed to the CASA program for representation
• There are 164 CASA volunteers
• There are 175 children who are in need of volunteers to represent them
• A typical volunteer works one or two cases
• Over 35% of our volunteers work full-time outside the home and have a flexible schedule
• CASA volunteers donate an average of 8-10 hours per month

About Clark County CASA Training

Clark County CASA program offers training every fall, winter, and spring. The training consists of ten classes (total of 30 hours), 1.5 hours of court observation, and five hours of mentoring.Training is held Monday and Thursday evenings from 6-9PM at the YWCA Clark County on 3609 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98663.

This comprehensive training will help you:

1. To recognize child abuse and neglect
2. Introduce you to child advocacy laws, and learn how they were developed
   
3. better understand your cultural influences and personal biases
4. develop a strength-based approach to understanding families/children, as well as consider how stress, mental illness, domestic violence, substance abuse and poverty impact families
5. learn about child development, attachment, separation and loss, permanence, and resiliency
6. develop the skills necessary to write an effective court report, appear in court, and monitor a case.

Please contact the Clark County CASA Program at (360)906-9142 for more information about training schedules.

CASA volunteer Rosalie McPherson wins much deserved volunteer service award - CONGRATULATIONS!!

We are so proud to announce that Rosalie has been awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her outstanding contribution to our community. Rosalie was presented with this special award by her Program Specialist, Andrea Rowland-Jackson, at the 2009 volunteer recognition event held on June 10, 2009.

Rosalie has been a CASA volunteer for 14 years, during which time she has advocated for 26 children. In addition to those many years of speaking up for children in court, Rosalie is co-creator of CASA-to-CASA, a facilitator of Nuts & Bolts, a mentor to new volunteers, a legislative partner, and editor of the Clark CASA newsletter, and an enthusiastic member of the new CASA book/movie club.

The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities, and to encourage more people to serve. The Council created the President's Volunteer Service Award as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitments and examples, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Rosalie is just one example of the over 160 volunteers serving as Clark County CASA volunteers. Through dedication, motivation, and compassion, CASA volunteers are making a positive impact on our community.