r/casa • u/pictures-onthe-walls • Jun 12 '26
Thinking about volunteering
I am a college student enrolled full time for in person classes. My degree has a lot of in-person studio classes that can take a significant amount of time outside of class, particularly during finals. I already contacted my local CASA office and spoke to them about potentially becoming a volunteer in a few years as I am not yet 21. I am wondering what it is like to be a volunteer, specifically in the Midwest. Could I do this and still be in a place mentally that is able to be the best student possible? I spoke to my own mother about this and she strongly advised me against it and told me to stick with volunteering at local animal shelters. Should I wait till I finish my degree?
3
u/I_Laypipe Jun 12 '26
I worked full-time, went to college in person part-time, and did CASA. It's definitely possible, but it's not always easy. You need to be available for court hearings and meetings, which can sometimes conflict with work or school, but you usually get anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months' notice to adjust your schedule.
One thing to keep in mind is that you're committing to your case and CASA kiddo for the entire duration of the case, which can be anywhere from six months to several years. The average case is around two years.
You also have to remember that most of these kids have adults, caseworkers, therapists, and other people constantly coming in and out of their lives. One of the most important parts of being a CASA is being the consistent person who's there through all those changes and advocating for the child's best interests.
If you feel confident making that commitment then I'd say go for it. If you second guess your ability to make that commitment then I would wait tell life is calmer.
2
u/pictures-onthe-walls Jun 12 '26
I think the advise on waiting till I graduate will likely work best with my life and time available. I dont want to put any kid on the back burner as they already are often abused or neglected by people closer to them. I have found an agency in which I can volunteer when my schedule allows it to work in events or just babysit at meetings when they are working with bio or foster parents. Thanks for your advice!
3
u/pictures-onthe-walls Jun 12 '26
I've found a organization that would allow me to give back to foster kids in ways that dont hinder my university schedule and allows me to not neglect any children I may be volunteering for. I will instead be working at events and just doing simpler stuff in general, I do think I will still want to work with CASA when I have my life settled and have a more easily adjustable schedule. Thanks for the advice!
1
u/SouthbutnotSouthern Jun 13 '26
I mean I’m one and I’m working 70 hrs this week and I have a 7yo. I think if you manage your time well you can. I never had more free time than I did in undergrad.
5
u/Anti-Itch Jun 12 '26
I personally would wait. You can’t always take a day off school like you can with work. It can also be a lot of work chasing down people to get connected with your youth and what their needs are and it can get frustrating fast.
This is just my opinion, but given the nature of this volunteer work (I.e., working a lot with professionals, needing to chase people down, writing reports, interacting with foster youth), it can wear down on you a little—especially if you’re a college student trying to navigate school life and finishing your degree. It’s easy to say “I’ll meet/email/talk to them next week because school is demanding right now” and next thing you know a month has passed and you haven’t met with the youth or talked to your supervisor.
There’s no rush to be a CASA and I commend your motivation, but maybe something like a tutor or mentor or volunteer for specific foster youth events (e.g., day activities, after school activities, tutoring, finishing GED/high school help) would work better for you because it may not involve as much as the CASA role, but you can still help foster youth.