CASA of Southwest Missouri holds ongoing volunteer training sessions each year. A training session consists of five weeks of online work combined with five, three-hour sessions in a classroom setting. Occasionally, we may hold training during the day or on Saturdays to accommodate various schedules. The training utilizes a curriculum provided by the National CASA Association, as well as an opportunity to observe juvenile court proceedings. All potential volunteers are required to complete the entire 30 hours of training before they can be sworn in as a CASA.

Following their initial training, all volunteers are expected to continue to learn by attending 12 hours of additional training each year. This additional training is provided on a variety of subjects each month at an in-service meeting. The in-service meetings are held at in the noon hour and in the evening, to allow all volunteers some flexibility in their schedules. In addition to these training sessions, CASA volunteers earn in-service credit through attendance of other pre-approved meetings, conferences, books, etc.

CASAs will complete 30 hours of pre-service training conducted by CASA of Southwest Missouri.

- Child Welfare Systems and Policies

- Juvenile Justice Systems and Procedures

- Child Abuse and Neglect

- The Effects of Trauma

- How to Build Resilience in Children

- Effective communication on your case

- Educational Advocacy

- Court Reporting