Opportunities From: United Way of King County

We are looking for volunteers to act as Family Law CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in King County. A CASA advocate is a Court Appointed Special Advocate who receives training and volunteers their time to investigate and report on the best interests of a child. In tough custody cases, parents are often unable to focus on the needs of their children. Many of these children are so young they cannot speak for themselves. CASA volunteers give these children a voice in court by focusing on the needs of the child and striving to strengthen parenting skills and family relationships. 58% of the families we serve are BIPOC, and we encourage BIPOC to apply to volunteer.

Our Mission Statement: Family Law CASA advocates for children in high-conflict cases across King County so they have the best chance for a safe, more secure home life, advancing equity for low-income families and significantly reducing the risk of abuse and neglect.

Our Racial Equity Values Statement: At Family Law CASA, we recognize our existence is inextricably tied to racist, sexist, and classist systems that disproportionately impact marginalized groups of King County, especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and people in low-income communities. Through our critical work championing children’s voices in family court, we seek to continue to mitigate these real impacts by:

Implementing anti-racist and inclusive practices and intentionally participating in ongoing equity and bias training with our board, staff, and volunteer advocates. Including and elevating the voices of all stakeholders that intersect with our program and hold ourselves and our allies accountable for ensuring access to justice and equitable representation in family court. Recognizing that authentically engaging with and centering historically marginalized voices will enable us to disrupt systemic harm and transform our practices, programming, and organization to be more equitable.

In addition, we have adopted the Washington Race and Equity Justice Initiative Acknowledgement and Commitments.

What does a Court Appointed Special Advocate do?

After 21 hours of training (provided by Family Law CASA) and an orientation meeting with an Advocate Supervisor, new advocates spend an average of 60 hours over 6-9 months conducting an investigation and writing report(s). Throughout the investigation, Court Appointed Special Advocates are supported by an Advocate Supervisor (paid professional) who guides them through each step of the process. Advocates are also represented by the Family Law CASA Attorney. While each case is unique, a Court Appointed Special Advocate generally completes the following tasks:

* Interviews parents, teachers, doctors, the child and others who might provide helpful information (Due to COVID-19 these interviews can be done virtually!)

* Reviews background checks, CPS reports, chemical dependency reports and medical or psychological reports

* Asks screening questions during interviews to assess for unreported domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse and/or mental health concerns

* Observes the child's interactions with parents and watches for developmental delays, educational delays, safety concerns or other unaddressed needs

* Writes a report that includes recommendations about what is best for the child in the case

Requirements:

Advocates come from all walks of life, careers, ages, backgrounds and demographics to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates. To volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, you must:

* Be 21 years of age or older

* Have access to a car and the ability to drive to/from appointments

* Own and be able to use a computer, including email

* Have good communication skills and strong writing ability

* Speak and write in English (court is conducted in English without reliable access to interpreters in our cases)

* Have reasonable time available to investigate the case & write reports by the court specified due dates

* Have no criminal record

* We have opportunities for advocates in all areas of King County.

For more information go to www.familylawcasa.org

There will be two in-person training dates required. There will be recorded materials for completion by the first training date sent out three weeks before training.

To apply, click "Respond" and complete an application here: https://familylawcasa.org/volunteer/

ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION:

Family Law CASA advocates for children in custody cases across King County, so they have the best chance for a safer, more secure home life, advancing equity for low-income families and significantly reducing the risk of abuse and neglect. We do this by training and guiding community volunteers to compile and report information to judges to ensure each child’s story is heard. For more information, please see familylawcasa.org.

 

FAMILY LAW CASA IS SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO REFLECT:

®       A passion for increasing equity in our justice system and ensuring all children are safe, healthy and thriving.

®       An understanding of the systemic discrimination that exists in our systems and structures for BIPOC, low-income, LBGTQ+, disabled and other marginalized groups and a desire to create a more equitable society.

®       A willingness to be an ambassador for Family Law CASA with their own networks to increase our community of supporters

We are seeking new members especially from: healthcare; tech; mental health/social work; communities of color (especially Latinx, Black, Multi-Racial), S. King County and/or who have lived experience with the family court system 

 

Specific skillsets needed right now include:  HR, finance and leadership (other skillsets welcome).

No previous board experience is necessary, just an openness to learn about the board's governing and fiduciary responsibilities, ability to attend bi-monthly meetings in the Seattle area, and monthly committee meetings via zoom.

 

BOARD MEMBER ROLE:

To represent the Family Law CASA Board of Directors and to act as a voting member of the Family Law CASA Board of Directors with full authority and responsibility to develop policies, procedures and regulations for the operation of the organization; to monitor the organization's financial health, programs and overall performance; and to give and fundraise the resources to meet the needs of those the organization serves.

 

FULL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES:

®       Establish policy; adopt key operating policies and procedures; approve contracts as appropriate.

®       Manage and evaluate the Executive Director.

®       Support fundraising for the organization, and act as an ambassador to their networks and the community.

®       Monitor finances.

®       Create and update strategic planning for the organization.

®       Select and support the organization's Board of Directors.

 

INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER DUTIES:(approx. 4 hours/month)

®       Attend at least 80% of bi-monthly Board Meetings in person or on video conference.

®       Join and attend one Board Committee; attend by video conference to at least 75% of Committee Meetings.

®       Review meeting materials and communications from staff and board officers; respond in a timely way to action requests.

®       Make an annual, individual contribution that is personally significant (multi-year pledge is encouraged).

®       Identify, recruit Board or Board Committee prospects or members in conjunction with the Executive Director and Board Recruitment and Development Committee.

®       Attend the Annual Board Retreat (in person) and Fundraising Events to include the Annual Event (3/25/25) and occasional house parties.

®       Attend DEIB trainings (foundational training in first year, periodic after that).

®       Attend at least one program activity (Volunteer training, hearing/trial, Lunch & Learn, staff meeting).

®       Host a Table for 10 at the 2025 Together for Tomorrow Luncheon (March 25, 2025).

®       Commit to at least one Event activity and one Cultivation Activity per year.

 

We are also seeking members for our committees: finance, development, governance, advocacy and DEIB, so if the full board commitment doesn’t fit with your schedule, please consider a board committee!

 

For more information, please click "Respond" and contact Deidre McCormack Martin, Executive Director by email at dmccormack@familylawcasa.org or by phone at 206-748-9700.