Volunteering with Northwest CASA is most commonly done as an advocate.  Advocates will provide crisis intervention in the following ways

• Medical Advocacy
• Available to clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at hospital emergency rooms
• Advocates respond to these hospital calls through the hotline within the state mandated one hour
• Advocates provide survivors with information and emotional support

• Hotline Services
• Northwest CASA’s hotline is available to callers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Advocates answer hotline calls on their own telephones
• Advocates answer the hotline and provide information and referrals or crisis intervention to callers

Qualifications

Applicants must

• Be at least 18 years old
• Live within one hour driving distance to local hospitals
• Possess a willingness to learn
• Have a non-judgmental frame of mind
• Be willing to allow survivors to make their own decisions
• Have good interpersonal skills
• Exhibit mature and professional behavior and judgment
• Complete the state mandated 40 Hour training (provided by Northwest CASA several times a year)
• Provide their own transportation to hospital calls
• Not have received any medical or legal advocacy within the past year or counseling at Northwest CASA within the past two years (themselves or anyone in their immediate family)

Responsibilities

• Commit to a minimum of 12 hours (2 shifts) of hotline coverage each month
• Document each call received on the hotline
• Submit documentation to the volunteer coordinator within the provided timeframe
• Provide appropriate information, support, and referrals when necessary
• Provide support to survivors, regardless of advocate’s beliefs
• Respect and maintain confidentiality of clients and their significant others
• Abide by Northwest CASA’s mission statement
• Dress professionally
• Voice concerns in a polite and non-confrontational manner when working with professionals such as hospital staff and law enforcement personnel

If you are interested in volunteering with Northwest CASA, please call us at (847)806-6526 or email us at office@nwcasa.org.  The volunteer coordinator will connect with you as soon as possible

Internships

Northwest CASA also is a training center of graduate students in training to become counselors or social workers.  Graduate students work under the supervision and guidance of a licensed counselor or social worker.  Northwest CASA also trains Bachelor level students.  Bachelor level interns will work mostly with the advocacy department, as well as help in the prevention education department.  Contact Northwest CASA for more information and to schedule an interview.