Opportunities From: Genesee and Shiawassee Serves

Our family hosts provide comfort to children who come to Voices for Children for an interview concerning allegations of abuse and/or neglect, witness to violence, etc. Scheduling is flexible, but based on interview schedules between the hours of 9am-5pm. Family hosts typically stay an hour or longer to be a friendly face to a child/family and assist with drinks, toys, games while they are here waiting.

Please help us advocate for local abused and neglected children in the foster care system, become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

A CASA volunteer is is appointed by a judge to provide consistent and caring support and vital information to the court on behalf of an innocent foster child going through a tough personal legal process due to an adult's abuse or neglect.

As a CASA volunteer, you will receive over 30 hours of training from professionals to get you familiar with the court and child welfare systems and other important aspects of the case including child development, interviewing techniques and cultural competency. You'll be given the tools and personal support you need to aid your search for as much information as possible about a child in order to achieve an objective viewpoint of the child's welfare.

You'll review the case to become familiar with the background, gather new data and then develop a report with your recommendation that is shared in the courtroom, both verbally and written. The report and your testimony becomes one of several important pieces a judge considers when making his or her ruling on behalf of the child.

Skills Dedication: Dedicated volunteers willing to to commit 15-20 hours per month for at least a year. Ability to talk to a variety of people, some of whom will be struggling with their own problems Willing to go through an in-depth training class, and pass a background check. Reliable transportation is important.

Effective communication skills: You should be able to communicate clearly and professionally both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences including the court. You must be computer literate and be able to use word processing and email with consistent access to a computer and the Internet.

The mission of the Weiss Advocacy Center is to prevent child abuse and help survivors become children again. It was named in honor of Judge Robert E. Weiss of Flint (1940-2009) who loved children, and spent much of his life protecting them in his role as Genesee County prosecutor and later, as chief probate judge.  Weiss provides forensic interviews, family advocate, a therapy dog to children throughout the entirety of their ordeal at the center and at court, and support groups for non-offending caregivers and their children.  The CASA program is also run at the center providing advocates for Foster Children at the center. 

We always have projects that need to be done.  If you have a passion for children and a desire to serve in these areas please contact us.