Volunteer at CASA
CASA welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and skills to enrich our programs. Our vision is a community without domestic violence so that home is a safe place. We do that by involving our community—you—in our volunteer program. All skill levels are appreciated and all volunteers are considered advocates for social change by providing community education, outreach support, crisis intervention and safe environments for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

For a list of frequently asked questions, please click here.

To download an application, please click here.

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

FCADV Certified Advocate
Assist participants with school and job applications; research resources; make referrals; drive participants to appointments; answer the crisis line; tutor and play games with participants’ children; assist with support groups; prepare meals; decorate, maintain and clean shelters; plan activities for participants and their children; be a friend and listen. Day or evening shift. Requires background check, staff interview, and FCADV training

FCADV Certified Child Care Assistant
Supervise children while their parents attend support group meetings. Tutor, play games, read stories or assist on the playground. Day or evening shift. Requires background check, staff interview, and FCADV training

FCADV Certified Crisis Line Advocate
Assist crisis line callers. Help staff with record keeping, program materials and other office needs. Extensive training is provided. Day or evening shift. Requires background check, staff interview, and FCADV training

FCADV Certified Legal Advocate
Provide information and referrals to survivors and their children who enter the legal system for protection of domestic violence. Provide court advocacy to survivors seeking an Injunction for Protection (restraining order). Explain eligibility for injunction and CASA’s services. Assist participant with completing paperwork and writing narratives describing threats or violence. Extensive training is provided. No prior legal experience is required. Day shift. Requires background check, staff interview, and FCADV training

Life Skills Advocate
Share your knowledge with program participants through workshops that you create and deliver. Requested topics: basic automobile maintenance, nutrition, food shopping on a budget, financial planning, household budgeting, resume writing, job interviewing, fitness, stress reduction, yoga, arts and crafts, sewing, home decorating on a budget, etc. Don’t let this list limit your imagination. We welcome your ideas. Evening shift. Requires background check, staff interview, and workshop curriculum approval

Community Education Advocate
Spread the word about domestic violence and CASA’s mission at health fairs, conferences, seminars, information fairs, schools and meetings. Training and materials are provided. Shift varies. As needed. Requires background check and staff interview

Thrift Shoppe Assistant
Help shoppers at the CASA Collection Thrift Shoppe find merchandise, sort and price donated items and assist at checkout by bagging items. Volunteers are not required to handle money or work the cash register unless they request that responsibility. Some light lifting and standing may be required. Day shift during store hours. Requires background check and staff interview

Thrift Store Merchandiser
Use our merchandise to create attractive displays. Dress mannequins. Arrange books and clothing into categories. Arrange furniture to show off its sales potential. We welcome your creativity. Some heavy lifting required. Day shift during store hours. Requires background check and staff interview

CASA Administration Assistant
CASA’s administrative office, located at 1011 1st. Ave. N. in St. Petersburg, welcomes volunteers with a wealth of skills. You can prepare fundraising mailings, file documents, perform data entry, sort donations, answer phones, assist the financial department or collect data for grants. We are a busy agency and many people with various skills are needed. Day shift during office hours. Requires background check and staff interview

CASA Amigas
CASA Amigas is an auxiliary group made up of community members to produce fundraising and friend-raising events. They are an independent group responsible for entire events. Annually they produce a golf tournament and the Good Night Sleep Luncheon as well as activities to raise CASA awareness. The Amigas is perfect for a busy person with limited time who enjoys serving on committees and attending special events. Various meeting times. Requires background check and staff interview

Event Assistant
CASA produces many events each year and many hands are needed to run them. Help with greeting, registration check-in, set-up, tear-down, pick-up and delivery, photography, etc. Orientation is not required. Times vary. Requires staff interview

Group or One-Time Volunteer Opportunities
(Orientation and background checks are not required)

• Organize a donation drive. See CASA’s Wish List.
• Organize an event that raises funds or awareness (spaghetti dinner, foot race, yard sale, sell food at an event, pancake breakfast, etc.).
• Adopt a room in our residential program and decorate or paint every four months.
• Arrange for over-the-counter medication to be billed by a pharmacy to your group.
• Plant a garden or provide landscaping for our residential program.
• Organize a cleaning day in our residential program.
• Bake a meal or desserts in your home and deliver to our residential program.
• Sponsor a table at our Peace Breakfast
  or Good Night Sleep Luncheon.
• Sponsor a hole at our Golf Tournament.
• Sponsor an event.
• Solicit sponsors or donations on behalf of CASA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is volunteer orientation? How often do you offer it? Where is it? How long is it?
Volunteer orientation is an opportunity for you to learn about CASA and the ways you can support it. We offer it on the second Thursday of every month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the CASA Community Center, 1011 1st Ave. N. in St. Petersburg. Please RSVP to Sheryl Zeitler, CASA Volunteer Coordinator, at (727) 895-4912 x 107 or szeitler@casa-stpete.org.

For a one-time group project, does everyone need to attend volunteer orientation?
No. A brief agency overview will be provided at your site.

What is an advocate?
An advocate is a person who takes action to help or support someone else.

What is a background check?
We ask you to provide your current name, previous names, Florida driver’s license number, race, date of birth, gender and Social Security number so a local law enforcement agency can search your background. Results will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with us.

What is FCADV Training?
The FCADV is the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They have created a 24-hour training course called Core Competency. If you wish to work directly with our participants, it is CASA’s policy to train you through the FCADV curriculum. By taking Core Competency and passing the written test, you receive certification and the knowledge necessary to work in the field of domestic violence. You will also receive “privileged” status, meaning any information shared between you and a participant will be held confidential.

How much does Core Competency cost?
The course is free for those who volunteer.

How often is Core Competency offered? How long is it?
Core Competency is offered four times per year. Trainings are offered two ways: during the week (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and on a Friday and two consecutive Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Does every volunteer position require Core Competency?
No. Many volunteer positions do not require Core Competency including Life Skills Advocate, Community Education Advocate, Administrative Assistant, Thrift Store Assistant or Merchandiser, Amigas and Event Assistant. In addition, your group can clean, landscape or decorate the shelters, cook a meal and organize a donation drive or event without taking Core Competency. We can take your unique skills and create a volunteer job just for you.

What is a staff interview?
A staff interview is an opportunity for you and our staff to get to know each other. Our staff will give you a tour of the facility and explain what the job you are seeking is like. They will ask what you wish to gain from your volunteer experience and you can ask any question about the agency, our policies, our philosophy, etc. From there, you and our staff will decide what job is best for you.

How do I create a Life Skills curriculum?
Collect all your visual aids and handout materials you will share during your presentation. Also, outline your talk and the main points you will cover. Our staff will evaluate the content to determine its appropriateness for the participants.

How can I get more information?

Call 727-895-4912 ext 107 or szeitler@casa-stpete.org.

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