Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Central Virginia is spreading the word about the need for volunteers in Bedford County.

According to Recruitment & Development Director Kelli Diaz, Bedford County has a "critical shortage" of CASA volunteers right now.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children's best interests. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home. Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators, and service providers to ensure that judges have all the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child.

Below are the steps in the application process:

1) Information Session
2) Application
3) Screening
4) Training
5) Induction

There is an information session at Bedford Central Library on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

To learn more about volunteering with CASA, ask questions, or register for the session, visit cvcasa.org/volunteer.