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If you are an individual who wishes to learn more about the Justice System, and at the same time make a significant contribution to your community, we invite you to check out the available Volunteer Placement Opportunities indicated below, that best match your area of interest and personal needs.
If you are interested in one or more of the following volunteer opportunities, please fill out a Volunteer Application.
If you have any questions please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at (805) 289-8624.
Volunteer Placement Opportunities
Children's Waiting Room (2 Locations)
Ventura Hall of Justice |
Juvenile Courthouse |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Children's Waiting Room at the court remains closed. Parties who bring their child (or children) to court must arrange for an adult to watch the child (or children) during the mediation.
(See Admin Order 21.18)
The children's waiting room was established as a safe haven for children 2½ (toilet trained) to 14 years of age who must accompany their parents to court.
As a volunteer in the children's waiting room, you will be responsible for guiding child's play and activities, interacting with court personnel, and seeing that proper registration and log record procedures are being met. Your presence will bring a sense of calm to children who may feel anxiety in the face of a strange and sometime emotionally charged environment.
Volunteers must provide proof of current certification in CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation), and a negative T.B. (Tuberculin) test within 60 days of beginning service. Fingerprinting will also be required.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Ventura County
- Phone: (805) 389-3120
- Email: info@casaofventuracounty.org
- Website: www.casaofventuracounty.org
Every day in Ventura County, children are removed from their homes by protective services due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a volunteer and a sworn officer of the Juvenile Dependency Court for these children. The program is regulated by The California Administrative Office of the Courts and overseen by The Juvenile Dependency Court.
Trained CASAs work one-on-one with the children and help to protect their rights. CASAs assess the circumstances, report their findings to the Court, and advocate for the child. These children are in Court not because they are criminals, but because they are victims. CASAs provide them friendship and support.
In Ventura County, there are close to a thousand children in foster care. Only a small percentage of these children, however, have access to a CASA volunteer. CASA of Ventura County is dedicated to ensuring that every foster child appointed to the program has a qualified CASA volunteer looking out for his or her best interests. With the help of a CASA volunteer, a child is half as likely to languish in the foster care system and more likely to find a safe and permanent home. [See www.casaforchildren.org, "Evidence of Effectiveness".]
CASA of Ventura County is the only program of its kind in Ventura County. It is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization that provides a powerful voice in Court for abused and neglected children in our community.
To learn how to become a trained CASA volunteer or to find out how you can become involved in some other capacity with CASA of Ventura County, please go to www.casaofventuracounty.org.
Guidelines
- The Volunteer Coordinator maintains a volunteer file for each participant that maintains hours of service in each assignment and notes unusual achievements for use in writing letters of recommendation.
- To maintain courthouse security, prospective volunteers must pass a background check before acceptance into the program. Background check fees are to be paid by the volunteer.
- All volunteers are trained in the services they will perform on a one-to-one basis.
Sincere Appreciation
The court is deeply indebted to those public-spirited individuals who provide the essential service in the volunteering of their time and talent. Their generous personal contributions have enhanced the way their fellow citizens experience the Justice System.