As a Voices for Children CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, Val Miller said, "I feel this is a very rewarding volunteer opportunity because I'm working with one family, and I can see how I'm impacting their lives and making them better."

Miller has volunteered for the last 4 1/2 years for Voices for Children CASA in Boulder. She has always been interested in the area of social services. After retiring, she completed the intensive CASA training including topics on the social-justice system and the effects of drug dependency, neglect, and child abuse.

As Miller explains, "when a child is removed from the home by a court order, he or she is assigned to an attorney. However, the attorney may have many cases, so each child is given a CASA volunteer to be the constant adult connection throughout the case." For Miller, each case has lasted approximately one year.

CASA volunteers are given recommendations as to what kind of interaction a child could benefit. Each child has different needs. One may need transportation to visit other siblings or a supervised visit with his or her parents, while another child may benefit from more mentoring and one-on-one activities.

As a retired elementary teacher, Miller pulls from her past experience, striving to be nonjudgmental, to model negotiation, and to help the kids negotiate for themselves. She feels she is a unique member of the team, along with the caseworker and the attorney. Whereas the other adults have formal roles, the CASA volunteer is the constant child representative. Also, as a volunteer, it is recognized that she is there because she wants to be there.

Miller likes the CASA position because she has a variety of tasks to share with her kids. Between cases, she has time for the other events in her life.

For information about volunteering with Voices for Children CASA or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.