Topic: Non-U.S. citizens as program volunteers

14 March 2001

It is becoming more and more common for potential volunteers to be non-U.S. citizens, and questions have arisen as to whether this is within current CASA/GAL policy/practice.  After speaking with Janet Ward, our National CASA Association Regional Coordinator, I have compiled a list of her recommendations for dealing effectively and consistently with this issue.  Should your program be in the position to recruit a volunteer who is not a U.S. citizen, please consider the following:

1.

Be certain that the potential volunteer is legally in the United States.  You will need to request documentation, such as a Green Card, or ask for other official identifying papers/information.

Standards require that all volunteers be screened for a criminal records check, and non-U.S. citizens are no exception.  If the potential volunteer has been in the country for five or more years, you will be able to conduct a regular criminal check as you would do for any other potential volunteer.  However, if the potential volunteer has been in the country less than five years, you must rely on him or her to put you in touch with an agency, bureau, or office in his or her country of origin best suited to performing/administering these checks.  A criminal records check must be performed in all instances. 

As a program, you need to be clear with your board or the court about this issue.  Your board should probably make an addendum to its screening policy to assure, for example, that potential non-U.S. citizen volunteers are given equal consideration and are treated with the same respect as other program volunteers.