Funds awarded improve training for CASA volunteers

In an organization that depends on volunteers, recruitment and training is an on-going process. With help from The Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation- Unrestricted Grants, Child Advocates was able to outfit their newly remodeled training room with a projector and other AV equipment. This equipment will dramatically improve volunteer training. Recent studies have shown that the human brain processes visuals 400,000 times faster than text. Studies have also shown that visual aids improve learning by up to 400 percent (Knowledge Industry Publications, 1998).

Volunteers new to Child Advocates CASA program are asked to complete 30 hours of initial training and 12 hours of ongoing training each year. The initial 30 hour training course covers child development and welfare, poverty, substance abuse, diversity and the child welfare system. During this training, Child Advocates is now able to utilize PowerPoint presentations, videos and audio recordings that dramatically enhance the learning process. Speakers can share a thousand words, but images and stories told by abused and neglected children can have a very powerful effect.

Since receiving the grant from the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, Child Advocates has trained 22 new volunteers and hopes to train 20 more by March 1, 2008.