Child Advocacy

Justice-Involved Youth (JIY)

When a youth involved in the Montgomery County Juvenile Justice system enters formal probation, a judge will appoint a committed volunteer from the community to advocate for the youth’s best interest. That volunteer is called a Court-Appointed Special Advocate®, or CASA volunteer. The Advocate will get to know the youth; gather information; connect families to community resources; improve education access, participation, and outcomes; and expand the network of positive connections so the youth and family can succeed and thrive. The Advocate, also known as the guardian ad litem (GAL), works with the youth and family to help the youth successfully complete probation.

The Issue

Almost two million youth are arrested in the United States every year. Of these youth, 70% have a mental health condition.
Very few of the youth involved in the juvenile justice system are arrested for serious offenses like aggravated assault, robbery, rape, or murder (under 3,000 out of almost 50,000 arrests in 2016).
Texas’s Juvenile Justice system includes the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and local juvenile probation departments throughout the state. These agencies work together to provide services designed to rehabilitate youth between 10 and 17 years old who engage in delinquent conduct.
Re-arrest rates of youth are as high as 75% within three years after confinement within a juvenile justice facility.

Become an Advocate

Because our volunteers serve on one case at a time, they truly get to know the child and family and can give each case the sustained, personal attention every child deserves. We invite you to join our family of dedicated volunteers and make a difference in a child’s life—and your own.

For your convenience, Child Advocates offers day and evening classes. Click here for schedule of upcoming training classes.

Want more information or have questions? Attend one of our Chat with Child Advocates events, and you will have the opportunity to join current Advocates and staff for informational conversations about becoming an Advocate. View our calendar for upcoming events.

For more information you can also call or email Lead Outreach Specialist Shellie Tyrrell at (936) 441-5437 or Shellie@ChildAdvocatesTexas.org.

Qualifications

An Advocate must:

Be 21 years of age or older.
Successfully pass screening and background check requirements.
Complete initial training provided by the Child Advocates of Montgomery County program (39 hours of initial training that includes 18 in-person classroom hours and approximately 20 to 21 online/independent reading hours plus 3 hours of courtroom observation).
Complete 12 hours of continuing education annually that is related to the work of advocacy.
Make a 6-month minimum commitment to a Justice-Involved Youth case.
Keep information confidential and work within established program guidelines.
Be computer literate and have access to a computer.