Free guide · 2026 edition · For CASA, guardian ad litem and foster-care volunteer programs
In the Child’s Corner: A screening playbook for CASA, guardian ad litem and child-welfare volunteer programs
What federal law, the national CASA/GAL standards and state rules require for screening advocates — and where a private check fits beside state fingerprinting.
By the VolunteerBadge research team · Published September 11, 2026
- Written for CASA and guardian ad litem programs and the foster-care nonprofits working beside them
- Federal law, national standards and four states side by side
- An advocate-file audit checklist and a letter for applicants at the invitation stage
- CAPTA, the CASA grant law, state court rules and research, all cited
Who In the Child’s Corner is for
Executive directors, volunteer supervisors and boards of CASA and guardian ad litem programs, and nonprofits that support children in foster care with mentors, respite volunteers, visitation supervisors and family-support teams.
331,747
children were in foster care on September 30, 2025, by preliminary federal estimates.
AFCARS Dashboard No. 33
30 hrs
of pre-service training is the long-standing standard, with 12 hours of continuing education a year.
National CASA/GAL; state court rules
4 yrs
is the national standard’s re-check cycle for advocates, unless the program uses Rap Back.
National CASA/GAL, 2025
From the In the Child’s Corner executive summary
Six points to settle before an advocate meets a child
- 1
Federal law requires a guardian ad litem.
In every abuse or neglect case that goes to court — and says it may be a CASA volunteer.
- 2
CASA programs may request FBI fingerprint checks.
Federal law has authorized it since 2006, at the program’s cost.
- 3
The national standards set a multi-source check.
Courts, state and national records, sex-offender registries, abuse registries and an identity trace.
- 4
Many states add their own rules.
From Florida’s level 2 screening to Arizona’s polygraph.
- 5
A private check complements state fingerprinting.
It doesn’t replace a state-required check — it adds an SSN trace, multi-state registry searches and identity verification.
- 6
Confidentiality is part of the job.
Advocates see the most sensitive records a court holds.
Inside In the Child’s Corner, chapter by chapter
- 01
CAPTA, national standards and state prints
CAPTA, the national standards and state fingerprint rules for advocates, in a page.
- 02
Why advocates need the strongest screening
Children who have been hurt, time alone, confidential records and the court’s reliance.
- 03
What federal law says
CAPTA’s guardian ad litem requirement and the CASA grant law.
- 04
The national CASA/GAL standards
The 2025 screening, age, agreement and training standards.
- 05
State rules: four examples
Florida’s level 2 screening, Arizona’s polygraph, and the California and Washington rules.
- 06
Child-abuse registry checks
Where federal law requires them, and what that means for volunteers.
- 07
A private check beside state fingerprinting, role by role
An honest table beside state fingerprinting.
- 08
Other child-welfare volunteers
Mentors, respite, visitation supervisors and support teams.
- 09
Confidentiality: the advocate’s other duty
What advocates can see, and what they must protect.
- 10
Training, transportation and reporting
Pre-service hours, driving records and mandated reporting.
- 11
What the research says
Mixed evidence — and what programs can control.
- 12
Adding a national check to your state process
The multi-source check alongside your state process.
- A
Appendix A: Advocate screening checklist
Audit every advocate, staff and board file.
- B
Appendix B: Letter to advocate applicants
Explain your screening at the invitation stage.
- C
Appendix C: Related guides, a match tracker, citations
Related guides, the match tracker and every citation.
Questions In the Child’s Corner answers
- Can CASA programs get FBI fingerprint checks on volunteers?
- Yes. Federal law (34 U.S.C. §20323(d)) authorizes state and local CASA programs to request fingerprint-based FBI criminal background checks on prospective volunteers, with the program responsible for the reasonable costs. Many states also require fingerprinting by statute or court rule.
- Could a VolunteerBadge report stand in for an advocate’s state fingerprint check?
- No. A fingerprint or registry check your state requires for advocates is the legal requirement, and only that check meets it. A VolunteerBadge check complements it — adding a national criminal database search, an SSN and alias trace, all-50-state sex-offender registries and identity verification — and is a strong standard for child-welfare volunteers no state process reaches.
VolunteerBadge is owned and operated by ScreenForge Labs, LLC, an FCRA-regulated Consumer Reporting Agency that has obtained its FCRA Certificate from the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA). This guide is general educational information and is not legal advice. Laws change; this guide's sources were checked as of September 11, 2026.