Rationale for Volunteer to Supervisor Ratio

Factors considered in arriving at the 30:1 ratio:

• Supervisors need to have at least general knowledge of each case in order to provide appropriate and timely consultation to the volunteer. The supervisor should also have enough knowledge of a case and sufficient time available to step into the volunteer’s place in an emergency when a volunteer is unavailable. This could involve as many as 90 cases at one time.
  
  
• Supervisors must be accessible to volunteers at all times. They must be available in emergencies twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week or have a system established that allows a volunteer to contact someone for advice or consultation during such times.
  
  
• Examples of situations in which a volunteer might need after hours assistance would be a situation in which he/she was notified by social workers or law enforcement of a crisis involving an assigned child which required immediate action by an agency or the court.
  
  
• Supervisors should hold regular one to one conferences with each volunteer to discuss case activities as well as the volunteer’s overall development and performance. When a volunteer is new and/or assigned to a very active case, this could require meetings weekly and telephone contact more often.
  
  
• Supervisors should be available to attend court hearings with volunteers to provide support and to monitor performance. Experienced volunteers may not need supervisors at every hearing, but they should be available for contested hearings at a minimum.
  
  
• Supervisors are required to oversee the preparation of the volunteer’s written report to the court. This includes consulting with the volunteer on the recommendations to be made and reviewing the report with the volunteer to assure that it conforms to law, court rule, and program policy.
  
  
• Supervisors should facilitate regular peer meetings of volunteers for the purpose of providing and reinforcing training, disseminating information, and as a means of support for the volunteers. Monthly meetings of groups of no more than 10-15 volunteers has been recommended as the most successful model.
  
  
• Supervisors should provide frequent feedback to volunteers on their performance and a formal evaluation at least yearly.
  
  
• Supervisors should be provided adequate time for professional development that allows for maintaining up to date knowledge and skills in the areas of child abuse and neglect; juvenile justice and court procedures; advocacy; and volunteer management. They should also be given adequate time for seeking support from colleagues and other CASA/GAL staff to relieve the stress inherent in this kind of position which has a high burn out rate.