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CASA Online Connector October 2008
A quarterly e-newsletter from Georgia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

"Life's most urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Series of CASA Articles for 20th Anniversary of CASA in Georgia Continues with Release of 5th Article

The fifth monthly article, in the year-long series of articles shining a spotlight on the unique qualities of CASA advocacy and the people that make it possible, has just been released. Read the newly released article CASA Volunteers - Promoting Safety, Permanency and Well-Being.

To read all articles from the 20th anniversary celebration, visit the News page of Georgia CASA's website.

Affiliate Programs Highlights: Expansion to McIntosh County; Event with Georgia's First Lady; Bass Pro Shops Playhouse Fundraiser; Volunteers Profiled on Georgia CASA Website

Atlantic Area CASA recently expanded to serve McIntosh County, located in Southeast Georgia.

Mountain Circuit CASA, located in Northeast Georgia, held a "Champions for Children" appreciation event for CASA volunteers and donors in June. First Lady Mary Perdue was a featured guest speaker, along with Stephanie Ayers, a 15-year veteran foster parent. The First Lady expressed great concern for Georgia’s children and appreciation for CASA volunteers: “Children in Georgia’s foster care system need a voice to speak for their best interests. CASA volunteers are a source of strength for children in the foster care system. CASA volunteers provide guidance and support. Through their care and understanding, and their unending dedication, we can give all children in Georgia a home." The event, attended by approximately 100 people, was very successful and motivated the CASA program's donors to further their involvement with CASA. The CASA volunteers in attendance were recognized with a nice CASA vest and encouraged to continue their work with the abused and neglected children in Habersham, Rabun and Stephens counties.

Central Georgia CASA, serving Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties, is holding its annual CASA playhouse fundraiser during the holiday season. Raffle tickets will be sold to win an exact replica playhouse of the Bass Pro Shops. The playhouse will be on display at the Bass Pro Shops store in Macon. The winning ticket will be drawn on December 21st. For more information, contact Central Georgia CASA at 478.238.6318.

The Georgia CASA website now features a Volunteer Profile page. Ragin and JoAnn Hause, a husband and wife CASA volunteer team from Hall-Dawson CASA in Gainesville, are currently featured on the page. Be sure to visit the page to read their story.

Affiliate Programs: Submit your newsworthy highlights to lderhammer@gacasa.org for consideration in future e-newsletters.

Child Welfare Topic: 2008 Georgia KIDS COUNT Data to Help Equip Communities in Improving the Well-being of Children and Families

Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and county collaboratives have been presenting community forums in nine cities througout the state to help equip communities with the tools and information they need to accomplish their goals in improving the well-being of children and families. Using data from KIDS COUNT 2008, citizens in communities are able to link the statistical information to real life stories of how children and families are faring in their own areas. The Georgia KIDS COUNT data can influence planning and decision-making processes at both state and local levels. For 2008, Georgia did improve in several areas, including fewer high school dropouts and a lower child death rate. Yet, the state still ranks 40th in the nation on the overall well-being of children. Learn more about KIDS COUNT.

Georgia CASA Welcomes Four New Board Members and Three Additional Life Members to the Board

With the start of the new fiscal year in July, Gerald Bostock (Clayton County CASA Program Director) and Carlene Redmond (Cobb County CASA Program Director) are the newest Council of Programs representatives on the Georgia CASA Board of Directors. They were elected by their fellow affiliate CASA program directors. The other two Council of Programs representatives are Asuncion Ellis and Ava Lipscomb. Kimberly Clarke (United Healthcare, Alpharetta) and Cathey Millichap (Community Volunteer, Atlanta) also joined the Board this year. John P. Adams, Jr. (SunTrust, Atlanta), Marcy McTier (Community Volunteer, Atlanta) and Nancy Wood (Communications Consultants, Atlanta) were named as Life Members of the Georgia CASA Board. They join Solveig Harden, Roya Irvani, Donna Shapiro, Karen N. Sibley and Nicki N. Vaughan as Life Members.