About Us
Each year, thousands of children in Georgia who have experienced abuse or neglect are placed in foster care.
They live in our communities and neighborhoods. She may be the quiet girl in your son’s class, who had to move homes and change schools three times in the last year. He may be the lonely child at the park who never joins the game.
These children should be treated with dignity and respect — not merely survive. They deserve the chance to live in a safe and permanent home when reunification with their parents isn’t likely. Georgia CASA helps ensure that a qualified, compassionate adult — a CASA volunteer — will bring a sense of urgency to these children’s needs – by amplifying their voices – and improve their experiences in foster care.
In 1976, Superior Court Judge David Soukup of Seattle, Washington, observed a recurring problem in the courtroom. He recognized that there was too little information available to base life-changing decisions about the safety, permanency and well-being of children. To address this problem, he raised funds to recruit and train community volunteers to speak on behalf of children in court.
In 1977, a CASA pilot program was formed based on Judge Soukup’s idea. In 1982, the National CASA Association was established to direct CASA’s emerging national presence.
In 1988, Georgia CASA began originally as Kids of Georgia Need Volunteers, Inc. The next year, two pilot CASA programs were formed in Georgia and the first CASA volunteers were sworn in. In 1992, the nonprofit’s name was changed to Georgia CASA, Inc., and CASA programs were transitioned into independence. Today, Georgia CASA supports 46 affiliate programs across the state. Check out our directory to locate an affiliate program in your area.
CASA Programs Change Lives
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21,000 children will find themselves experiencing foster care this year. |
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A Wise Investment One year of CASA advocacy costs less than one month of foster care. |
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CASA Programs Change Lives A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a safe, permanent home. |
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2,770 CASA volunteers help change children’s lives every day. |
Our Volunteers
CASA volunteers are everyday people from all walks of life who advocate for the well-being of Georgia’s children who experience foster care. They are specially trained and appointed by the court to amplify a child’s voice and improve a child’s experience in foster care. Their sole purpose is to provide compassionate, individualized attention that will help each child in foster care find a safe, permanent home when reunification isn’t likely.
CASA Volunteers Make A Difference
Data shows that a child with a CASA Volunteer is more likely to:
- Find a safe, permanent home
- Experience fewer foster placements and spend less time in long-term foster care
- Participate in extracurricular and social activities
- Succeed in school
- Receive needed services such as physical and mental health screenings/treatment and educational support as CASA volunteers are successful in having their recommendations adopted by the court
- Avoid re-entry into foster care
Success Stories
Recognition
Volunteer Of The Year
More than 2,700 CASA volunteers across the state advocate for abused and neglected children in Georgia, promoting safety, a permanent home and overall well-being for each child in foster care.
Each year, a deserving volunteer receives the CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia Award based on exceptional service to the children in their community.
Voices Raising Voices
Connie (right) with CASA Coordinator Emily
Every day, CASA volunteers in Georgia raise their voices in court to tell a child’s story, thereby helping a judge set the best possible course for that child’s future. More CASA volunteers are needed so that more children can benefit from having a voice for their best interests in court.
Our Board
The Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for Georgia CASA fulfilling its mission. Board members develop policies that promote the mission, provide direction and oversight to the executive director, ensure the fiscal vitality of the organization, and maintain accountability to the community.
| Kip Lynch, Chair Radiologist Atlanta |
Mandira Mehra, Vice Chair MRI Software Atlanta |
Becky Wallis, Secretary Community Volunteer Roswell |
Jack McMillan, Treasurer Global Drying Equipment Atlanta |
| Susan Abramson Real Estate Management Atlanta |
Jennifer Alewine, Esq. Alewine Law Atlanta |
Michelle Barclay, Esq. Committee on Justice for Children Atlanta |
Presiding Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes Court of Appeals of Georgia Atlanta |
| Debbie Caras ADP Dunwoody |
John Gilberto Retired – UPS Atlanta |
Petula Gomillion Atlantic Area CASA, Inc. Hinesville |
Marie Hannon C. Parks Catering Atlanta |
| Kim Harrington Georgia Tech Douglasville |
Bernadette Hartfield, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Daniel Hathaway Hathaway Development Atlanta |
Katy Hilbert (Council of Programs Representative) Children’s Voice: CASA, Inc. Douglasville |
| Jane Hale Hopkins Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Atlanta |
Lauren Hyatt American Cancer Society Atlanta |
Charlotte King Snowden & King Marketing Communications Atlanta |
Nan McIntosh (Council of Programs Representative) CASA of Southwest Georgia, Inc. Bainbridge |
| Julia Neighbors, Esq. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Atlanta |
Wendy Polson iHeartMedia Atlanta |
Kristy Rachal, Esq. Georgia Power Company Atlanta |
Ann Rotroff, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
| Dianne Scoggins Community Volunteer Ellijay |
Connie Sultani Fidelity Bank Atlanta |
Judge John Worcester Superior Court – Appalachian Judicial Circuit Blue Ridge |
| John P. Adams, Jr. Retired – SunTrust Bank Atlanta |
Ann Barrett Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Ethel Ware Carter Regional Council of Churches Atlanta |
Richard Childers Community Volunteer Atlanta |
| Solveig Harden Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Roya Irvani Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Kellyn O. McGee, Esq. State Bar of Georgia Atlanta |
Marcy McTier Community Volunteer Atlanta |
| Donna Shapiro, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Nicki N. Vaughan, Esq., Co-Founder Attorney at Law Gainesville |
Nancy Wood Communications Consultants Atlanta |
Our Staff
The Georgia CASA staff is dedicated to ensuring the state’s network of affiliate programs have the training and resources needed to improve the experiences of children in foster care.
| Jennifer King Executive Director |
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| Alicia Darden Project Manager |
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| Lori Derhammer Communications & Marketing Manager |
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| Deidre Hollands Program Operations Director |
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| Joyce Jones Staff Associate |
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| Regina Roberts Special Projects Coordinator |
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| Ewansiha Simmons Technical Support Manager |
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| Angela Tyner Director of Advocacy and Program Development |
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| Shontel Wright Impact Director |
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| Lafayette Young Advocacy Specialist |
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