About Us
Each year, thousands of children in Georgia who have experienced abuse or neglect are placed in foster care.
We share communities and neighborhoods. She may be the girl in your son’s class, who had to move homes and change schools three times in the last year. He may be the child at the park who never joins the game.
All children should be treated with dignity and respect — not merely survive. Children deserve the chance to live in a safe, 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 meet the needs of all children – by advocating for their best interests – and improve their experiences in foster care.
Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. strengthens and supports court-sanctioned, affiliate CASA programs that empower
community volunteers who advocate for abused or neglected children and contributes to advancements within the child welfare system.
All children who experience abuse or neglect have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential with the support of permanent connections to family.
- Collaboration
- Compassion
- Accountability
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/GAL Association for Children 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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Nearly 16,000 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 when reunification with family isn’t likely. |
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2,500 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 advocate for a child’s best interest 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 with family 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 when reunification with family isn’t likely
- 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
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.
| Lauren Hyatt, Chair American Cancer Society Marietta |
Kim Harrington, Vice Chair Georgia Tech Douglasville |
Dianne Scoggins, Secretary Community Volunteer Ellijay |
Daniel Hathaway, Treasurer Hathaway Development Atlanta |
| Judge Anne Barnes Court of Appeals of Georgia Atlanta |
Debbie Caras ADP Dunwoody |
Elena Chang Renegade Consulting Collective Atlanta |
Wendy Cobb Peraton Atlanta |
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| Sandy Day Community Philanthropist Atlanta |
Chelsea DeWaters (Council of Programs Representative) Murray/Whitfield CASA Dalton |
Lindsay Dycus (Council of Programs Representative) Alcovy CASA Covington |
Marie Hannon, Esq. C. Parks Catering Atlanta |
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| Katherine Herndon Truist Brookhaven |
Bill Holbert, Esq. Prieto, Marigliano, Holbert, & Prieto, LLC Atlanta |
Jane Hale Hopkins Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Atlanta |
Dr. Kip Lynch Radiologist Atlanta |
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| Ericka McClam (Council of Programs Representative)</ Gwinnett County CASA Lawrenceville |
Mandira Mehra MRI Software Atlanta |
Jessica Merriman Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Mableton |
Don Miller CASA Volunteer Jasper |
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| Louise Moore Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Julia Neighbors, Esq. State Bar of Georgia Atlanta |
Susanna Patterson, Esq. (Council of Programs Representative) Central Georgia CASA Macon |
Wendy Polson iHeartMedia Atlanta |
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| Carlene Redmond Juvenile Court of Cobb County Mableton |
Jeff Sprinkle Community Volunteer Berkeley Lake |
Heather Steen Central Garden and Pet Dunwoody |
Marvin Vaughn Alexander Mann Solutions Acworth |
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| Rod Walker Kearney Atlanta |
Becky Wallis Community Volunteer Roswell |
Danielle Wilkes Junior Achievement of Georgia Atlanta |
| Duaine Hathaway Retired – Georgia CASA Newnan |
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| John P. Adams, Jr. Retired – SunTrust (now Truist) Atlanta |
Michelle Barclay Administrative Office of the Courts Atlanta |
Ann Barrett Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Ethel Ware Carter Day1 – Alliance for Christian Media Atlanta |
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| Bernadette Hartfield Retired – Georgia State University Atlanta |
Roya Irvani Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Kellyn O. McGee, Esq. State Bar of Georgia Atlanta |
Jack McMillan Global Drying Equipment Sandy Springs |
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| 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 |
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Our Team
The Georgia CASA team 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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| Deidre Hollands Program Operations Director |
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| Ewansiha Simmons Finance & Administration Director |
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| Angela Tyner Advocacy Director |
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| Rachelle Wilson Mosely Marketing Director |
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| Lori Derhammer Communications & Donor Relations Manager |
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| Heidi Grimmett Advocacy Specialist |
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| Joyce Jones Staff Associate |
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| Alicia Jordan Training & Data Manager |
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| Shauna McCullough-Hightower Network Services Coordinator |
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| Lori Pupp Grants & Contracts Manager |
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| LaFayette Young Training & Inclusion Specialist |
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