About Us
Each year, thousands of abused and neglected children in Georgia 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, loving and permanent home. Georgia CASA helps ensure that a qualified, compassionate adult — a CASA volunteer — will bring a sense of urgency to these children’s needs and speak up for their best interests.
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 47 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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20,000 children will find themselves in 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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2,400 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 in foster care. They are specially trained and appointed by the court to speak up for a child’s best interests. Their sole purpose is to provide compassionate, individualized attention that will help each child in foster care find a safe, permanent home.
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 2,400 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.
Diana Smith, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer with Enotah CASA in Dahlonega, recently received national and state awards for her work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. She was awarded the G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year Award by The National CASA Association in March 2017 during the National CASA Conference in Seattle. She was also awarded the Karen N. Sibley CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia Award by Georgia CASA in April 2017 during the Georgia CASA Conference in Stone Mountain.Voices Raising Voices
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.
| Rod Walker, Chair Brand Velocity Consulting Atlanta |
Kip Lynch, Vice Chair Radiologist Atlanta |
Becky Wallis, Secretary Community Volunteer Roswell |
David Pipes, Treasurer Arby’s Restaurant Group Atlanta |
| Jennifer Alewine, Esq. Troutman Sanders 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 |
| Jenohn Carter Sunrise Assisted Living at Webb Ginn Snellville |
Dawn Charleston-Green CASA of the Augusta Judicial Circuit Augusta |
John Gilberto United Parcel Service Atlanta |
Steve Gill Gwinnett County CASA Lawrenceville |
| Petula Gomillion Atlantic Area CASA, Inc. Hinesville |
Freda Hammonds Business Owner Stone Mountain |
Marie Hannon C. Parks Catering Atlanta |
Bernadette Hartfield, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
| Charmagne Helton PRM Consulting Group Atlanta |
Charlotte King Snowden & King Marketing Communications Atlanta |
Katina Lett, Esq. American Cancer Society Atlanta |
Velicia Lowe (Council of Programs Representative) CASA of Houston County, Inc. Warner Robins |
| Jack O. McMillan, Jr. Global Drying Equipment Atlanta |
Mandira Mehra MRI Software Atlanta |
Julia Neighbors, Esq. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Atlanta |
Wendy Polson iHeartMedia Atlanta |
| Kristy Rachal, Esq. Georgia Power Company Atlanta |
Ann Rotroff, Esq. Attorney at Law Atlanta |
Dianne Scoggins CASA of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Ellijay |
Lee Todd Savannah College of Art & Design Atlanta |
| John P. Adams, Jr. Retired – SunTrust Bank Atlanta |
Ann Barrett Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Ethel Ware Carter Regional Council of Churches Atlanta |
Richard Childers Childers Associates Atlanta |
| Solveig Harden Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Roya Irvani Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Kellyn O. McGee, Esq. Savannah Law School Savannah |
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 serve the best interests of children in foster care.
| Duaine Hathaway Executive Director |
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| Alicia Darden Project Manager |
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| Lori Derhammer Communications & Marketing Manager |
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| Joyce Jones Staff Associate |
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| Jennifer King Program Operations Director |
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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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