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.
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.
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 44 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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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. |
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2,730 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
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.
| Mandira Mehra, Chair MRI Software Atlanta |
Lauren Hyatt, Vice Chair American Cancer Society Marietta |
Dianne Scoggins, Secretary Community Volunteer Ellijay |
Daniel Hathaway, Treasurer Hathaway Development Atlanta |
| Jennifer Alewine, Esq. Alewine Law Atlanta |
Debbie Caras ADP Dunwoody |
Elena Chang Renegade Consulting Collective Atlanta |
Wendy Cobb Peraton Atlanta |
| Sandy Day Community Philanthropist Atlanta |
Chelsea DeWaters (Council of Programs Representative) Murray/Whitfield CASA Dalton |
Marie Hannon C. Parks Catering Atlanta |
Kim Harrington Georgia Tech Douglasville |
| Bernadette Hartfield, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Jane Hale Hopkins Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Atlanta |
Charlotte King Snowden & King Marketing Communications Atlanta |
Kip Lynch Radiologist Atlanta |
| Charlene Maldonado (Council of Programs Representative) Dougherty CASA Albany |
Don Miller CASA Volunteer Jasper |
Louise Moore Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Susanna Patterson, Esq. (Council of Programs Representative) Central Georgia CASA Macon |
| Wendy Polson iHeartMedia Atlanta |
Brian Reaves BSR Advisors Marietta |
Carlene Redmond Juvenile Court of Cobb County Mableton |
Ann Rotroff, Esq. Community Volunteer Atlanta |
| Heather Steen Central Garden and Pet Dunwoody |
Marvin Vaughn COUNTRY Financial Canton |
Rod Walker Kotter International Atlanta |
Becky Wallis Community Volunteer Roswell |
| Susie Weller (Council of Programs Representative) Children First (Athens-Oconee CASA) Athens |
Judge John Worcester Superior Court – Appalachian Judicial Circuit Blue Ridge |
| Duaine Hathaway Retired – Georgia CASA Newnan |
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| John P. Adams, Jr. Retired – SunTrust Bank Atlanta |
Michelle Barclay Administrative Office of the Courts Atlanta |
Ann Barrett Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Ethel Ware Carter Day1 – Alliance for Christian Media Atlanta |
| Solveig Harden Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Roya Irvani Community Volunteer Atlanta |
Kellyn O. McGee, Esq. State Bar of Georgia Atlanta |
Jack McMillan Global Drying Equipment Sandy Springs |
| 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 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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| Shontel Wright Impact Director |
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| Lori Derhammer Communications & Donor Relations Manager |
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| Ayaan Forstall Program Services Coordinator |
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| Joyce Jones Staff Associate |
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| Alicia Jordan Training & Data Manager |
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| Lori Pupp Senior Advocacy Manager |
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| LaFayette Young Training & Inclusion Specialist |
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