Get Involved
Help improve the lives of foster children in your community by getting involved with CASA.
Become a CASA Volunteer
CASA volunteers are everyday people from all walks of life who do exceptional work. They are trained to advocate for the well-being of Georgia’s children in foster care and are appointed by the court to speak up for a child’s best interests. That’s their sole purpose.
What does a CASA volunteer do?
CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court. They:
- Establish a stable, one-on-one relationship with a child in foster care and get to know the child’s unique history
- Gather information from anyone who can shed light on the child’s situation – teachers, foster parents, family members, physicians, etc.
- Help the child plan and develop age appropriate goals
- Ensure the child has access to needed medical, education, career, and housing services
- Attend court proceedings (usually every six months) and make an informed, independent recommendation to the judge about what is in the child’s best interests
- Bring a sense of urgency to the child’s needs and promote safety
- Advocate for timeliness and permanency for children involved in juvenile court proceedings
Remain involved until the case is permanently resolved to keep the focus on the child
Learn more about a CASA volunteer’s role and purpose
Check out some frequently asked questions
“Children are in need of dreams; children entering juvenile court have no dreams or hope for the future. CASA gives them that hope and helps them to understand that what has happened to them is not their fault; they are not defective or substandard. CASA volunteers are there to help a child rise above it all.”
Five Steps to Make a Difference
The actions of a single person — a CASA volunteer — can mean everything to a child in foster care. A child with a CASA is more likely to get needed services and be placed in a permanent, stable home. CASA volunteers make a difference every day. You can, too. Become a volunteer.
FAQ’s
Our volunteers answer your questions
To get a real-world view of volunteering with CASA, check out our Ask A CASA videos. Our volunteers respond to frequently asked questions in their own words, based on their personal experiences as CASA volunteers.
Still have questions?
Find a Program
Georgia CASA currently supports 47 affiliate programs serving 151 counties. To find a program near you, use our Program Directory to search by county or name of the program.
Develop an Affiliate Program
If your county is not being served, learn how you can support developing a CASA program to help the abused and neglected children in your community.
Program Training
A schedule of upcoming Volunteer Training sessions appears below for affiliate CASA programs that have requested to be listed. If you don’t see a particular program listed, please contact the program directly.
Gregory A. Adams Juvenile Justice Center
4309 Memorial Dr.
Decatur, GA 30032
Justine Ferreira or Tara Daniels
justine.ferreira@dekalbcasa.org or tara@dekalbcasa.org
404-292-8290 or 404-378-0038
Website
Orientations
Tuesday, April 16 at 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Monday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 14 at 6:15 p.m.
Flex Trainings
Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on April 18, 25, May 2, 16 and 23
Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on June 13, 20, 27, July 11 and 18
Juvenile Court of Cobb County/CASA
32 Waddell St.
Marietta, GA 30090
Elissa Peters or Tanesse Brown
elissa.peters@cobbcounty.org or tanesse.brown@cobbcounty.org
770-528-2216 or 770-528-2215
Trainings
March 19 – April 16
Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Training Location TBD
Becca Orosz
becca.orosz@cgcasa.org
478-238-6318 ext. 4
Website
Trainings
May 7 – July 16 (exact dates TBA)
September 3 – November 5 (exact dates TBA)
Lainie Jenkins
lainie.tlc@gmail.com
912-245-9551
Website
Training
February 25 – April 30 (exact days dependent upon location)
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
56 Short St. (Lower Level)
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Melissa Line
706-864-0300
Website
Training
April 15, 17, 19, 22 & 24
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with extended learning on April 24th
United Way of the Coastal Empire
428 Bull St.
Savannah, GA 31419
Eric Hornfeld
912-667-4837
Website
Training (combo of traditional & flex training)
April 17 – May 22
Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
1 Broad St., Suite 201
Ellijay, GA 30540
Brian Copeland
706-276-2272
Website
Flex Training (combo of traditional & online training)
May 3 – June 14 or September 27 – November 8
Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Traditional/Classroom Training
July 9 – August 9
Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fulton County CASA
Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center
395 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30312
Elizabeth Witherspoon
joinus@fultoncountycasa.org
404-613-4720
Website
Orientations
April 29, May 13, 17, 27, June 10 & 24 (Mondays, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
April 17, 24, May 8, 22, June 5 & 19 (Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Flex Trainings
March 27 – May 1 (Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
April 9 – May 14 (Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
May 16 – June 20 (Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
Clayton County Youth Development & Justice Center
9163 Tara Blvd.
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Griffin Shirley
griffin.shirley@claytoncountyga.gov
678-610-1061
Website
Training
Spring 2019: March 18 – April 17 (Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
Summer 2019: June 3 – July 8 (Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
Fall 2019: September 4 – October 7 (Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
The Wimberly Center
163 MLK Jr. Dr.
Winder, GA 30680
Michelle Black
mblack@piedmontcasa.org
470-429-5055
Website
Trainings
Spring: Thursdays from April 18 – May 23 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Fall: Thursdays from August 22 – September 26 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The Little House
603 Washington St. SW
Gainesville, GA 30501
Heather Hammontree, Program Coordinator
halldawsoncasa@halldawsoncasa.org
770-531-1964
Website
Flex Training
Tuesdays from April 16 – May 21
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Traditional/Classroom Training
Saturdays and Sundays from July 20 – 28
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Traditional/Classroom Training
Tuesdays and Thursdays from August 20 – September 26
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Family Support Council
1529 Waring Rd.
Dalton, GA 30720
Tracy Harmon
t.harmon@familysupportcouncil.com
706-428-7931
Facebook
Training
Mondays beginning February 4 for 10 weeks
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Children First
693 N. Pope St.
Athens, GA 30601
Emily Dant
info@athensoconeecasa.org
706-613-1922
Website
Orientation
Wednesday, May 8 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. OR 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Trainings (Combo of Traditional & Flex)
Fridays beginning May 31
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
999 Green St. SE
Conyers, GA 30012
Michele Benton
trainer@rockdalecasa.org
770-761-0202
Website
Informational Meetings
Friday, May 17, and August 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. OR 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Trainings
April 11 – May 30
Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
June 13 – August 8
Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
August 22 – October 3
Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Major Events
August 2019
August 3, 2019
Save the date for the annual Georgia CASA Conference, to be held at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.