Get Involved
Help improve the lives of children in foster care 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 experiencing foster care and are appointed by the court to advocate for each child’s best interest. That’s their sole purpose.
What does a CASA volunteer do?
CASA volunteers:
- 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 to improve the child’s experience while in foster care and his/her overall well-being
- 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 this brief video about becoming a CASA volunteer
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 receive needed services and be placed in a safe, permanent home when reunification isn’t likely. CASA volunteers make a difference every day. You can, too. Become a volunteer.
FAQ’s
No. CASA volunteers are everyday citizens from all walks of life who care about children and their welfare. Your common sense, life experience, and desire to help is all you need to begin. You will be receiving special training and supervision to ensure you have a complete understanding of your role before you are assigned a case.
Once children and youth are taken into DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services) custody, their cases are overseen by judges in the juvenile courts who appoint CASA volunteers to focus on the child and provide recommendations to improve a child’s experience while in foster care, as well as the child’s overall well-being.
Social workers are employed by the state and often assigned many cases at a time. The social worker is responsible for helping an entire family, which includes setting up individual services for family members. A CASA volunteer is the advocate for the child, is not paid, works with only a few cases at a time, and does not set up services. The CASA volunteer does not replace the social worker on a case; he or she is an independent officer of the court and works within the child welfare system to improve children’s experiences while in foster care.
CASA volunteers are only appointed to children who have come to the attention of the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect. Like a mentoring program, the CASA volunteer does develop a relationship with the child through frequent contact; however, the primary role of the CASA volunteer is to gather information about the child, write reports to the court, and attend court hearings. The CASA program is not a mentoring program.
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.
1909 Aberdeen Rd., Suite 108
Albany, GA 31701
Zoye Clark
470-242-1364
Website
Flex Training (in-person + online)
Summer: Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 2 – 30
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Dianna Dillard
404-859-7174
Website
Online Trainings
Spring Class 1:
Online training room opens April 25
Virtual classes on Saturdays from May 2 – June 6 (except May 23), 9 – 12 p.m.
Spring Class 2:
Online training room opens April 30
Virtual classes on Thursdays from May 7 – June 4, 6 – 9 p.m.
Fall Class:
Online training room opens September 12
Virtual classes on Saturdays from September 19 – October 17, 9 – 12 p.m.
The Children’s Haven
1083 Marietta Hwy.
Canton, GA 30114
Classroom Training
April 15 – May 6
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
110 Dixie St., Suite 100
Carrollton, GA 30117
Kayla Castillo
770-838-1964
Website
Flex Training (in-person + online)
April 20 – May 18
Mondays from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
8134 Geiger St. NW, Suite 15
Covington, GA 30014
Melanie Mainor
678-658-0197
Website
Classroom Training
June 8 – July 15
Mondays and Wednesdays
141 W. Solomon St.
Griffin, GA 30223
Madison Shetler
770-668-1477
Website
Classroom Training
Thursdays from March 26 – May 14
6 – 9 p.m.
Brightside Child & Family Advocacy
761 Wheaton St.
Savannah, GA 31401
Trainings
Spring: April 15 – May 20
Summer: July 23 – August 27
5 – 8 p.m.
404-378-0038
Website
Online Trainings
Spring: Thursdays from March 12 – April 16 (except April 2)
Summer: Thursdays from May 7 – June 11 (except May 28)
Fall: Thursdays from August 6 – September 10 (except August 27)
4 – 7 p.m.
The Little House
603 Washington St. SW
Gainesville, GA 30501
Tracy Verrigni
770-531-1964
Website
Flex Training (in-person + online)
Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 28 – July 16
1 – 4 p.m.
Cobb County Juvenile Court
32 Waddell St.
Marietta, GA 30090
Mari Garcia
770-528-2285
Website
Classroom Training
May 19, 21, 26, 30, June 2, 6, 9, 13 and 16 (May 26 class online)
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 4 – 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Major Events
April 14, 2026
The annual Georgia CASA Luncheon & Fashion Show, “CASA on the Catwalk,” will take place at a private club in Buckhead. Visit the event page for more details about our signature fundraiser.
August 22, 2026
Save the date for the annual Georgia CASA Conference that will take place at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Conference Center. More details will be announced in the future.