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.
Elizabeth Ivey
470-877-6743
Website
Online Trainings
Fall Class 2:
Enrollment deadline: August 29
Online training room opens September 12
Virtual classes on Saturdays from September 19 – October 17, 9 – 12 p.m.
Winter Class 1, 2027:
Enrollment deadline: December 21
Online training room opens January 4
Virtual classes on Mondays from January 11 – February 22 (except January 18 and February 15), 6 – 9 p.m.
Winter Class 2, 2027:
Enrollment deadline: February 16
Online training room opens March 2
Virtual classes on Tuesdays from March 9 – April 6, 6 – 9 p.m.
Spring Class 2027:
Enrollment deadline: April 7
Online training room opens April 21
Virtual classes on Wednesdays from April 28 – May 26, 6 – 9 p.m.
Summer Class 2027:
Enrollment deadline: July 15
Online training room opens July 29
Virtual classes on Thursdays from August 5 – September 2, 6 – 9 p.m.
Fall Class 2027:
Enrollment deadline: August 28
Online training room opens September 11
Virtual classes on Saturdays from September 18 – October 16, 9 – 12 p.m.
Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services
1225 Third Ave.
Columbus, GA 31901
Tifany Manning-Hunter
706-327-9612 x1511
Website
Flex Trainings (in-person + online)
Thursdays from August 20 – September 24
Thursdays from October 15 – November 19, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Thursdays from January 21 – February 25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Trinity Baptist Church
1170 Rome Rd. SW
Calhoun, GA 30701
Alicia Newton
770-387-1143, ext. 238
Website
Classroom Training
Tuesdays from September 1 – October 27, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
113 Second St. E
Tifton, GA 31794
Jill Taylor
229-392-1093
Website
Classroom Training
Mondays from September 14 – October 12, 6 p.m.
110 Dixie St., Suite 100
Carrollton, GA 30117
Kayla Castillo
770-838-1964
Website
Flex Training (in-person + online)
Mondays from September 14 – October 19, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Mari Garcia
770-528-2285
Website
Online Training
Tuesdays and Thursdays from October 13 – November 10, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
93 N. Pope St.
Athens, GA 30601
Flex Training (in-person + online)
Thursdays from September 10 – October 15, 5:30 – 9:15 p.m.
2027
Application deadline for Winter Orientation / Training: January 25
Orientation
Thursday, February 11, 5 p.m.
Training
Thursdays from February 18 – March 18 (except March 11) at 5:30 p.m.
141 W. Solomon St.
Griffin, GA 30223
Madison Shetler
770-668-4177
Website
Classroom Trainings
Thursdays from August 20 – October 8, 6 – 9 p.m.
Thursdays from January 21 – March 11, 6 – 9 p.m.
Brightside Child & Family Advocacy
761 Wheaton St.
Savannah, GA 31401
Flex Training (in-person + online)
Wednesdays from October 14 – November 18, 5 – 8 p.m.
404-378-0038
Website
Online Training
Cinderella Uduh
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 from September 15 – November 3, 1 – 4 p.m.
1503 Madison Hwy.
Valdosta, GA 31601
Sonia Robinson
229-247-4324
Website
Classroom Training
Tuesdays from September 15 – November 3, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
8134 Geiger St., Suite 15
Covington, GA 30014
Melanie Mainor
770-728-1612
Website
Classroom Training
Mondays and Wednesdays from September 21 – November 2, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Major Events
April 13, 2027
Save the date for Georgia CASA’s annual signature fundraiser, the Luncheon & Fashion Show, “CASA on the Catwalk.” It will take place at a private club in Buckhead. More details will be announced in the future.