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.
4309 Memorial Dr.
Decatur, GA 30032
Justine Ferreira
justine.ferreira@dekalbcasa.org
404-292-8290 or 404-378-0038
Website
Orientations
Wednesday, November 28 at 11:00 a.m.
Monday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 11 at 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, January 10 at 6:15 p.m.
Coastal Plain CASA
113 E. 2nd St.
Tifton, GA
Darcie Norton
dnorton@cpcasa.org
229-386-9765
Website
Training
Mondays from February 25 – April 15
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Southwest GA Community Action Council
912 First Ave. SE
Moultrie, GA 31776
Harry Bankston
casakids.colquitt@familyenrichmentgroup.org
229-502-9904
Training
Begins Monday, November 26
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thomasville
Thomas County Juvenile Court
478 C Smith Ave.
Thomasville, GA 31792
Meg Singletary
casakids.thomas@familyenrichmentgroup.org
229-225-4338
Training
Begins Thursday, November 29
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Nashville, GA 31639
Facebook page
Elaine Grice or Desiree Suggs
egrice@fccisberrien.org or dsuggs@fccisberrien.org
229-686-6576 ext. 4
Orientations
January 15 at 6:00 p.m.
April 9 at 6:00 p.m.
September 9 at 6:00 p.m.
Trainings
Winter: January 22 – March 12 (Tuesdays, time TBD)
Spring: April 16 – June 4 (Tuesday, time TBD)
Fall: September 17 – November 5 (Tuesdays, time TBD)
Marietta, GA 30090
Elissa Peters or Tanesse Brown
elissa.peters@cobbcounty.org or tanesse.brown@cobbcounty.org
770-528-2216
Training
February 5 – March 5
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
147 N. Main St.
Cleveland, GA 30528
Melissa Line
mline@enotahcasa.org
706-864-0300
Training
January 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17 & 18
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (light lunch provided)
Romae T. Powell Juvenile Justice Center
395 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30312
Elizabeth Witherspoon
joinus@fultoncountycasa.org
404-613-4720
Website
Orientations
December 3 & 17, January 7, 23 & 28, February 11 & 25 (Mondays, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
January 16 & 28, February 6 & 20, March 6 & 20 (Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Flex Trainings
January 5 – February 9 (Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
February 5 – March 12 (Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 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
Winter 2019: January 7 – February 11 (Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
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
Training
Thursdays from January 24 – February 28
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Conyers, GA 30012
Michele Benton
trainer@rockdalecasa.org
770-761-0202
Website
Training
Thursdays from November 15 – January 17 (except November 22 and December 27)
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Completed application must be returned no later than November 5.
Space is limited! 10 spots available for this class and they will fill quickly!
The Little House
603 Washington St. SW
Gainesville, GA 30501
Heather Hammontree, Program Coordinator
halldawsoncasa@halldawsoncasa.org
770-531-1964
Website
Training
Tuesdays and Thursdays from February 12 – March 19
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Cartersville, GA 30120
Ava Lipscomb
ava@advochild.org
770-386-1060
Training
Tuesdays from January 22 – March 8
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
A Thursday morning class may be added if evening class fills
Major Events
February 2019
February 14, 2019
Save the date for our annual CASA Day at the Capitol event in downtown Atlanta!
March 2019
March 27, 2019
Our CASA on the Catwalk (Luncheon & Fashion Show) annual fundraising event will be held on March 27, 2019, in Atlanta. Please visit the event web page for additional details.
August 2019
August 3, 2019
Save the date for the annual Georgia CASA Conference, to be held at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.