By Ali Jordan
I always find the new year to be so refreshing. I try to take time over the holidays to clean up my desk and office. All the holiday décor has been put away and the house feels lighter, cleaner. A tidy office and home allow my mind to reset as well. It’s a great time to think about what I want to accomplish in the coming year, both personally and professionally; a time to visualize my goals and get them down on paper so I can check in with myself monthly on my progress.
I have two big goals for 2025. Personally, I aim to reach my ideal daily step count. Professionally, I want to truly embrace my new role at Georgia CASA as Training Director. I’m so excited to be stepping into this position to ensure our CASA pre-service training continues to prepare individuals (like you) for the incredible role of being a CASA volunteer.
What are your goals for the new year? Perhaps your goal is to build a stronger community, volunteer your time, or make a difference in the life of a child experiencing foster care. The CASA volunteer experience is a volunteer opportunity that takes your time to the next level; it uplifts a child’s voice, serves your community, and brings generational change. CASA volunteers are amazing, caring individuals who give back to their community one child and family at a time. This might just be the volunteer project that will start your year on track to accomplish your goals.
These long, cold winter months are a great time to reach out to your local CASA office; CASA affiliates across the state will be hosting pre-service training in the next month or two. Inquiring today could mean you’re finishing CASA training by spring and being matched to a child shortly thereafter.
Talk about getting those goals checked off, now if only it were that easy to reach my daily step count!
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit https://www.gacasa.org/grow/to fill out a volunteer interest form or to find your local CASA office.
As an organization dedicated to supporting children and families in crisis, we recognize that holidays can be a delicate and nuanced time for many. In this series, Purposeful Perspectives, we asked our staff members to select a season, month, or day that is meaningful to them to share with our CASA community. Thank you for joining us as we take a deeper look behind the celebrations that fill our lives.
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Advocacy in Action: Seeing the Whole Family to Serve the Child
"One of the greatest rewards of being a CASA volunteer comes long after the court hearings have ended, and the case has been closed. Occasionally, a text message, photograph, or email arrives unexpectedly. It may be a picture of a child smiling on the first day of school, celebrating a birthday, earning an award, or simply enjoying life with family. Those moments are powerful reminders that our work extends beyond court reports and recommendations. They remind us that the relationships we build and the advocacy we provide can have a lasting impact on a child's life."
Meet 2026 Volunteer of the Year Nominees!
CASA volunteers are everyday people with a special heart to serve the best interests of children experiencing foster care. In Georgia, thousands of amazing CASA volunteers serve children and families in crisis every day. One way we honor and acknowledge this exceptional work is through our annual Awards of Excellence. Volunteers are nominated by local CASA programs for our annual Karen N. Sibley CASA Volunteer of Year Award and the recipient is honored at the Annual Conference Luncheon every August. Let's meet this year's nominees for Volunteer of the Year!
