Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Inc. - a non-profit that strengthens and supports 46 court-sanctioned, affiliate CASA programs across the state – is launching a campaign aimed at recruiting 1,000 new volunteer advocates over the next three years. 

With nearly 10,000 children currently in foster care in Georgia, the need for volunteer advocates continues to grow. Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained volunteers appointed by a local judge to represent the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The CASA volunteer’s goal is to ensure all children who experience foster care can thrive and reach their full potential with the support of safe and permanent connections to family.  

“The volunteer impact is undeniable,” said Judge Candice Branche, Chief Juvenile Judge of Newton County Juvenile Court. “Time and again, I see the passion, professionalism, and diligence of CASA volunteers make a notable difference in the progression of a case. The children and youth we see are in court through no fault of their own. The stability and advocacy that CASA volunteers help provide them means a lot. But there is still a huge need. Many children and youth are waiting for a CASA volunteer.” 

CASA affiliate programs across Georgia are seeking volunteers from all walks of life to complete their comprehensive training program and commit to serving as an advocate for the duration of a child or sibling group’s case. A volunteer’s average time commitment is 5-10 hours a month. Volunteers will receive ongoing support and training from staff. Their service will make a real difference in the lives of children in their communities. 

“We are so excited to reach more people in our community with the CASA mission,” said Keagan Clark, Program Coordinator of Chattahoochee CASA in Columbus, Georgia. “There are many people who have a passion for supporting children in crisis that just don’t know how to make a difference. Serving as a CASA volunteer is the perfect opportunity for them and we want them to know who we are, what we do, and how they can make a significant impact in the life of a child.”    

The growth campaign is a statewide effort with targeted support in seven service areas that each have over 300 children in foster care without a CASA volunteer. Those target areas include Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett Counties in the metro area, as well as Augusta and Columbus, and the Waycross and Lookout Mountain judicial circuits. For more information on how to become a CASA volunteer and help Georgia reach 1,000 new CASA volunteers, please visit www.gacasa.org/grow.