CASA advocates for abused, neglected, and abandoned children who are in foster care and involved in Juvenile Court proceedings. CASAs are trained and supervised volunteers who advocate for what is in a child’s BEST INTEREST and make recommendations to the juvenile court judge.
CASA is the voice for the child!

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs are specially trained volunteers who are appointed as "Officers of the Court" to an abused or neglected child. Their role is to make recommendations to the Court about what is in the child's best interest. The volunteer will draw together this information by getting to know the child and gathering information from other persons who are involved in this child's life. CASA volunteers are an active part of the child's team that is working toward ensuring that the child has a safe, stable and permanent home.

Other members of the team may include the child's Department of Family and Children Services foster care worker, foster parents, biological parents, extended family, teachers, doctors, and therapists.

• Visits with the child regularly
• Reviews the social service agency and Court records
• Gathers information about the child from:
• Parents
• Caregivers
• Social workers
• Teachers
• Anyone else important in the child's life
• Identifies family and community resources that can help meet the child's needs
• Problem solves with the professionals involved in the child's case
• Prepares written reports for Court hearings
• Participates in Court hearings
• Participates in team meetings
• Provides testimony to the Court if requested
• Ensures that the child's wishes are known to the judge
• Meets regularly with the CASA case supervisor for support and guidance
• Keeps the focus on the child until he/she is in a safe, stable permanent home
• Maintains confidentiality at all times

In the Southwest Georgia CASA program, volunteers are appointed to children between the ages of birth to 18+, who have been abused or neglected and are in the foster care system. Our children come in all colors, shapes and sizes.

All of them have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect and being separated from their family, friends, pets, school, and neighborhood. Their whole world has been turned upside down and they now find themselves living with strangers.

• learning disabilities
• developmental delays
• physical disabilities
• emotional issues
• trauma

• lonely
• scared
• anxious
• afraid
• distrustful
• angry

The longer these children are in the system, the more chaotic their lives become; moving from foster home to foster home, changing schools, social workers who come and go, family who no longer visit.

Volunteers receive 40 hours of training that involves independent study, class time, and court observation.

Topics include:

• understanding the judicial and child welfare systems
• cultural awareness
• the impact of family issues such as substance abuse, mental illness and family violence
• building collaborative relationships
• practicing the CASA role
• writing court reports

• Submit a completed application, click here to apply (download word doc)
• Provide four (4) references
• Participate in pre and post training interviews
• Pass state and federal criminal background checks
• Pass child protective service and sex offender registry screening
• Successfully complete 40 hours of training

No. The identity of the child and his/her family is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone except the CASA staff and those directly involved with the child's case. Each CASA is assigned to one child, or sibling group, at a time. Our CASAs come from all walks of life. There is no specific experience needed to become a CASA. So that our volunteers are as up-to-date on current information as possible, we provide 12 hours of free continuing education per year. CASA volunteers are required to participate in 12 hours per year. Program staff also notifies volunteers of any free or low cost training that is available in the community. All volunteers are assigned to a professional case supervisor who is responsible for providing support and guidance. Volunteers meet with their supervisors on a monthly basis to discuss their case and plan the course of action for the next month. CASAs write a court report whenever there is a hearing, usually every three or six months. A first draft of this report will be submitted to the case supervisor three to four days before the hearing. Volunteers also keep detailed records of their contact with everyone involved in the case. Many CASA volunteers are employed full-time. Some flexibility is necessary to allow for attendance at Court hearings and other meetings that may be held during normal business hours. CASA of Southwest Georgia at (229) 248-1040 or click here to contact us.

CASA of Southwest Georgia
Nan McIntosh, Executive Director Phone:  229.248.1040 Contact Us       See Us on Facebook	Volunteer Coordinators Dan Provence Tim Green	CASA of Southwest Georgia P.O. Box 323 115 Troupe Street Bainbridge, GA  39818

CASA aims to make a difference, one child at a time,
by being assertive advocates for children and their well
being. We owe children the best that we have to give!

Member of The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
See Georgia CASA     See National CASA

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