CASA volunteers advocate for neglected and abused children

CASA is a non-profit organization that began 35 years ago in 1976 when superior court judge David Soukup of Seattle, WA, observed the all-too-common problem of too little information in the courtroom on which to base life-changing decisions about the safety, permanency, and the well-being of children, according to Melissa Mitchell, CASA Northeast Georgia executive director. Soukup raised funds and the following year a CASA pilot program was formed. CASA came to Georgia in 1988 and in 2009, Northeast Georgia CASA, formerly known as “Mountain Circuit CASA” expanded into five counties of the Northern Judicial Circuit, which includes Madison County. Since that time, a number of local residents have signed on to serve as CASAs, including Kelley, who operates a horse farm in the county. Currently, ten children are being served in Madison County by CASA volunteers from Madison and other counties. There are currently 62 active court cases in the northern circuit, which besides Madison, includes Elbert, Franklin, Hart and Oglethorpe counties.

Robin Hawkins, who lives in Oglethorpe County, signed on to be a CASA in early spring. She has since worked with court cases in both Oglethorpe and Madison counties. “We’re taught to do what’s best for the children and we expect every child have a certain childhood, and many of them do not, but perhaps we can help place them where they can have that childhood,” Hawkins said. She has worked on three cases since she took the ten-week (40 hour) training course.

At the end of training, volunteers are sworn in by a juvenile court judge to serve as an officer of the court.

“One of the best things about being a CASA is that you have support, there are people there you can call on when you need to,” Hawkins said.

And Northeast Georgia CASA officials work to foster a cohesive group of volunteers, which includes regular “lunch and learns,” and volunteer appreciation events at Christmas and in the spring.

Kelley admits that talking with all those involved with a child can be challenging.

“I had a hard time talking to some of them, but I had to learn to keep my focus on what’s needed for the child, and understand that sometimes parents make wrong choices,” Kelley said. “It’s been interesting and it’s certainly been a learning experience.”

As for Mitchell, who started out as a CASA volunteer herself, she says she knows that she’s grown both personally and spiritually over the years.

CASAs also try to see things from a child’s perspective. Recently, Mitchell said they conducted permanency training for volunteers, which included hearing from teenagers on what having a permanent home means to them.

“Some of what they said was surprising,” Mitchell said. Their comments included things like having a key to the house, having someone be their emergency contact and having a place to go for the holidays, where they’d be missed if they weren’t there.

“It’s hard for teens to be adopted, but it does happen,” Mitchell said.

And while it’s often a difficult, heart-breaking job, Hawkins and Kelley both point out that it’s also rewarding and often satisfying.

“It is heartwarming to know that a child is safe, but I have some tears when I think about every case,” Hawkins said.

CASAs stay involved in a child’s case until it achieves permanency – whether it’s a few months, or years. Volunteers are not paid in any way – they are not even reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses such as mileage.

The Northeast Georgia CASA office is located in Toccoa and Mitchell, along with a small staff and a board of directors, works to provide support and back up to CASA volunteers.

And more volunteers are needed. A training session for new volunteers has been set for February in nearby Royston. To sign up, or for more information about serving as a CASA volunteer, call 706-886-1098. Their website is www.negacasa.org.