CASA

Every child should have a safe, loving and permanent home. Each year in Whitfield and Murray Counties, hundreds of children become entangled in the juvenile justice and foster care programs because they are victims of abuse or neglect. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a specially trained volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interest of an abused or neglected child involved in a juvenile court child deprivation proceeding.

CASA recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteers pursuant to the Georgia CASA, Inc. and the National CASA Organization standards. CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court. They interview anyone who may be able to shed light on the child's needs and personally relate to the child so the child has a knowledgeable friend in the system.

The CASA goes to court and makes recommendations to the judge, based on their independent assessment, about what is in the child's best interests. The CASA remains involved to keep the focus on the child until the case is permanently resolved. If a child is ordered to foster care or is returned to a family under certain restrictions, the CASA continues to work with the child to ensure that the court order is effective and is being adhered to.

The CASA may work with an attorney guardian ad litem (GAL) or with the child's attorney, if one is appointed to represent the child in court. The CASA does not provide legal representation in the court proceeding. Neither does the CASA do the work of the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) caseworker. (DFACS caseworkers are employees of state government and sometimes work on 40 to 60cases at a time.)

The CASA is a volunteer who, because they work on no more than three cases at a time, can give the child what others in the system do not have--TIME. CASA's are citizen volunteers who help our courts and child welfare agency deal with an overwhelmingly difficult and expensive increase in child abuse cases. The CASA's only job is to speak for the child.
To inquire for more information or volunteer opportunities contact. Locally, the CASA Program operates under the umbrella of the FSC ( Family SUpport Council).

Sandy Martin-Ales
1529 WARING RD
DALTON, GA. 30721
Phone: 706 272-7919
Office Fax: 706 275-6542

Other contacts:
National CASA
Georgia CASA



	CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate
	Sandy Martin-Ales, CASA Coordinator Every child should have a safe, loving and permanent home. Each year in Whitfield and Murray Counties, hundreds of children become entangled in the juvenile justice and foster care programs because they are victims of abuse or neglect. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a specially trained volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interest of an abused or neglected child involved in a juvenile court child deprivation proceeding. CASA recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteers pursuant to the Georgia CASA, Inc. and the National CASA Organization standards. CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court. They interview anyone who may be able to shed light on the child's needs and personally relate to the child so the child has a knowledgeable friend in the system. The CASA goes to court and makes recommendations to the judge, based on their independent assessment, about what is in the child's best interests. The CASA remains involved to keep the focus on the child until the case is permanently resolved. If a child is ordered to foster care or is returned to a family under certain restrictions, the CASA continues to work with the child to ensure that the court order is effective and is being adhered to. The CASA may work with an attorney guardian ad litem (GAL) or with the child's attorney, if one is appointed to represent the child in court. The CASA does not provide legal representation in the court proceeding. Neither does the CASA do the work of the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) caseworker. (DFACS caseworkers are employees of state government and sometimes work on 40 to 60cases at a time.) The CASA is a volunteer who, because they work on no more than three cases at a time, can give the child what others in the system do not have--TIME. CASA's are citizen volunteers who help our courts and child welfare agency deal with an overwhelmingly difficult and expensive increase in child abuse cases. The CASA's only job is to speak for the child. To inquire for more information or volunteer opportunities contact. Locally, the CASA Program operates under the umbrella of the FSC ( Family SUpport Council). Sandy Martin-Ales 1529 WARING RD DALTON, GA. 30721 Phone: 706 272-7919 Office Fax: 706 275-6542 Other contacts: National CASA Georgia CASA	Juvenile Court Units Whitfield County Sheriff Georgia Judicial Branch Juvenile Court Home Page Links District Attorney Law Enforcement Department of Juvenile Justice Troubled Children's Counsel Family and Children Services Family Support Council Mental Health National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Forms Glossary Descriptions and Jurisdictions