CARTERSVILLE, GA-AUGUST 11, 2015: The increase in the number of foster children in Bartow County continues to grow. Bartow CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a program of Advocates for Children, needs your help.
CASA’s are a much needed source of support for children in foster care. CASA’s are volunteers that assess a child’s situation by talking to any one that knows the child and report directly to the judge what is in the best interest of the child. The goal of a CASA is to advocate for a child in court until they have a safe and permanent home. CASA’s are vital in the outcome of these children.
Bartow CASA, a program of Advocates for Children, is looking for volunteers to advocate for foster children in court. Volunteers need good communication skills, compassion for children, and the ability to be objective.
DFCS workers are overloaded with cases and it is very difficult for them to spend the amount of time a CASA volunteer spends investigating, interviewing and researching what and who will best serve these children. CASA volunteers are the support and voice for these children when they need it the most. For many abused or neglected children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant and stable adult presence in their lives. The children may have multiple DFCS case managers, multiple foster placements, but the goal is for the child to have one CASA for as long as they are in foster care.
To be a CASA Volunteer, you must be over 21, complete 40 hours of training, and undergo a background check. The next series of evening classes will begin on Tuesday, August 18, 2015. The series of daytime classes will begin on Thursday, August 20, 2015. If you would like to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer call Ava Lipscomb at 770-386-1060, e-mail ava@advochild.org or stop by the CASA Office located at 654 Joe Frank Harris Parkway, Cartersville, GA 30120.