The storms of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ravage of the opioid epidemic, racial/social strife, devastating economies and a national recession are imposing extreme duress to many families. The children in these families are too often victims of abuse or neglect, and end up in the state’s custody. These unprecedented times have pushed child welfare systems into crisis and have created an unprecedented need for intervention.
In 2019, over 437,000 children nationally, 21,000 children in Georgia, and 224 children in the Griffin Judicial Court (Fayette, Upson, Spaulding, Pike Counties) suffer abuse or neglect and are directed into the Department of Family and Child Services’ custody. These foster children are victims through no fault of their own and need representation.
That representation is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
These willing adults undergo screening, training and certification and act as Agents of the Court, representing children in the State of Georgia’s Juvenile Court dependency proceedings. Advo-Kids CASA is the local chapter of Georgia CASA that brings a sense of urgency to the children’s plight by amplifying the voices of neglected and abused children. Established in 2006, Advo-Kids CASA serves approximately 250 children in the Griffin Judicial Court serving Fayette, Spaulding, Upson, and Pike counties. Advo-Kids CASA's mission is to provide screened, trained and supervised community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court dependency proceedings.
The Griffin Court Judges, Georgia Department of Family and Children Services personnel, and Advocate-Kids CASAs team together to reunite these children with their families of origin, or work diligently to find a permanent home. The work is demanding, but emotionally and spiritually fulfilling. The joy of a child’s smile and the intensity of a child’s desperate hug gives a CASA his purpose. Each CASA volunteer is appointed by the judge to advocate in the best interest of the children. Court Judges are more likely to assign CASA Volunteers to their most complex, serious cases that have a higher risk of poor outcomes. Court Judges depend on CASA Volunteers for crucial information to help them make the most informed decisions about the case. They collaborate with others to make sure that necessary services are provided and are in the child's best interest. CASA volunteers are trained to understand trauma in children and advocate for services that strengthen parents' relationships with their children; services that promote healing and help children develop resilience.
CASA volunteers encourage services that strengthen parent's relationships with their children. “To give a child a CASA volunteer is to give them a voice. To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give the world “, a former foster child stated.
Advo-kids CASA seeks volunteers, donations and advocates for the program. It is a dynamic, ever-changing task to represent the needs of children in the Griffin Court. Rebecca F. Griffin, Chair of the Board of Directors comments, “As is the case with most organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Advo-Kids has also been challenged to continue operations in new and creative ways. From Zoom Board meetings and staff working from home to the CASA volunteers themselves virtually checking in with the children and masking up when appropriate, we have all made adjustments in order to continue serving the children in the Griffin Judicial Circuit”.
If you are interested in serving the most vulnerable children, investigate becoming a CASA. This type of service requires one to step outside of their comfort zone and serve those most in need. When we pause to consider the situations these children are living through, it is a small sacrifice. And, it’s “for the child”. You can change a child’s story and guide them toward a positive, uplifting path to adulthood.
To donate, volunteer or for more information, contact Advo-Kids CASA at www.advo-kidscasa.org