Our Program
Program Purpose
Chattahoochee CASA strives to improve the lives of abused and neglected children and their families by ensuring that the court has adequate information to make sensitive decisions and court orders promoting the health, safety, and well-being of each child.
Our Goals
The CASA program has two primary goals:
- To advocate for the health, education, and medical needs of children in foster care and help them achieve permanency
- To recruit, train, and swear-in a sufficient number of quality volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in juvenile court proceedings
What We Do
CASA is a volunteer-driven advocacy program for children and youth from birth to 18 years old involved in the foster care system who appear before the Juvenile Court in dependency hearings. Our organization advocates for the following services deemed essential to the well-being of a child:
- Medical and preventative services
- Counseling and mental health services
- Educational services
When provided, these services help children and youth recover from the trauma of abuse or neglect and help begin the healing process while in foster care. This early intervention allows children to ultimately succeed in school and life. CASA serves as a resource to help families locate community agencies that can assist in providing a safe and stable environment with the future goal of re-unification if possible.
Become a CASA Volunteer
What is a CASA?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is defined as a community volunteer who:
- has been screened and trained regarding child abuse and neglect, child development, and juvenile proceedings
- has met all the requirements of an affiliate CASA program
- is being actively supervised by an affiliate CASA
- has been sworn in by a judge of the juvenile court /circuit in which they serve
What is CASA and how you can make a difference
Become a CASA Volunteer
Contact Keagan Clark at kclark@twincedars.org for more information about becoming a CASA.
Upcoming Training Dates
-
2025 CASA TRAINING DATES
May 8, 2025
August 21, 2025
October 16, 2025
Accreditation
We are a member in good standing with the National CASA/GAL Association in the Georgia CASA Association. We are a proud community partner of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. As a program of Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services, Inc., Chattahoochee CASA is accredited by the Council of Accreditation (COA).
Accomplishments
2013 Award recipient of the Courier-Eco Latino community service award
2012 Award recipient of the Greater Columbus Chapter of AARP “Unsung Heroes” community award
Volunteer Spotlight
With a desire to learn more about legal advocacy and a heart for the vulnerable, Tierra Watkins was sworn in as a CASA Volunteer on May 5, 2019. Shortly after, she was appointed to a sibling group of two and wasted no time speaking up for their needs. Over the course of three years, Tierra remained consistent, even through the COVID-19 pandemic, by ensuring the older child continued virtual counseling and both children succeeded in learning from home. After 1,243 days, the children were adopted by their one and only placement!
Tierra had already reached out to CASA staff about starting a new case when she was requested by the adoptive parent from her previous case to be assigned to the new child placed in her home. After the Judge also requested CASA, Tierra was appointed and dove back in without hesitation. Based on the trust she had built with the foster parent, Tierra was able to maintain her relationship with the previous CASA children in the home while also building a relationship with the baby boy and mom on her new case.
In her role as a CASA Volunteer, Tierra has continued to show commitment through adversity and hardships. When she applied to be a volunteer advocate, Tierra stated that she “wanted to be a voice for children who, because of their life experiences, feel as though their voice doesn’t matter” and she has certainly done that. Tierra does not shy away from sharing the truth and is confident in speaking up in the best interest of the child. She is reliable, kind, warm, knowledgeable, persistent (in the best CASA way) and has a smile that lights up the room. Tierra embodies what it means to be a CASA through her compassion for children in need, tenacious advocacy, and consistency on her cases. She is making a difference every day, and we are thankful she chooses CASA as a way to give back!
Gallery
Our History
Chattahoochee CASA
Re-organized under Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services, Inc. in 2008, Chattahoochee CASA has been serving children since June 2009.
National CASA/GAL
Please visit http://www.casaforchildren.org to learn more about the history of the National CASA/GAL organization.
Georgia CASA
Please visit https://www.gacasa.org/to learn more about the history of the Georgia CASA organization.
Referrals & Donations
Referrals
Referrals are accepted only through the following parties:
- Juvenile Court Judge
- Any attorney assigned to the case may make a request to the Judge
- DFCS personnel may make a request to the Judge
- Any person who is concerned about a child in a dependency proceeding can make a request to the CASA Program Coordinator
Donate today!
Contact Info
Physical/Mailing Address
1225 3rd Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
Phone
706-327-9612
Fax
706-327-7904
Primary Contact
Inquires for becoming a CASA: Keagan Clark kclark@twincedars.org
706.327.9612 ext 1510
Program Coordinator: Keagan Clark kclark@twincedars.org