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.
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.
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
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
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
Please visit http://www.casaforchildren.org to learn more about the history of the National CASA organization.
Become A CASA
Contact Keagan Clark at kclark@twincedars.org for more information about becoming a CASA.
Accreditation
We are a member in good standing with the National CASA Association and the Georgia CASA Association. As a program of Twin Cedars, Chattahoochee CASA is accredited by the Council on 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
My name is Callie Martin, and I have been a CASA since 2016. I decided to volunteer with CASA because I wanted to help give back to the community that raised me. When I started volunteering with CASA, the organization had recently started serving counties surrounding Muscogee, and I was excited to start working to help children in my area! There are so many amazing things about CASA. The community—the foster parents, the teachers, the school counselors, and the CASA staff—are all so amazing and do so much to help the children in their care. It is a wonderful thing to see all that is being done to be sure that no children fall through the cracks of a broken foster system, and this is being done by all of these fantastic people who are supportive and helpful. But the most amazing thing about volunteering with CASA is getting to know the children and building lasting relationships with those children. There is no way to find words that describe the resilience these children exhibit every day. The children that we serve face more difficulties and hardships than most adults. Through CASA, I have worked with kids of varying ages—the youngest being newborn and the oldest being 18. Every one of these children have a story. Every one of these children have a past. But more importantly, every child has a future. Volunteering with CASA has given me the opportunity to work with these children, get to know them and their stories, help them work through tough situations, and help them see their true potential. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a child realize their value. There is nothing more amazing than getting to know these kids seeing them grow into strong, confident little people. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing them reunited with their family or find a family of their own. And that is what a CASA does. To advocate for a child’s best interest IS to help them realize their potential and value. To know these children is to love them through every situation—good, bad, or indifferent. There is nothing more sobering, humbling, or rewarding than to be a part of these kids’ lives. As a CASA, I hope to give these children as much hope for the future as they have given me. I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful organization to volunteer for. I love being a CASA.
Gallery
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
Donation Wish List
If you are interested in supporting CASA by donating needed items and supplies, please view our donations wish list.
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: Bailey Bishop bbishop@twincedars.org
706.327.9612 ext 1506
Program Coordinator: Keagan Clark kclark@twincedars.org