CASA Needs More Volunteers

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

To deal with a rising number of cases of child abuse and child neglect in Stephens, Franklin, and Hart counties, Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, is putting out the call for more volunteers.

Northeast Georgia CASA Executive Director Melissa Mitchell said their case load increases every year as the number of abused and neglected children going into foster care rises.

“It is a large problem and we certainly have seen it at CASA,” Mitchell said. “We are seeing more children coming in to foster care than previously. In Franklin County we have many more children than we’ve had in the past. Right now, we’re serving 32 children, but there are 39 children in foster care there.”

April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month and according to the National Children’s Alliance, in 2013, an estimated 679,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect nationwide.

Of the children who experienced maltreatment or abuse, nearly 80 percent suffered neglect; 18 percent suffered physical abuse; and 9 percent suffered sexual abuse

Additionally, 47 states reported approximately 3.1 million children received preventative services from Child Protective Services agencies.

Mitchell said they always have need of more volunteers to help children who have been removed from their home get through the court system into a permanent home.

If you would like to volunteer with CASA, or get more information on child abuse prevention, you can go online to www.gacasa.org.