CASA Looking for More Male Volunteers

If you are interested in helping children, CASA is looking for a few more good men.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Also known as Guardians Ad Litem, CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes.

Chapter Executive Director Melissa Barrett said the need for volunteers continues to rise, but right now they are especially need more men volunteers.

“CASA volunteers are representatives of the children that we serve. So, it’s great to have those men for the boys in particular. Although a CASA volunteer is not a mentor, they’re still role model and that really helps to have a man; especially for the teenage boys,” she explained.

Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.  For many abused children, their CASA volunteer is the one constant adult presence in their lives.

Barrett that’s why they are always in need of volunteers.

“We do have predominantly women that are volunteers across the state,” she said. “But right now, over the last year we’ve had only about 20 men that are CASA volunteers and about 70 that are women. So, we would love to have a good 20 more.”

Training is provided and takes place over a five-week period plus an additional 10 hours of court observation time.

The Northeast Georgia chapter of CASA covers Stephens, Habersham, and Rabun counties in the Mountain Judicial Circuit, as well as the Northern Judicial Circuit, which includes Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

To get more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, you can contact their office in Toccoa at 706-886-1098.