Remember, there will not be a Rotary meeting on Christmas Eve, December 24. Even though it is the fourth Monday we have cancelled our meeting for the holiday. Enjoy your family and the special season. The cost of the meal we would have enjoyed has been donated to Toys for Tots so that every family in Gilmer County can enjoy the meaning of the gifts of Christmas.
What is CASA?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community volunteer, appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interest of an abused or neglected child involved in a juvenile court proceeding.
Why CASA?
Every child should have a safe, loving, and permanent home, but many do not. Each year in Georgia, thousands of children enter juvenile court because they are victims of abuse or neglect. A large number of the children are taken from their homes and placed in the overburdened foster care system, where they can get “lost” for months and even years of their lives.
Georgia’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Programs provide an innovative, cost-effective approach to an urgent crisis. Community-based programs recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to provide individualized advocacy for these innocent victims and an independent source of information for the judge who must decide their future.
What does a CASA do?
A CASA volunteer serves as the eyes and ears of the court. He or she establishes a relationship with a child, and interviews anyone who may be able to shed light on that child’s needs. A CASA then goes to court and makes recommendations to the judge, based on his or her independent assessment, regarding that child’s best interest. A CASA remains involved and focused on a child until that child’s case is permanently resolved.
Who does a CASA work with?
A CASA works with an abused or neglected child, and anyone who may be able to serve that child’s best interest, including court and school officials, Case Managers from the Department of Family and Children Services, and members of that child’s family. Although a CASA is not an attorney, a CASA does work with a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), a child’s attorney, when a GAL is appointed to represent a child in court. Guardians ad Litem sometimes work on as many as 60-80 cases at a time in both Superior and Juvenile Court. Meanwhile, Case Managers sometimes work on 40 to 60 cases at a time. CASA Programs train and support volunteers who handle one to three cases at a time. A CASA volunteer can provide time and energy that others in the system cannot, combined with expertise that individuals who are not part of the system may lack. A CASA collaborates with other service providers, and the child’s family, in order to advocate for “one child at a time.”
Monday, November 12, 2018
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Our Guest speaker for our November 12 meeting, Garland C. "Gary" Moore shared his personal Rotary story to inform us about the Rotary Foundation. The whole story was about his journey starting as a brand new Rotarian through his many opportunities for service through the Rotary Foundation.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Justin Heitman has completed his "Red Badge" assignments and earned his "Blue Badge", presented by Club President Jerry Johnson at our meeting on November 12. Congratulate him today.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
