By Jennifer King, Program Operations Director, Georgia CASA

Since 1993, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Program has provided federal child welfare funding, training and technical assistance to help build state and community capacity to meet the needs of families at risk of child welfare intervention and families in crisis in Georgia. In 1999, PSSF's support of the CASA network in  Georgia began with Hall/Dawson CASA and has since grown to support the efforts of more than half of the CASA affiliate programs in Georgia! As the third largest funder of CASA in Georgia, the support of PSSF has been instrumental in expanding CASA volunteer advocacy for children and families all across the state.

"Because of the support of PSSF funding, our agency has been able to provide advocacy to 100% of the children entering the court through no fault of their own. PSSF funding truly promotes safe and stable families. We are seeing the long-term impact of the children and families we serve. It is very encouraging to see these families become healthy, productive, and nurturing parents. Breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect for future generations will have a lasting impact on our society." - Connie Stephens, Hall-Dawson CASA

Administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS), the goal of the PSSF program is to achieve better outcomes for children and families who encounter the child welfare system by recruiting, training and retaining a coordinated network of community-based, family centered, outcomes-driven organizations, whose mission is to support and stabilize children, youth and families. PSSF targets  four types of families touched by the child welfare system: families at risk and in need of support; families in crisis where efforts are being made to preserve the family through intensive services; families where a child has been placed in foster care and the best interest of the child is to be reunified with the birth family; and adoptive families PSSF supported services are easily accessible to families and are a regular referral resource for Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) case managers.

Today, the PSSF network in Georgia is made up of 132 community-based, non-profit organizations and agencies in 131 counties. The federal funding, combined with the required local cash match, surpasses $9 million specifically supporting Georgia's most vulnerable families.PSSF-funded programs served over 21,000 children in the state in 2010.

PSSF's support of the CASA organization has played a pivotal role in the expansion of the CASA program into 140 counties, 2,000 volunteers, and 9,000 children served. The geographic reach represents DHS's commitment to serve both rural and metropolitan communities alike. Special emphasis is placed on under-resourced areas and as such, PSSF has been a driver for the implementation and sustainability of CASA in the far reaches of the state.  

Through PSSF, Georgia DHS has provided financial support and connections for much of the CASA organization's 25 years of advocacy. The partnership and support has greatly strengthened the CASA network and its service to children in the child welfare system.

  "PSSF has been a cornerstone of federal funding sources for   Savannah/Chatham CASA for over 10 years. It is through the financial award, ongoing technical assistance and training opportunities that we are able to support two advocacy coordinator positions that are an integral part of the volunteer supervision and support that we provide our children in the child welfare system." - ZaDonna Slay, Savannah/Chatham CASA