Georgia CASA Connector E-Newsletter                Spring 2014

Georgia CASA is committed to maintaining a network of well-administered affiliate programs that operate independently with mutual accountability, resulting in the highest level of advocacy for all of Georgia's dependent children.

In This Issue
CASA Volunteer of the Year
Annual Report (FY13)
Events Wrap-up
Thank You to Our Donors
Affiliate Program Highlights
1-800-CHILDREN Helpline Returns

   

It's back! Thanks to the 1-800-CHILDREN Helpline, families and professionals in Georgia once again have a resource to turn to for supporting the healthy development of children. This is the helpline from Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

Governor Deal Names Child Welfare Reform Council

   

On April 2nd, Governor Deal named 21 members to the Child Welfare Reform Council. Chaired by Stephanie Blank, the Council will make reform recommendations for Georgia's child welfare system. The CASA organization is represented by Georgia CASA Executive Director Duaine Hathaway. Read the press release here.

Latest Georgia Child Abuse & Neglect Statistics

   

Every day, 33 children are the victims of confirmed abuse or neglect.

 

200 incidents of child abuse and neglect are reported daily.

 

65 children died from abuse and neglect in 2011.

 

On any given day, about 7,500 children are in the foster care system.

 

13,658 children came through the foster care system during state fiscal year 2012.

Events Calendar

 

April:

National Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month   

 

May:

National Foster Care Month

 

5/13-15:

Council of Programs Meeting

(St. Simons Island, GA)

 

6/7-10:

National CASA Association's Annual Conference 

(Grapevine, TX)

 

6/17-19:

CASA Volunteer Supervisor Meeting

(Macon, GA)

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Campaign Donate Picture
Q&A with 2013 CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia, Angela Langstrom 
 
Angela Langstrom (holding award) with her family, Children's Voice: CASA staff and Judge Peggy Walker

Angela Langstrom, the 2013 CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia from Children's Voice: CASA in Douglas County, recently shared her thoughts on being a CASA volunteer.

 

Georgia CASA: When did you become a CASA volunteer?

Angela: I became a CASA volunteer on October 18, 2010.

 

Georgia CASA: How did you learn about CASA? What made you want to become involved?

Angela: My husband, Peter saw an advertisement recruiting CASA volunteers in a local magazine and thought I would enjoy doing this type of work based on our family history. We are adoptive parents of three children. Our daughter, Imani (13 years old), was adopted at birth, privately. Siblings Erik (12 years old) and Naya (11 years old and special needs), were adopted through the foster care system in California. They were two and three years old when they first came to our home and had been in four foster homes before coming to ours. They were in the foster care system due to neglect. We spent three years battling the courts in California to have their voices heard and become a forever family. To us, it felt like no matter how loudly we complained to the courts and their social workers (they had at least five different workers during this time), no one seemed to care what they were going through. They were re-traumatized every time they were forced to have visitation with their biological parents. Erik and Naya were often picked up by DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services) transporters while at school and without our knowledge for visitation with their birthparents. Peter and I had no way of preparing them for these visits and were often left to pick up the pieces afterwards. Naya was expelled from several schools due to her adverse behaviors following visitation. Our frustrations left me with a desire to change the way things were done for children in the foster care system, and hopes of sparing any other family from going through what we did. So when I heard about the CASA program, I thought this would be the portal for change I was looking for.

 

Georgia CASA: What qualities do you think are important to have as a CASA volunteer?

Angela: The most important qualities for a CASA volunteer to have are (1) a compassionate heart, (2) diplomacy, (3) objectivity, (4) the ability to listen (especially to the things not being said), and (5) a good poker face (because many of the things you see and hear as a CASA volunteer may shock you).

 

Georgia CASA: What has been your greatest challenge as a CASA volunteer?

Angela: My greatest challenge as a CASA volunteer is continually ensuring that I remain objective in my court reporting. Often, I become emotionally connected to the children and families I serve. While this is not ideal, it is true for me. I am always conscious of my duty to advocate for the child's best interests and ensure that my recommendations to the court are fact based and not emotionally driven.

 

Continued...Click here to finish reading the article.

Georgia CASA's Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2013 Published
 
The fiscal year 2013 annual report for Georgia CASA was recently  published. To view the online version, click here. See how you helped to impact the work of CASA in Georgia during our 25th anniversary year!
  
Affiliate Program Highlights

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, headquartered in Nashville in South Georgia, recently started a project called "Holly's Pillows" after a teenager in foster care told how important it was for her to have her own pillow each time she moved. "Holly's Pillows" has already resulted in 50 CASA children having new pillows and blankets, with much community support for the project. To read more about "Holly's Pillows," click here.

 

Several affiliate CASA programs have been busy with events during late winter and early spring. Below is a synopsis:

  • Atlantic Area CASA (Hinesville) - inaugural Dancing with the Stars of the Coastal Empire in March
  • Carroll County CASA (Carrollton) - annual Grand Night for CASA in March, featuring the musical group Banks and Shane
  • CASA Glynn (Brunswick)  - annual Luncheon & Fashion Show at The Cloister in April
  • CASA of Forsyth County (Cumming) - 6th annual CASA Superhero Run in February
  • CASA Kids (Thomasville) - annual Downtown Putt Putt Tourney in March
  • Chattahoochee CASA (Columbus) - 2nd annual CASA Superhero 5K Run in April
  • Piedmont CASA (Jefferson) - annual HeART for Chocolate, Heart for Children Gala in February
Thank You to Our Winter 2014 Donors

Our donors help Georgia CASA make a significant impact by enabling our affiliate CASA programs statewide to fulfill their mission of providing high quality advocacy, through CASA volunteers, to abused and neglected children. We would like to especially thank our Winter 2014 donors! Thank you for supporting the work of CASA volunteers in Georgia!

 

thankyou_paper_hdr.jpg 

  
Would you consider donating today? You can donate to Georgia CASA or an affiliate CASA program, as well as give a recurring donation online.  
Georgia CASA Events Wrap-up

Georgia CASA Conference - March 15, 2014

The 2014 Georgia CASA Conference took place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. Over 400 CASA volunteers, staff, board members and others who work in child welfare from across the state networked and had the chance to attend a selection of 22 workshops, many of which were new and directly applicable to CASA advocacy. A big thank you goes out to our workshop speakers - from local, state and national levels - who donated their time and

Jennifer King (l) and Alicia Darden (r) of Georgia CASA with Victoria Rowell

expertise. The 2013 CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia, Angela Langstrom, was awarded at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon that included inspiring keynote speaker Victoria Rowell. At the Opening Session, CASA of Polk & Haralson Counties, Inc. and Northeast Georgia CASA were both given Established Program Awards of Excellence. View photos from the conference on Facebook. You can also download some workshop presentations on our website

Staff of CASA of Polk & Haralson Counties

 

Staff of Northeast Georgia CASA

   

 

Georgia CASA Luncheon & Fashion Show - March 26, 2014

The 10th annual Luncheon & Fashion Show was held at the  

Judge Glenda Hatchett
Piedmont Driving Club and honored Judge Glenda Hatchett for her service to children. She gave a very motivational and inspiring speech to the audience of about 250 attendees. The fashion show featured clothing from Tootsies and Guffey's for Men. Models included CASA staff, board members, volunteers and a CASA judge, as well as community volunteers. Seven prize packages were raffled. View photos from the event on Facebook.

 

Luncheon & Fashion Show Event Committee

 

25th CASA Logo Black & White
 

 

Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. (Georgia CASA) develops and supports court-sanctioned, community-based programs that provide trained and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court dependency proceedings. Currently, 47 affiliate programs throughout the state serve 140 counties. Last year, 8,890 children were served by 2,165 CASA volunteers. 

  www.gacasa.org
404.874.2888 or 800.251.4012
fax 404.874.2889
 
A Member of The National CASA Association
  
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