C.A.S.A. of Paulding
"Every Child's Voice needs to be Heard"
Each year, thousands of children find themselves involved in juvenile court proceeding through no fault of their own. Some of these children are victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Most are frightened and confused. These children can become lost in a complex legal network of lawyers, social workers and judges, but there is hope. These children can be given the gift of CASA.
CASA of Paulding’s mission is to provide trained and supervised volunteers to speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children who are involved in the juvenile court system, and to assist in finding a permanent, safe and loving home for each of these children as soon as possible. CASA of Paulding is affiliated with National CASA, a non- profit organization dedicated to the needs these children. The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer gathers information about the child’s situation, attends court proceedings and represents the view of the child.
There were 365 confirmed cases of abuse and neglect of children in Paulding County in 2008. That is one for every day of the year. Child abuse and neglect is a community problem. It will take partnerships created among social services agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, the business community, and Paulding’s citizens to create effective solutions to erase this problem.
“Nothing touches your heart more than helping a child,” said Jana Stegall, Executive Director, CASA of Paulding. “And helping a child who’s been abused and neglected will affect you in ways you’d never expect. We need to be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to protect them, and by doing so, protecting the future of our community.”
Currently, there are 55 active volunteers working within the CASA Paulding program. These volunteers are responsible for advocating in the best interest of 144 children involved in juvenile court proceedings due to abuse and neglect. During 2009, CASA volunteers gave 2,368 hours of service and drove 13,783 miles to work with the children in their care. Each one gives freely of their time and talents to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children in Paulding County. Unfortunately, everyday there are more children who could use the involvement of a CASA volunteer.
If you are unable to donate your time as a volunteer, financial support is much needed and appreciated. It costs approximately $1,000 per child served to support this program, but any gift that you are able to give will help create a brighter future for our most vulnerable children. For more information about donating or volunteering your time to make sure that “every child’s voice is heard”, please contact CASA Paulding at (770) 505-0065 (www.casapaulding.org) or visit the National CASA website at www.casaforchildren.org.