The CASA Role

The CASA Role

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs are specially trained volunteers who are appointed as "Officers of the Court" to an abused or neglected child. Their role is to make recommendations to the Court about what is in the child's best interest. The volunteer will draw together this information by getting to know the child and gathering information from other persons who are involved in this child's life. CASA volunteers are an active part of the child's team that is working toward ensuring that the child has a safe, stable, and permanent home.

Other members of the team may include the child's Department of Family and Children Services foster care worker, foster parents, biological parents, extended family, teachers, doctors, and therapists. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

What does a cASA do?

  • Visits with the child regularly

  • Reviews the social service agency and Court records

  • Gathers information about the child from:

    • Parents

    • Caregivers

    • Social workers

    • Teachers

    • Anyone else important in the child's life

  • Identifies family and community resources that can help meet the child's needs

  • Problem solves with the professionals involved in the child's case

  • Prepares written reports for Court hearings

  • Participates in Court hearings

  • Participates in team meetings

  • Provides testimony to the Court if requested

  • Ensures that the child's wishes are known to the judge

  • Meets regularly with the CASA case supervisor for support and guidance

  • Keeps the focus on the child until he/she is in a safe, stable permanent home

  • Maintains confidentiality at all times

Is CASA right for you?

If you...

  • Care about children

  • Are at least 21 years of age

  • Live or work in Tift, Turner, Irwin, or Worth Counties

  • Are objective and non-judgmental

  • Have a flexible enough schedule to attend Court hearings and meetings

  • Have enough time in your schedule to spend 5-10 hours a month working on behalf of a child

  • Can participate in 12 hours of continuing education training per year

  • Can make a minimum one-year commitment

  • Have good written and verbal communication skills

  • Possess basic computer skills such as email and word processing

  • Have reliable transportation

Then CASA is right for you!

Who are the CASA children?

In the Coastal Plain CASA program, volunteers are appointed to children between the ages of birth to 18, who have been abused or neglected and are in the foster care system. Our children come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.


All of them have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect and being separated from their family, friends, pets, school, and neighborhood. Their whole world has been turned upside down and they now find themselves living with strangers.

  • In addition, many of our children suffer from:

  • learning disabilities

  • developmental delays

  • physical disabilities

  • emotional issues

  • trauma

These injured children are:

  • lonely

  • scared

  • anxious

  • afraid

  • distrustful

  • angry

The longer these children are in the system, the more chaotic their lives become; moving from foster home to foster home, changing schools, social workers who come and go, and family who no longer visit.

Your donations will help the CASA team provide a multitude of services to our volunteers and provide quality support to the children in care.

May 2023 is proclaimed Foster Care and Foster Family Recognition Month by the City of Tifton and our Mayor, Julie Smith

Cindy Evers, CASA volunteer whom started the CASA program in Tifton, attended The City of Tifton's council meeting on May 15, 2023. Mayor Julie Smith announced, on behalf of herself and the City of Tifton, that May 2023 is proclaimed Foster Care and Foster Family Recognition Month!