SMOKED BOSTON BUTT, HAM, & TURKEY SALE!!!!

Don't forget to buy your BUTT, HAM, and or TURKEY before they're ordered next week. They will be delivered the day before Thanks Giving Break - November 23rd. Please contact Elaine Grice for Details at 229-686-6576 elain.douglas@berrien.k12.ga.us. This partnership with Rotary will help support CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit.

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit receives support from District Attorney's Office.

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit received over $8,000 from District Attorney's Office. Cathy Helms right(District Attorney) and Sarah Surratt middle (Victims Assistance Coordinator) presented a check to Elaine Grice left (CASA Director) on Thursday, October 8, 2010. Funds were part of the 5% allocation from collected fines and fees in Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier. This support will be used recruit and train volunteers for the over 60 children in need of a CASA in our judicial circuit.

CASA Receives Expansion Funding

The Promoting Safe and Stable Families grant under DHS has provided funds for expansion of CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit that serves Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier counties. These funds will be used to advocate for our abused and neglected children in fostercare. To put this in perspective, 4 out of the five counties in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit are in the top 16 counties for child abuse and neglect in the state.

CPPC 2009 Report

Lanier #1 2009

Berrien #9 2009

For more information on how you can advocate for our most precious asset, please contact Elaine Grice @ 229-686-6576.

CASA for CASA's

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit is asking that the community join in our fundraiser to support the children of our communities. The Mission of CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit is to provide screened, trained, and supervised community volunteers to work with our children in foster care. CASA volunteers are appointed by Juvenile Court Judge Clay Tomlinson to advocate for the best interest of over 60 abused and neglected children in our service area.

Tickets are currently being sold for $5.00 each to raffle off a hand crafted playhouse (6ft x 8ft) on December 2, 2010. The raffle is being held in order to raise awareness for the CourtAppointed Special Advocate program as well as funds to support the many children in our area.

Waiting for Superman

This is a must see for educators. It will be featured in Oprah today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0&feature=player_embedded

General Collaborative Meeting

Greetings All,

Please plan on attending our General Collaborative meeting being held at the Perry Memorial Library on Thursday, September 16th @ 12pm. This meeting is held each quarter with several of other agencies from the area. It's a good time to network and develop support for our initiatives.

See you there!

UPCOMING EVENTS!!!!

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit 1st Thursday

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit with Evelyn Fox, Deborah Raines, and Berrien High AP Art Class painting faces on children during Nashville's 1st Thursday.

Health At School: A Hidden Health Care System Emerges From The Shadows

A vast array of child health professionals—99,000 counselors; 56,000 nurses; 30,000 school psychologists; 15,000 social workers; and smaller numbers of dental hygienists, dentists, physicians, and substance abuse counselors—provide care to children and adolescents at school. However, most thought leaders in child health know little about this "hidden" system of careor are skeptical about its capacity to contribute to children’s well-being. Increased interest in prevention and chronic disease management, powered by escalating concern about childhood overweight, might end the isolation of school health programs and link them more effectively to community-based prevention programs and health care services.

Full Article: http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/26/2/409

Flatlanders Fall Frolic

Lanier County Family Connection will be featuring CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit at the annual Flatlanders Fall
Frolic on Saturday, September 4th, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m at the Lakeland Threate Center.

CASA will be recruiting volunteers, selling raffle tickets for the playhouse, and Lanier 4-H will be painting faces on the children. The 6 x 8 ft Playhouse was built and donated by Kirby Sapp of Lakeland and will be on display at the Lanier County Courthouse. The raffle tickets are $5.00 each and we will raffle the playhouse on December 2nd, at the Christmas Parade in Lakeland.

If you would like to help at the Flatlanders Fall Frolic and/or help with raffle tickets, please let me know. We would love to have your support for our CASA program.

We are also taking orders for CASA T-shirts at this time. The T-shirts are $12.00 each. Please let Elaine Dounglas Grice know if you would like to purchase a T-shirt by Thursday, September 2nd. elaine.douglas@berrien.k12.ga.us (P) 229-686-6576.

CASA Inservice Training

Inservice training for CASA Volunteers on Report Writing - Monday, October 4th, 5:30 - 7:30 at the Berrien County Collaborative's YES Center. This will count towards your inservice hours. Please RSVP Elaine Grice at elaine.douglas@berrien.k12.ga.us.

Invest in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in your community today!

If you would like to invest in the life of child that has been neglected and or abused, please go to CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit blog and click on the Donate link on the top right hand side of the page. You may indicate where you would like your investment to go.

If you would like a list of other initiatives and programs, please go to www.berriencountycollaborative.com and click on the Initiatives link or contact Elaine Douglas at 229-686-6576 or elaine.douglas@berriencountycollaborative.org.

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit CJCC Approval

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit has been approved as a Local Victims Assistance program by Georgia's Criminal Justice Coordinator Council for Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier counties and is eligible for 5% funding.

What does 5% Certification mean for CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit?

Certification Program Overview

The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council is responsible for promulgating rules governing the approval of victim assistance programs in Georgia. Those rules are designed to encourage local innovations in development of victim assistance, and provide the minimum standards necessary for certification of these programs. Certification permits local victim assistance programs to request funding through their County Board of Commissioners from a fund derived from a five percent penalty added to fines in all criminal and criminal ordinance cases, specifically to fund victim assistance programs. Where the County Commission does not participate in victim assistance, the five percent penalty must be paid over to the District Attorney to fund victim assistance in that Judicial Circuit. For more info, please go to: http://cjcc.ga.gov/

New Georgia Child Abuse and Neglect Rankings

Click the following link for newly released child abuse and neglect state rankings for Georgia.

Rankings 2005 - 2008

After School Status of Achievement of Goals and Objectives

I want to share with you the great pride in after school and impact it is having on our students. The hard work and determination that goes into making sure our children succeed in life is highly prevalent in the data below.

Berrien Primary and Elementary School Updates

Performance Goal #1: Increased academic achievement in reading, language arts, and math.

- 48% of the participating students improved their reading grade during the 2009-2010 school year. Forty-eight (48) of these students improved by at least one letter grade and 19 students raised a failing grade to at least a “C”.

- 53% of the participating students improved their language arts grade during the 2009-2010 school year. Twenty-seven (27) of these students improved by at least one letter grade and 8 students raised a failing grade to at least a “C”.

- 47% of the participating students improved their math grade during the 2009-2010 school year. Fifty-seven (57) of these students improved by at least one letter grade and 15students raised a failing grade to at least a “C”.

- The percentage of participating students not meeting the state standard on the reading section of the CRCT decreased from 30.8% in Spring 2009 to 9.9% in Spring 2010.

- The percentage of participating students not meeting the state standard on the math section of the CRCT decreased from 40.7% in Spring 2009 to 27.5% in Spring 2010.

Goal #2: Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities, such as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, nutrition programs, counseling programs; art, music and recreation programs, technology education programs and character education programs that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; encourage effective integration and operation of programs in concert with all designated partners.

- During the year, the local centers emphasized programming in the core content areas of reading, language arts and math for 100% of its participating students.

- During the year, the local centers offered academic enrichment and support activities for 100% of its participating students.

- During the year, the local centers offered academic enrichment, support activities and programming to support learning outside of core academic content areas and technology for 100% of its participating students.

Goal #3: Improve student attendance, homework completion and class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 93% of the participating students were absent for 15 days or less from school.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 90% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in homework completion

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 84% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 90% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in homework completion and 84% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 59% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in behavior.

- At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, 94% of the participating students were promoted to the next grade level.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, the local centers provided a total of nine opportunities for literacy and related education development. Our Reading Around the Campfire event had 142 adults and 158 students participate. Our Duathlon event had 40 students and 48 adults attending. Our four movie nights were also well attended. Furthermore, our rodeo event had over 2,000 participants.The majority of these participants are not enrolled in our after school program, although our families were invited to attend.

- During the 2008-2009 school year, the Reading Around the Campfire event had 142 adults and 158 students participate. Our Duathlon event had 40 students and 48 adults attending. Our four movie nights were also well attended. Furthermore, our rodeo event had over 3,000 participants.The majority of these participants are not enrolled in our after school program, although our families were invited to attend.

______________________________________________________________

Berrien High and Academy Programs

Performance Goal #1: Increased academic achievement in reading, language arts, and math.

- 63% of the participating students improved their language arts grade during the 2009-2010 school year.

- 61% of the participating students improved their math grade during the 2009-2010 school year. Thirty-seven (37) of these students improved by at least one letter grade and six students raised a failing grade to at least a “C”.

Goal #2: Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities, such as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, nutrition programs, counseling programs; art, music and recreation programs, technology education programs and character education programs that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; encourage effective integration and operation of programs in concert with all designated partners.

- During the year, the local centers emphasized programming in the core content areas of reading, language arts and math for 100% of its participating students.

- During the year, the local centers offered academic enrichment and support activities for 100% of its participating students.

- During the year, the local centers offered academic enrichment, support activities and programming to support learning outside of core academic content areas and technology for 100% of its participating students.

Goal #3: Improve student attendance, homework completion and class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 93% of the participating students were absent from school for 15 days or less.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 40% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in homework completion

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 35% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 40% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in homework completion and 35% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in class participation.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, 26% of the participating students demonstrated improvement in behavior.

- At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, 94% of the participating students were promoted to the next grade level.

Goal #4: Offer families of students who are served by the local community learning center the opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

- During the 2009-2010 school year, the local centers provided a total of nine opportunities for literacy and related education development. Our Reading Around the Campfire event had 142 adults and 158 students participate. Our Duathlon event had 40 students and 48 adults attending. Our four movie nights were also well attended. Furthermore, our rodeo event had over 3,000 participants. The majority of these participants are not enrolled in our after school program, although our families were invited to attend.

Institute of Medicine 2009 Report

This is an Intense report full of great systemic ideas for implementing an effective system of care. - Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities.

http://www.whyy.org/news/sci20090302Mentalprepub.pdf

School-Based Mental Health Models

Great white paper on school-based mental health models.This encompasses the ISSC (Integrated Student System of Care) model used to develop the MED (School-Based Collaborative HeathCare) initative at Berrien Elementary School.

Using Coordinated School Health to Promote Mental Health for All Students

Meeting to address Lanier’s high child abuse rate

Dawn Castro

The Valdosta Daily Times

LAKELAND — Inadequate income and substance abuse play major roles in Lanier County topping the state in child abuse and neglect cases.

The county currently ranks No. 1 in neglect and No. 2 in physical abuse, the highest per capita rate in Georgia, according to the state Department of Family and Children Services.

To address this ranking, an organization committed to understanding and lowering these numbers hosts a meeting this week.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, the Community Partnership for Protecting Children (CPPC) holds a community meeting at the Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church to discuss ending child abuse.

“From this meeting, we hope to come up with some sort of resolution or positive steps towards resolving the issues facing our community,” Amy Burton, the Lanier County Family Connection coordinator, said.

Joyce Johnson, CPPC area coordinator, said the meeting will be an open forum for the people.

“We want to hear from the residents,” she said. “We looked at the data for the area where the most problems occur and found that Oak Ridge subdivision ranks the highest.”

Johnson noted the top three types of child maltreatment that will be discussed at the meeting are neglect, which includes inadequate supervision, food and medical care; physical abuse; and domestic violence, which usually includes emotional abuse.

The main focus for the meeting will be educating the residents about the problem. The questions posed will be: Why do the residents think Lanier County is No. 1 in abuse, and what should be done to reduce the number?

Johnson said when the data is collected, they look at the number of children under 18 years of age and how many were reportedly abused. They look at the families income, age of the parent(s), location (rural area vs. city), and number of children in the home. She also said it surprises people to know that the average age of the parents reported in these abuse and neglect cases is 35.

“People always assume it’s the younger parents being reported but that is not the case here,” she said. “Just because someone is older, does not mean they have it all together.”

The top three underlying causes in these situations are substance abuse; domestic violence; and mental health issues of the parent or child.

From Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009, the following Lanier County maltreatment data was collected by the Department of Family and Children Services office:

Neglect: 107 reported; 57 percent

Physical Abuse: 34 reported; 18 percent

Emotional Abuse: 29 reported; 15 percent

Sexual Abuse: 13 reported; 7 percent

No maltreatment but substantial abuse: 6 reported; 3 percent



Racial Composition of Reports:

African-American: 38

Caucasian: 123

Hispanic: 3



CPPC is a strategic plan represented by citizens, including DFACS workers, teachers, parents, faith-based leaders and members of the judicial system, etc.

The plan is to bring everyone together to develop creative ways to prevent or reduce the abuse and neglect in the county.

The CPPC is a nationally recognized plan but has just been organized in Lanier County January 2010. Its mission statement: “Keeping Children Safe is Everybody’s Business.”

Johnson said the plan is not to be confused with an agency or organized program. It only involves community participation. It is based on the understanding that DFACS cannot accomplish the prevention of child abuse alone.

The meeting will include a barbecue meal and door prizes. Childcare will also be provided.

At A Glance: Community Partnership for Protecting Children (CPPC) holds a community meeting to discuss ending child abuse, 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12, Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church. More information: Contact Amy Burton, Lanier County Family Connection coordinator, (229) 482-3476.

Collaborative Featured in Healthcare Georgia Foundation Listening Tour Report

Voices of the Community: Listening Tour 2010

While the national stage is focused on who has access to care and who is going to pay for it, we know that the more robust discussion–the depth and breadth of the issues impacting the health of our neighbors–is happening at the community level. As a Foundation with a commitment to understanding and working with communities, we sought to actively engage with leaders across the state in a discussion about the health of their communities, the health care issues facing their neighbors, and their community’s efforts and capacity to continue to make an impact.

The Foundation will use insights gained from this Tour to be deliberate and focused on providing community-based solutions that promote sustainability and the enhancement of the health of all Georgians.

To View or Download, click here

Recommended Citation: Voices of the Community: Listening Tour 2010, Porter Novelli, Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Publication #42, June 2010

How does Georgia measure up?

Among the states, Georgia gets these poor health rankings according to the “2008 Health Rankings: Georgia and Georgia’s Children”:

• 31st for the percentage of adults who do smoke.
• 37th for the percentage of adults who do not exercise regularly.
• 38th for the percentage of overweight high school students.
• 39th for the percentage of adults who are obese.
• 41st for the percentage of adults with diabetes.
• 40th for infant mortality.
• 41st for teen birth rate.
• 43rd for pre-term births.
• 45th for low birthweight babies.
• 47th for the prevalence of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis and AIDS.

Georgia’s most recent bad health grade came this summer in the 2010 “F as in Fat” report: Georgia trailed only Mississippi in the percentage of children between 10 and 17 who are obese. The report is produced by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

MED Project Launch

The MED Center is a comprehensive Pediatric Primary Care site located at Berrien Elementary School.

The MED uses an Integrated Student System of Care (ISSC) that incorporates a broad array of service integration, continuity of care, and data exchange strategies that include, but are not limited to: family-centered case management services; family/student health and wellness education services; academic support services; and school nursing services.

ISSC is an integrative medicine approach that provides team-based, collaborative care for students.

Courtroom Advocacy Training for Volunteers

Georgia CASA will be presenting the first Courtroom Advocacy Training for
Volunteers on August 17th in Tifton. There will be a hot, dinner buffet
prior to the training (beginning at 5:00) for everyone attending. The
Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association is helping to offset the cost of
dinner, so that we can provide more than light refreshments. I am asking
that you RSVP me by August 10th.

The training will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Tifton, off I-75.
Directions are included at the bottom of this email. I look forward to
hearing from you.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks for all you do!!!
Elaine Grice



Strengthening Courtroom Advocacy Series

Georgia CASA Presents:

Courtroom Advocacy Training for Volunteers

The purpose of this training is for volunteers to feel more confident in
their advocacy role and to maximize their understanding of courtroom
dynamics. This workshop covers appropriate interactions between the CASA
and child, judge, and attorneys; preparing persuasive written and verbal
recommendations; courtroom etiquette and procedure; and testifying tips.

Presented by Angela Tyner,
Director of Advocacy & Program Development
Georgia CASA

When:
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Where:
Hilton Garden Inn Tifton
201 Boo Drive, Tifton, Georgia 31793

A hot, dinner buffer will be provided beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Sponsored in part by The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association

PLEASE RSVP ME BY AUGUST 10TH

Attendance is open to all CASA staff and volunteers.



Directions to Hilton Garden Inn Tifton:

>From North:
Exit 62 off I-75. Make a left off the exit and head west to the next light
at McCormick Drive. Make a left onto McCormick Drive, travel 200 yards and
make a left onto Boo Drive, the hotel will be on the left.

>From South:
Exit 62 off I-75. Make a left off the exit and head west to the next light
at McCormick Drive. Make a left onto McCormick Drive, travel 200 yards and
make a left onto Boo Drive, the hotel will be on the left.

>From West:
Follow US 82 to the light at McCormick Drive. Make a right onto McCormick
Drive, travel 200 yards and make a left onto Boo Drive, the hotel will be
on the left.

>From East:
Pass under I-75. Follow US 82 to the light at McCormick Drive. Make a left
onto McCormick Drive, travel 200 yards and make a left onto Boo Drive, the
hotel will be on the left.

2009 CASA Annual Survey Reports Now Online

Results of the 2009 local and state annual surveys are now posted on
CASAforChildren.org. Highlights of 2009 findings are as follows:

- The number of children served nationwide was 237,095.
- The number of volunteers in service was 70,919.
- The number of new volunteers trained was 23,753.

Thank you to all CASA/GAL staff who took the time to respond to our annual
survey. The results can be helpful to all of our programs in our
fundraising and public awareness efforts.

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5466423/k.16B4/Data_Collection_and_Evaluation.htm

Alapaha Judicial Circuit Justice for Children Summit – July 29, 2010

Your attendance is requested for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit Justice for Children Summit to be held on July 29, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Berrien County Extension Office (516A County Farm Road, Nashville, GA 31619, (229)686-5431). Continental Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.

This summit is sponsored by the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children (J4C) in partnership with the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Staff from the Supreme Court of Georgia’s Committee on Justice for Children will review and compare statistical information pertaining to our court and agency work on deprivation matters and help us to identify our strengths and challenges. All juvenile court stakeholders involved with issues of child abuse and neglect are needed to assist in identification of goals for our court and the development of action plans to achieve those goals.

Please RSVP to Ms. Regina Roberts by email at regina.roberts@gaaoc.us or by phone at 404-561-2724 no later than July 23, 2010 with the following information: name, e-mail address, phone number, and your role or job title. Breakfast, Lunch and snack items will be provided. If you have special dietary needs, please inform Ms. Roberts when confirming your attendance. I look forward to seeing you at the summit.

Alapaha Judicial Circuit

Supreme Court of Georgia

Justice for Children Summit

July 29, 2010

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome Remarks by the Honorable Carol W. Hunstein,

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia; The Honorable P. Harris Hines, Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia; The Honorable Clayton Tomlinson, Judge of the Juvenile Court of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit

9:15 – 9:30 Introductions & Overview of Summit Curriculum

9:30 – 9:45 Video: “Multiple Transitions: A Young Child’s Point of View on Foster Care and Adoption”

9:45 – 10:30 Strengths and Challenges

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 11:45 “The Path to Permanency” - presented by Ms. Melissa Carter, Esq. Director of the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate and Mr. Bobby Cagle, Georgia Division of Family and Children Services

11:45– 12:15 “Ground Truth: Using Data to Explore What is Really Happening at the Local Level” - presented by Mr. Christopher Church, Esq., Managing Attorney, Committee on Justice for Children

12:15 – 12:45 Lunch

12:45 – 1:40 “Ground Truth” – continued

1:40 – 2:10 “Through Our Eyes” – presented by Georgia EmpowerMEnt Group

2:10 – 2:25 Break

2:25 – 3:00 Action Planning

3:00 – 3:45 Group Discussion of Action Plans

3:45 ­– 4:00 Closing, Q & A, Next Steps

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT DFCS

During the month of July, The Berrien County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will be sponsoring “Christmas in July” in support of the foster children of Berrien County. DFCS will be accepting donations which will be directed towards buying school supplies and school clothes for foster children. According to Director Mary Lynn Bracewell, there are approximately 20 children in foster care in Berrien County. Many of these children are school age. The State of Georgia does not provide any additional money for foster parents to buy school supplies and school clothes for the children they keep in their home.

There are many ways that the community can help. People can request specific sizes and ages of the foster children, and then purchase items themselves to bring to the DFCS office, or they can make a monetary donation which will be used to buy the needed items. For more information, contact Bracewell or Kayse Layfield at 686-5568.

CASA DAY at Atlanta Braves Game

Affiliate CASA Programs, Affiliate Program Board Chairs/Supervisors, and Georgia CASA Board:

"CASA Day" at the Atlanta Braves game on Saturday, August 14th is quickly approaching! Don't forget to purchase your group rate tickets now!

The Saturday game will be the Braves vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. (The game is currently scheduled for 7:10 p.m., but subject to change to an earlier time based on TV airings. We will know 2 weeks in advance if the game time changes.)

CASA has blocked a group of seats in the upper level box section of the infield (sections 407/409 - the same seating section as CASA Day at the Braves game in Sept. 2009). If you are interested in purchasing tickets, you can receive the CASA group rate of $13 per ticket. (This is a higher rate than last year since it is a premium game - on a Friday/Saturday.) Please contact Stacey Nicely with the Atlanta Braves directly at 404.614.1325 or stacey.nicely@braves.com to purchase tickets. Affiliate CASA programs may wish to coordinate on a group ticket purchase. The event is a great way to show appreciation to CASA volunteers for the work they do.

We are encouraging all CASA attendees to wear white shirts to the game so we can stand out in the stadium. There will be a CASA public service announcement (PSA) featuring Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson aired on the big screen at the game. There will also be a CASA exhibit booth at the entrance to Turner Field and a 50/50 raffle with 25% of the proceeds going to CASA.

CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit

Program Briefing

The CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit is now a reality. The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) has been in existance for over 30 years and has been in Georgia for the past 20 years. This program is designed to focus recruiting and training volunteer advocates for our abused and neglected children that are going through our DFCS and Court systems.

Planning for this program started over 2 years ago when Representative Penny Houston and Judge Jody Steedley met with a CASA representative Angela Tanzella to discuss the possibilities of starting a CASA program for our Judicial Circuit. After this very pressing meeting with Representative Houston and Judge Steedly, Angela met with the Family Connection Coordinators, Communities In Schools Executive Directors, and Drug Free Coalition members from Atkinson, Berrien, Cook, Lanier, and Clinch Counties to form a steering committee.

The steering committee was constructed to design a strategic implementation plan for the CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit program. The CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit hired Elaine Douglas-RIce as a full-time CASA Director and started recruiting and training volunteers in February 2009. Judge Clay Tomlinson was appointed to the Alapaha Judicial Court and has work diligently to establish the CASA program.

Since inception in January 2009, CASA of the Alapaha has trained and sworn in 28 volunteers and has worked with over 36 children in each of the five counties. The CASA Advisory Board was also formed and has developed several strategies to support CASA throughout the area.

If you or someone you may know is interested in advocating for a child or would like to know more about, please go to www.casaajc.blogspot.com or contact Elaine Douglas-Rice at 229-686-6576.

Valdosta Board of Realtors Community Service Fundraiser for CASA