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.