Organizers with Court-Appointed Special Advocate program are hoping this week’s summer volunteer orientation will lead to more Athenians signing up. Currently there are 86 volunteers. The agency is serving 184 children with a waiting list of 120. Susie Weller is Executive Director of Children First. She says Wednesday’s gatherings will provide information to would-be volunteers.
“We’d love for people to come down and learn about CASA, learn about the foster care system,” Weller said. “Could this be a good fit for you, you’ve got some volunteer time that you’d like to give to our local community, is this one of the opportunities that would be a good fit for you?”
Weller says CASAs have a definitely effect on a child’s life and the outcome of legal proceedings affecting that child.
“The CASAs are sworn in, the judges take their testimony and their reports and it helps them make their decision.”
Children First and CASA recently recognized their current volunteers with a reception. Weller says they donated more than 11-thousand hours last year.
“They do it at night, they do it on the weekend. Some of them are retired and they have more cases and they travel throughout Georgia to see and advocate for the kids that they represent.”
The meetings are 10:30 am and 5:30 pm at the organization’s office located at 693 North Pope Street.
