Central Georgia CASA is ready to train a new group of people to support and advocate for our most vulnerable people. A new five-week training course starts Tuesday, January 17, at 5:30 p.m. Volunteers will attend weekly classes via Zoom, complete online course work, and observe court cases prior to certification. This program is supported by a Macon Violence Prevention grant from Macon-Bibb County and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.
CASAs, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are sworn in through the juvenile court system and meet with their assigned child at least once a month, as well as the child’s doctors, teachers, case workers, foster parents, and often their biological parents to make sure the child’s needs are being met. They also prepare written and oral reports to present to the courts. The goal is to make sure that child is receiving the care they need. This commitment takes about 10-15 hours per month.
“Our volunteers are vital to the foster care process to speak up for our children,” said CASA Executive Director Susanna Patterson. “We want people to know about the work we do and how it helps our young people navigate some of the most difficult times of their lives. We’re proud to have helped 157 kids this past year, and hundreds more over the past 25 years.”
To volunteer, you must be 21 years or older, and be able to pass a background check. The only requirement otherwise is to be someone who is compassionate and ready to help. To sign up, or learn more about the program, visit CGCASA.org.
This past summer, Central Georgia CASA was one of 25 recipients of the first round of Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) grants. It received $25,000 to recruit, train, and support more volunteers for children 12 years of age and older.
About the Macon Violence Prevention Grants
More than $800,000 is being given to 25 nonprofit and faith-based organizations to put in place programs and efforts to reduce violent crime; each goal they are trying to meet was made by the nearly 2,000 people through forums and surveys on what our neighborhoods need. Those outcomes are outlined in the MVP Strategic Plan, and the full list of organizations and programs can be found by clicking here.
“The solution to violent crime in our community will be found in all of us working together on the same team,” explained Mayor Lester Miller. “The fact that more than 50 organizations came to the table with good ideas and applied for MVP grants shows that the people of our community are committed to this historic effort. If we continue to work together, we will create a safer, stronger community now and for future generations.”
Macon Violence Prevention is an evidence-based, multifaceted program created to address public safety in Macon-Bibb County. Supported and funded by the consolidated government, MVP is a community-wide effort that brings together elected officials, community leaders, agencies, organizations, and departments.
The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, which was introduced in June of 2021. Created by community stakeholders and violent crime experts, this strategic plan combines data and research with community feedback to implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.