annual report july 1, 2013-‐june 30 th, 2014 · northeast georgia casa july 1, 2013-‐june 30th,...

Northeast Georgia CASA

July 1, 2013-‐June 30th, 2014

Annual Report

Ten Years of Serving Children


July 1, 2013-‐June 30th, 2014

Annual Report



July 1st, 2013 -‐ June 30th, 2014

Annual Report


1


Our Vision

“Every child in our service area who has been identified by the Juvenile Courts as having

been abused or neglected will reside in a safe, secure home.”

Our Mission

“The mission of Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is to provide training, supervision and resources for volunteers to

advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children.”

3

• McDonald, Lauren • Melton, Eston & Peggy • Mickel, Laura

• Miller, David & Deenie • Mixon, Matt • Mixon, Michael

• Mobley, Charles • Molnar, Jack & Kathy • Morales, Estela

• Morris, Jerry & Beth • Mount Carmel Baptist Church • Nicholson, Bruce & Brenda

• North Georgia Credit Union • North Georgia Orthopedics • Northcutt, Elwin & Bette

• Northeast Georgia Physicians Group

• Oliver & Weidner, LLC, Attorneys at Law

• Olson, Jim & Priscilla

• Orchard Links Fellowship • Pinnacle Bank • Plaisted, David & Melissa

• Plutt, Bill & Anne • Pratt, Pat • Procko, Mary Ellen

• PTI Pharma Tech Industries • Raeber, Steve and Carol • Ragsdale, Bob & Eleanor

• Ray, JoAlice • Reeves Hardware • Roberts Pest Control, Inc.

• Robinson, Donald & Celia • Roper, Byard • Ross, Judith

• Rothberg, Robert & Bobbie • Sanders Janney & Cynthia • Sanders Stuart & Lynne

• Schad, Deidra • Schad, Jim • Schweizer, Louis

• Scott, Mark & Joni • Shoemaker, Rita • Sigler, Larry & Juanita

• Simon, Alexander • Smith Plumbing & Electrical, Inc. • Smitty’s Spirits

• Southern Bank & Trust • Stevens, WC & AM • Strickland, David

• Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church

• The Attic • Threlkeld, Jim & Beth

• Toccoa Clinic Medical Associates • Trepte, Bernard & Shirley • Tri-‐State Distributers, Inc.

• Tugalo Gas Company • Turner, Sylvia • United Community Bank

• Verdino, Gary & Donna • VFW 4828 Royston • White, Jerry & Cindy

• White, Alan & Lynda • Whitt, Dennis & Julie • Wilks, Steve

• Wilson, Bill & Beverly • Wilson, Richard & Phylecia

In Honor or Memory:

• Joel, Casper & Elizabeth Becker *Carboy, Jim & Beth

• Bob Wells & Ruth West *Ezzard, John and Felker, Rebecca

• Carl & Carla Fackler * Melton, Eston

• Brent Lovern * Lovern, Kay

• John McFerrin * McFerrin, Jane

• Margaret Telford *McFry, Delena

• Wayne Miller * Miller, Wanda

• Jack & Susan Moore * Lionberger, Sid & Little

• Bill & Anne Plutt *Morris, Ray & Joyce

• David Newey * Newey, Thomas

• Jeremy Williams *Rutherford, Kirby & Beth

• Gregory F. Smith & Stephen Blake Smith

* Smith-‐Patrick, Susan

• Dr. Steve Thurmond & Mrs. Gwen Thurmond

*Walker, Peggy

• Carl & Gale Shaw *Clarke, James & Carolyn

Our Board Members:

• John Brown • Sandra Culpepper/Vice Chairman • Al Greene

• Eston Melton/Treasurer • Leon Osborne • Tom Randle

• Sam Skelton • Alan White • Ginger Herring

• Pat McCollum • Rita Shoemaker • Susan Smith-‐Patrick/Chair

• Debby Harbin/Secretary • Denny Webb • Laura Mickel

• Bill Gaik/Honorary Board Member for Life

I have had the opportunity this year to serve as Chair of the Northeast Georgia CASA Board and as a CASA involved with three different families. Throughout the year I have been in awe of how tirelessly our wonderful officers and volunteers have undertaken the work they have volunteered to do. They have lovingly and wisely developed and implemented solutions for those children who rely on us speak up for them and to tell the court what they need while they are in foster care.

In one of my cases this year there were two boys, ages 7 and 9, who traveled with their mentally ill mother from Florida by hitchhiking to North Georgia. All three were discovered cold, wet and afraid a few days before Christmas. The boys were taken to a foster home and their mother to a mental health facility. On the surface, one might think that there was no way that this story could have a happy ending, but that is not the case. The boys were placed in a wonderful, loving foster home and I was appointed as their CASA. Each time I met with the boys and would ask them if there was anything that they wanted me to tell the judge; it was always, “I want to live with my mama”. It took many months, but because of the efforts of so many to work with this family, the boys’ wishes did come true.

I wish to express my admiration and thanks to those who serve so faithfully for the children in our area. The gift of our time is one of the most precious gifts that we can give these children. To serve alongside them is one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Susan Smith-‐Patrick

Susan Smith-‐Patrick CASA Volunteer Board Chair FY 2014

4

11

Stephanie Astalos-‐Jones, Northeast Georgia CASA 2013/2014 Volunteer of the Year and Karen N. Sibling Volunteer of the Year Nominee, has been a CASA volunteer, along with her husband Mike, since May, 2010! Together they have served six children from three different counties.

Northeast Georgia CASAwas the recipient of an

“Award of Excellence”from Georgia CASA.

Sparks of Hope:

• Acree Davis Funeral Home • Affordable Insurance • Ames, Richard & Mary Ann

• Anderson, Harry & Sallye • Asbill, Rick & Lyn • Athens First Bank & Trust

• BASF Corporation • Bethel, Elizabeth • Blake, Stephen & Sandra

• Bomar, Bill & Jan • Brown, Joany • Brown, Ken & Carol

• Burch, Crooms & Company, LLP • Burton, Alan & Jennifer • Burton, Ed

• Campbell, Sterrett & Janet • Castleberry, Clay & Becky • Cawthon and Company

• Chambers, Al & Peggy • Chatham, Howard & Julia • Childs, Ted & Jane

• Clarkesville Drug, Inc. • Cody, Gerald & Britt • Community Thrift Store, Inc.

• Crudo, Joseph & Helen • Daniel, Randy & Ruth • Deloatche, Brantley & Helen

• Dillard, Shirley • Dinkins, Joe & Linda • Donahue, Gary

• Donaldson, John & Mary • Dyer, Herman & Betty Jane • Eagar, Bob & Betsy

• Econolodge Sleep Inn • Edward Jones • Edwards, DeLois

• Elfenbein, Pamela H. • Eubank, Harden & Michele • Evans, Tom & Tina

• Farm Supply of Cornelia, Inc. • Ferguson, Joe & Elaine • First American Bank and Trust

• First Baptist Church of Lavonia, The New Journey Class

• First Presbyterian Church • First United Methodist Church

• Flury, Carl & Millie • Forbes, Frank & Luba • Frank, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry

• Franklin, Sherry • Glenn, Alice • Green Biff & Cynthia

• Green, Barbara • Greene, Al & Gail • Grice, Crawford & Katherine

• Guimond, Roger & Debbie • Gunn, Reginald & Mary Lu • Habersham Electric Membership Corporation

• Habersham Villa, Inc. • Hall, Stephen & Roxanne • Harbin, Barron & Debby

• Harbin Lumber Company, Inc. • Harper, Clyde & Murian • Harris, David & Jina

• Hatcher, Margaret • Hawkins, Dave & Robin • Henderson, Debra

• Hornsby, Bill & JoAnn • Horton, Scott & Taffy • Johns, Jim & Barbara

• Johnson, Jim & Carol • Keller, Dan & Kathy • Kibler, Madge

• Lance , Gary • Lawson, Allan & Janet • Learning Tree Academy

• Leggett, Loran • Leslie, Herb & Ferris • Lionberger, Sid & Little

• Luke, Joe & Angela • Mann, Tom • McCollum, Dan & Pat

Over the last ten years Northeast Georgia CASA has had the privilege of serving 934 children. We were able to do this with the help of strong board members, generous donors, great judicial and community support, competent and caring staff members and, most importantly, committed and passionate CASA volunteers! This has been a year of recognizing and honoring our program and the people who have ensured that children in foster care in Northeast Georgia have a strong voice speaking up for their needs and best interests, while continuing to meet the ever changing challenges of providing strong advocacy for these children.

We celebrated our anniversary by conducting a unique Champions for Children volunteer appreciation event on April 10th. With special jazz music from Milkshake Mayfield and his

Quintet we enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere and honored our all CASA volunteers, board members and donors. Our very special ten minute anniversary DVD, which we created in partnership with LifeSprings to highlight our program, was premiered. And Duaine Hathaway, Georgia CASA Executive Director, and Diane Scoggins, Georgia CASA Board Member and Appalachian CASA Executive Director, presented our entire program with an Award of Excellence from Georgia CASA!

In September our Friends of CASA Campaign Kick Off was conducted with the Rabun County Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. Donors were asked to increase their pledges by 10% in honor of our ten year anniversary. We ended the year securing 25 new Friends of CASA donors and exceeding our Friends of CASA budgetary goal of $38,000 by $2,600. November 16th was our second annual Superhero Run at Tugaloo State Park. We doubled our net income from the previous year and a great time was had by all! And our previous year’s hard work resulted in regular Victim Assistance fund distributions from the Northern Judicial Circuit. Our annual Tee Off for CASA golf tournament was once again a success thanks to the huge support from many, many Orchard members.

Throughout the year our staff and CASA volunteers worked hard to improve the quality of our advocacy to the children. Seventeen new CASA volunteers were trained and 241 children were served by 78 CASA volunteers. Regular lunch-‐n-‐learns, DFCS/CASA get togethers, and a half dozen in-‐service trainings were offered to our volunteers. At the beginning of the calendar year staff juggled to assign an especially high influx of new children being referred to us, all while learning and helping our CASA volunteers navigate the challenges of an entirely new Juvenile Code in Georgia. As anticipated, the new law resulted in a heightened importance of the CASA role, and also increased the amount of time spent in court with more court hearings required and more attorneys involved. Throughout all this a new case management software system, CASA Manager, was implemented in the office.

We continue to celebrate our program’s achievements and work hard to fulfill society’s most fundamental obligation by making sure a qualified, compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family. Thanks to each of you who have supported Northeast Georgia CASA through the gifts of your time, treasure and talents!

Sincerely,

Melissa Mitchell

Melissa Mitchell Executive Director

5

Protectors of the Family:

• Culpepper, Mike & Sandra • United Way of Northeast Georgia

• Gaik, Bill & Carolyn • Groover, Charles & Jacqueline

• Mutton, Frank & Martha • Episcopal Charities Foundation

Advocates for the Innocent:

• Amerigroup • 1st Franklin Financial • Arrendale, Gus

• Herring, Kip & Ginger • KES Group, LLC. • Telford, Gordon

• Mueller & Associates, LLC. • Osborne Wood Products, Inc. • Paulson, Sue

• St. James Episcopal Church • Lake Rabun Foundation Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation

• Hester, Laila (In memory of Carrie)

12

Thank you to our Donors!

Champions for Children:

• Georgia CASA • Habersham County Commissioners

• PayCo Inc.

• Rabun County Commissioners

• Stephens County Commissioners

• US Department of Human Resources-‐PSSF

• United Way of Habersham County

• Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council-‐VOCA

• Northern Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Funds











12




• PayCo Inc.

















12




• PayCo Inc.

















12




• PayCo Inc.







15

In Honor or Memory:















*Walker, Peggy


241 Children were served between July 1, 2013 and June 30th, 2014

Ages & Gender

Placement of Children upon Case Closure

Reunification with Family from whomremoved (50%)

Guardianship/Long term custody withRelatives (32%)

Adoption (12%)

Other- long term foster care/child agedout (6%)

6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137

11


Stephanie Astalos-Jones has been a CASA volunteer, along with her husband Mike, since May, 2010. Together they have served six children from three different counties. Stephanie represents the spirit of true advocacy. Service providers, therapists, medical doctors, as well as residential and department staff welcome Stephanie to be an integral part of discussions regarding the child. She has broken through barriers with more difficult DFCS staff, even receiving appreciation and compliments from them for her work as a child’s advocate. Stephanie exemplifies high standards in her role as volunteer advocate through her persistence and dedication. Often she takes the cases deemed most difficult, no matter how far away the child is placed.

Stephanie worked diligently to find therapy for a girl in need of intensive treatment, coordinating Medicaid between two different states. With her encouragement, a teenage boy obtained his GED, and Stephanie assisted him in completing paperwork for financial aid to attend technical college. She was also instrumental in communicating with the school about a fifteen year old boy receiving tutoring and staying in football. Most recently she advocated for a severely traumatized 13 year old girl in a residential treatment facility abandoned by her adoptive family. This little girl celebrated her birthday in a basement room at the facility in which she is placed, with only Stephanie there to sing to her and teach her how to blow out the candles on the cake that Stephanie brought. However, this picture is not uncommon for Stephanie. Often she brings a ray of happiness to the children she serves. Stephanie connects with children through her creative gifts and talents. Whether it entails drawing, painting, baking, writing poetry or rap songs, Stephanie learns how to reach the heart of each child uniquely. Stephanie lives in Madison County and, when not working hard for the children she is appointed to represent, she is an artist and actress. The words that best describe Stephanie are “Passionate Champion for Children”!

11


11


Ethnicity

Children Served by County

Types of Dependency our Children Experience

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

Ethnicity



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

Ethnicity



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

10

10

10

10

10

10

8

CASA Volunteers assigned to children during the year

9

Peggy Alexander Stephanie Astalos-‐Jones Shirley Atkinson

Larry Bailey Vickie Baskins Cheryl Betts

Cassandra Brock Deborah Burdette Janet Campbell

Anne Carrigan Jim Carrigan Geraldine Chalk

David Cornelius Jodi Cronic Nathan Cross

Suzanne Crowe Ruth Daniel Gaylene Dawson

Shirley Dillard Dorothy Dougherty Martha Anne Dunagan

Betsy Eagar Eve Erwin Janet Gonzales

Arthur Gotts Jean Gotts Nancy Granzin

Carol Gregg Wanda Griffey Marla Hall

Judy Harmon Robin Hawkins Debra Henderson

Louise Higgins Wanda Jackson Susan Johnston

Mike Jones Brenda Kelley Donna Kelley

Doug Kennedy Angela Kerr Dorothy King

Judy Labrozzi Patrice Luke Tori Lawson

Pamela Martindale Carol Maxwell Pat McCollum

Jane McFerrin Delena McFry Susan Millwood

Beth Morris Karen Nasworthy Bob O’Neill

Mary O’Neill Sharon Parten Genia Pittman

Ginger Pitts Martin Platzer Tonya Powers

Eleanor Ragsdale Jane Randall Tom Randle

Barbara Rice Patti Roach Barbara Setchel

David Setchel Jennifer Schumaker Susan Smith-‐Patrick

Jeff Sprinkle Beth Threlkeld Jessica Tumbeiro

Diane Wampole Dennis Webb Vickie Whitworth

Rebecca Williams Robert Willis Casey Wilson

Ethnicity



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

Ethnicity



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

Ethnicity



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7

African American 36

Caucasian 191

Hispanic/Latino 14

Elbert 27

Franklin 38

Habersham 30

Hart 53

Madison 19

Oglethorpe 5

Rabun 36

Stephens 33

TOTAL 241

10

10

10

10

10

10


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137


Ages & Gender




Adoption (12%)


6

Age Female Male

<1-‐5 years old 50 69

6-‐11 years old 21 42

12-‐15 years old 15 17

16-‐18 years old 18 9

TOTAL 104 137

11


Stephanie Astalos-Jones has been a CASA volunteer, along with her husband Mike, since May, 2010. Together they have served six children from three different counties. Stephanie represents the spirit of true advocacy. Service providers, therapists, medical doctors, as well as residential and department staff welcome Stephanie to be an integral part of discussions regarding the child. She has broken through barriers with more difficult DFCS staff, even receiving appreciation and compliments from them for her work as a child’s advocate. Stephanie exemplifies high standards in her role as volunteer advocate through her persistence and dedication. Often she takes the cases deemed most difficult, no matter how far away the child is placed.

Stephanie worked diligently to find therapy for a girl in need of intensive treatment, coordinating Medicaid between two different states. With her encouragement, a teenage boy obtained his GED, and Stephanie assisted him in completing paperwork for financial aid to attend technical college. She was also instrumental in communicating with the school about a fifteen year old boy receiving tutoring and staying in football. Most recently she advocated for a severely traumatized 13 year old girl in a residential treatment facility abandoned by her adoptive family. This little girl celebrated her birthday in a basement room at the facility in which she is placed, with only Stephanie there to sing to her and teach her how to blow out the candles on the cake that Stephanie brought. However, this picture is not uncommon for Stephanie. Often she brings a ray of happiness to the children she serves. Stephanie connects with children through her creative gifts and talents. Whether it entails drawing, painting, baking, writing poetry or rap songs, Stephanie learns how to reach the heart of each child uniquely. Stephanie lives in Madison County and, when not working hard for the children she is appointed to represent, she is an artist and actress. The words that best describe Stephanie are “Passionate Champion for Children”!

11


11


Over the last ten years Northeast Georgia CASA has had the privilege of serving 934 children. We were able to do this with the help of strong board members, generous donors, great judicial and community support, competent and caring staff members and, most importantly, committed and passionate CASA volunteers! This has been a year of recognizing and honoring our program and the people who have ensured that children in foster care in Northeast Georgia have a strong voice speaking up for their needs and best interests, while continuing to meet the ever changing challenges of providing strong advocacy for these children.

We celebrated our anniversary by conducting a unique Champions for Children volunteer appreciation event on April 10th. With special jazz music from Milkshake Mayfield and his

Quintet we enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere and honored our all CASA volunteers, board members and donors. Our very special ten minute anniversary DVD, which we created in partnership with LifeSprings to highlight our program, was premiered. And Duaine Hathaway, Georgia CASA Executive Director, and Diane Scoggins, Georgia CASA Board Member and Appalachian CASA Executive Director, presented our entire program with an Award of Excellence from Georgia CASA!

In September our Friends of CASA Campaign Kick Off was conducted with the Rabun County Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. Donors were asked to increase their pledges by 10% in honor of our ten year anniversary. We ended the year securing 25 new Friends of CASA donors and exceeding our Friends of CASA budgetary goal of $38,000 by $2,600. November 16th was our second annual Superhero Run at Tugaloo State Park. We doubled our net income from the previous year and a great time was had by all! And our previous year’s hard work resulted in regular Victim Assistance fund distributions from the Northern Judicial Circuit. Our annual Tee Off for CASA golf tournament was once again a success thanks to the huge support from many, many Orchard members.

Throughout the year our staff and CASA volunteers worked hard to improve the quality of our advocacy to the children. Seventeen new CASA volunteers were trained and 241 children were served by 78 CASA volunteers. Regular lunch-‐n-‐learns, DFCS/CASA get togethers, and a half dozen in-‐service trainings were offered to our volunteers. At the beginning of the calendar year staff juggled to assign an especially high influx of new children being referred to us, all while learning and helping our CASA volunteers navigate the challenges of an entirely new Juvenile Code in Georgia. As anticipated, the new law resulted in a heightened importance of the CASA role, and also increased the amount of time spent in court with more court hearings required and more attorneys involved. Throughout all this a new case management software system, CASA Manager, was implemented in the office.

We continue to celebrate our program’s achievements and work hard to fulfill society’s most fundamental obligation by making sure a qualified, compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family. Thanks to each of you who have supported Northeast Georgia CASA through the gifts of your time, treasure and talents!

Sincerely,

Melissa Mitchell

Melissa Mitchell Executive Director

5











12




• PayCo Inc.

















12




• PayCo Inc.

















12




• PayCo Inc.

















12




• PayCo Inc.







15

In Honor or Memory:















*Walker, Peggy


I have had the opportunity this year to serve as Chair of the Northeast Georgia CASA Board and as a CASA involved with three different families. Throughout the year I have been in awe of how tirelessly our wonderful officers and volunteers have undertaken the work they have volunteered to do. They have lovingly and wisely developed and implemented solutions for those children who rely on us speak up for them and to tell the court what they need while they are in foster care.

In one of my cases this year there were two boys, ages 7 and 9, who traveled with their mentally ill mother from Florida by hitchhiking to North Georgia. All three were discovered cold, wet and afraid a few days before Christmas. The boys were taken to a foster home and their mother to a mental health facility. On the surface, one might think that there was no way that this story could have a happy ending, but that is not the case. The boys were placed in a wonderful, loving foster home and I was appointed as their CASA. Each time I met with the boys and would ask them if there was anything that they wanted me to tell the judge; it was always, “I want to live with my mama”. It took many months, but because of the efforts of so many to work with this family, the boys’ wishes did come true.

I wish to express my admiration and thanks to those who serve so faithfully for the children in our area. The gift of our time is one of the most precious gifts that we can give these children. To serve alongside them is one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Susan Smith-‐Patrick

Susan Smith-‐Patrick CASA Volunteer Board Chair FY 2014

4

11


Northeast Georgia CASAwas the recipient of an

“Award of Excellence”from Georgia CASA.

Sparks of Hope:

• Acree Davis Funeral Home • Affordable Insurance • Ames, Richard & Mary Ann

• Anderson, Harry & Sallye • Asbill, Rick & Lyn • Athens First Bank & Trust

• BASF Corporation • Bethel, Elizabeth • Blake, Stephen & Sandra

• Bomar, Bill & Jan • Brown, Joany • Brown, Ken & Carol

• Burch, Crooms & Company, LLP • Burton, Alan & Jennifer • Burton, Ed

• Campbell, Sterrett & Janet • Castleberry, Clay & Becky • Cawthon and Company

• Chambers, Al & Peggy • Chatham, Howard & Julia • Childs, Ted & Jane

• Clarkesville Drug, Inc. • Cody, Gerald & Britt • Community Thrift Store, Inc.

• Crudo, Joseph & Helen • Daniel, Randy & Ruth • Deloatche, Brantley & Helen

• Dillard, Shirley • Dinkins, Joe & Linda • Donahue, Gary

• Donaldson, John & Mary • Dyer, Herman & Betty Jane • Eagar, Bob & Betsy

• Econolodge Sleep Inn • Edward Jones • Edwards, DeLois

• Elfenbein, Pamela H. • Eubank, Harden & Michele • Evans, Tom & Tina

• Farm Supply of Cornelia, Inc. • Ferguson, Joe & Elaine • First American Bank and Trust

• First Baptist Church of Lavonia, The New Journey Class

• First Presbyterian Church • First United Methodist Church

• Flury, Carl & Millie • Forbes, Frank & Luba • Frank, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry

• Franklin, Sherry • Glenn, Alice • Green Biff & Cynthia

• Green, Barbara • Greene, Al & Gail • Grice, Crawford & Katherine

• Guimond, Roger & Debbie • Gunn, Reginald & Mary Lu • Habersham Electric Membership Corporation

• Habersham Villa, Inc. • Hall, Stephen & Roxanne • Harbin, Barron & Debby

• Harbin Lumber Company, Inc. • Harper, Clyde & Murian • Harris, David & Jina

• Hatcher, Margaret • Hawkins, Dave & Robin • Henderson, Debra

• Hornsby, Bill & JoAnn • Horton, Scott & Taffy • Johns, Jim & Barbara

• Johnson, Jim & Carol • Keller, Dan & Kathy • Kibler, Madge

• Lance , Gary • Lawson, Allan & Janet • Learning Tree Academy

• Leggett, Loran • Leslie, Herb & Ferris • Lionberger, Sid & Little

• Luke, Joe & Angela • Mann, Tom • McCollum, Dan & Pat


Our Vision

“Every child in our service area who has been identified by the Juvenile Courts as having

been abused or neglected will reside in a safe, secure home.”

Our Mission

“The mission of Northeast Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is to provide training, supervision and resources for volunteers to

advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children.”

3

• McDonald, Lauren • Melton, Eston & Peggy • Mickel, Laura

• Miller, David & Deenie • Mixon, Matt • Mixon, Michael

• Mobley, Charles • Molnar, Jack & Kathy • Morales, Estela

• Morris, Jerry & Beth • Mount Carmel Baptist Church • Nicholson, Bruce & Brenda

• North Georgia Credit Union • North Georgia Orthopedics • Northcutt, Elwin & Bette

• Northeast Georgia Physicians Group

• Oliver & Weidner, LLC, Attorneys at Law

• Olson, Jim & Priscilla

• Orchard Links Fellowship • Pinnacle Bank • Plaisted, David & Melissa

• Plutt, Bill & Anne • Pratt, Pat • Procko, Mary Ellen

• PTI Pharma Tech Industries • Raeber, Steve and Carol • Ragsdale, Bob & Eleanor

• Ray, JoAlice • Reeves Hardware • Roberts Pest Control, Inc.

• Robinson, Donald & Celia • Roper, Byard • Ross, Judith

• Rothberg, Robert & Bobbie • Sanders Janney & Cynthia • Sanders Stuart & Lynne

• Schad, Deidra • Schad, Jim • Schweizer, Louis

• Scott, Mark & Joni • Shoemaker, Rita • Sigler, Larry & Juanita

• Simon, Alexander • Smith Plumbing & Electrical, Inc. • Smitty’s Spirits

• Southern Bank & Trust • Stevens, WC & AM • Strickland, David

• Tallulah Falls United Methodist Church

• The Attic • Threlkeld, Jim & Beth

• Toccoa Clinic Medical Associates • Trepte, Bernard & Shirley • Tri-‐State Distributers, Inc.

• Tugalo Gas Company • Turner, Sylvia • United Community Bank

• Verdino, Gary & Donna • VFW 4828 Royston • White, Jerry & Cindy

• White, Alan & Lynda • Whitt, Dennis & Julie • Wilks, Steve

• Wilson, Bill & Beverly • Wilson, Richard & Phylecia

In Honor or Memory:















*Walker, Peggy


Our Board Members:







In Honor or Memory:

• Joel, Casper & Elizabeth Becker * Carboy, Jim & Beth

• Bob Wells & Ruth West * Ezzard, John & Felker, Rebecca




• Margaret Telford * McFry, Delena



• Bill & Anne Plutt * Morris, Ray & Joyce


• Jeremy Williams * Rutherford, Kirby & Beth

• Carl & Gale Shaw * Clarke, James & Carolyn

• Dr. & Mrs. Steve Thurmond * Walker, Peggy

• Gregory F. & Stephen Blake Smith * Smith-‐Patrick, Susan

Our Board Members:







Our Staff Members: • Melissa Mitchell-‐ Executive Director • Susan Harris-‐ Volunteer Coordinator

• Keyla Stephens-‐ Volunteer Coordinator • Brenda Nicholson-‐ Training & Development Coordinator

• Rachelle Cross-‐ Administrative Assistant

In Honor or Memory:















Our Board Members:










In Honor or Memory:















Our Board Members:










In Honor or Memory:















Our Board Members:










16

Our Board Members:







Our Staff Members:

• Melissa Mitchell-‐ Executive Director • Susan Harris-‐ Volunteer Coordinator



In Honor or Memory:















Our Board Members:











annual report july 1, 2013-‐june 30 th, 2014 · northeast georgia casa july 1, 2013-‐june 30th,...

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