Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc

ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES, INC.'S MISSION: TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND SUPERVISE COURT APPOINTED VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST INTEREST, SAFETY AND PERMANENT PLACEMENT OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024, ATLANTA CASA ACCOMPLISHED THIS TASK THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ATLANTA CASA) ADVOCACYI.ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ATLANTA CASA) ADVOCACY(I) DIRECT SERVICE ADVOCACY (DSA) IS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF THE ATLANTA CASA PROGRAM. DSA IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ARE PROPERLY ADDRESSED. ADVOCATES ARE TRAINED TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS, IMPEDIMENTS TO EDUCATION SUCH AS LEARNING DISABILITIES, MISDIAGNOSIS, AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS. ADVOCATES ARE TRAINED IN THE FEDERAL LAWS IMPACTING CHILDRENS EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND SERVICES. ADVOCATES PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS AND COURT HEARINGS ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS NECESSARY TO PRODUCE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN. (II) THE FAMILY DEPENDENCY TREATMENT COURT (FTDC) IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE FULTON COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE PARENT ATTORNEY, THE CHILD ATTORNEY, ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ATLANTA CASA), AND NUMEROUS TREATMENT PROVIDERS. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND COURT WEEKLY AND ARE SUBJECT TO INTENSIVE SUPERVISION WITH INPUT FROM A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS LED BY THE JUDGE. THE TEAM WORKS TOGETHER TO TREAT THE PARENTS DISEASE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE WHILE ADDRESSING THE RESULTING PARENTING DEFICIT. THIS INTERVENTION MODEL HAS RESULTED IN THE PRESERVATION OR REUNIFICATION OF FAMILIES AND ENHANCED PERMANENCY IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WHILE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING DISEASE OF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY OF THE PARENTS. II.ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ATLANTA CASA) RECRUITMENTVOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ONGOING VIABILITY OF ATLANTA CASA. RECRUITING EFFORTS REQUIRE ANALYSIS OF PREVIOUS RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT RECRUITMENT NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION. RECRUITING IS A COMBINED EFFORT OF BOARD MEMBERS, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, STAFF, ADVOCATES, AND OTHER ATLANTA CASA STAKEHOLDERS. IN RECRUITING, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH DECISION-MAKERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO POTENTIAL ADVOCATES. CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES ENSURE ATLANTA CASA IS RETAINING ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS TO FULFILL THEIR 18-MONTH COMMITMENT, INTEREST, AND AVAILABILITY REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF AN ATLANTA CASA ADVOCATE. AN INTEGRATED RECRUITMENT AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING CONSISTENT MESSAGES THROUGHOUT ALL OUTREACH CHANNELS.III.ATLANTA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ATLANTA CASA) TRAINING(I) PRE-SERVICE TRAINING IS A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL DESIGNED TO PREPARE ADVOCATE TRAINEES FROM ALL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. THE CURRICULUM, TAUGHT IN NO LESS THAN 40 HOURS, INCLUDES 8 HOURS OF COURT OBSERVATION. THE CURRICULUM TEACHES EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION ADVOCACY, AND FAMILY STRENGTHS TO CULTURAL COMPETENCIES AND WORKING WITH OLDER YOUTH. EACH ASPECT OF THE TRAINING CURRICULUM ENSURES A VOLUNTEER IS EQUIPPED TO MANAGE THEIR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT PREPARATION AFTER BEING SWORN IN AS AN ADVOCATE.(II) IN-SERVICE TRAINING IS A CURRICULUM OFFERED MONTHLY TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THE ADVOCACY APTITUDE OF ADVOCATES. ADVOCATES ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND NO LESS THAN 12 HOURS OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING EACH YEAR AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE. TOPICS VARY AND ARE SELECTED BY NEEDS ASSESSED BY PROGRAM STAFF.