At Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates’ (CASA) annual conference on August 24, the Central Georgia CASA received the Innovative Program Award of Excellence, the first time it’s received a statewide award.  

“This award is huge for us. It’s a recognition of our team’s years of hard work and dedication to serve more and more children experiencing foster care in our community,” says Susanna Patterson, Executive Director of Central Georgia CASA. 

“We’re so proud of the work Central Georgia CASA is doing to make sure the children who need us the most have someone looking out for their best interests, someone who can take up their cause and be their champion,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “Our thanks to the staff and volunteers for pushing to get more people involved and being part of our team.” 

According to Georgia CASA, the award was given because of the strategies Central Georgia CASA used to increase the number of children service from fewer than 10 in 2013 to 150 by early 2024. That number has now increased to nearly 200 children. During that time, Central Georgia CASA used social media campaigns, community outreach, and partnerships to not only attract new volunteers, but retain them over time. 

“With more volunteers, more children and families can receive individual attention and advocacy, and that means they receive more services, perform better in school, and are more likely to achieve lasting permanency,” adds Patterson. “Having a larger volunteer base also increased community awareness around foster care and the underlying issues that cause children to enter care.” 

Georgia CASA praised the organization for working closely with DFCS personnel across the counties it serves, partnering with the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and Mercer Law School, and becoming part of the Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) program. 

In its news release announcing the award, Georgia CASA wrote, “Volunteers and staff at Central Georgia CASA are known for their creativity and dedication, often going above and beyond to ensure each child’s needs are met, from organizing educational support to advocating for mental health services, showcasing their commitment to comprehensive child welfare.” 

“Ultimately, this is about giving more children a brighter future, and with the support of Mayor Miller, the Community Foundation, and Macon Violence Prevention program, we are able to do just that,” says Patterson. “Children paired with an advocate that cares for them do better in school, have better home stability, and are better behaved in and out of school.” 

“It’s because so many people and organizations have gotten involved in Macon Violence Prevention that we had a 43% drop in the overall homicide rate and 67% among teenagers in one year,” adds Mayor Miller. “It’s the love of this community...the love of families...and the love of seeing children succeed now and in the future that is making the difference in our neighborhoods.” 

There is a new group of volunteers participating in the required training that has just started, and there is still time to sign up to become one. To sign up to be a volunteer, contact Beth Morris at [email protected]. You can also visit https://www.cgcasa.org/volunteer/apply-now/ to apply.