ANNUAL  REPORT  

July  1,  2015  –  June  30,  2016    

 

12  Years  of  Serving  Children  

Northeast Georgia CASA

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.”

Our Board is proud once again to present the Annual N.E. Georgia CASA report for the

services provided to our eight counties. The facts and figures contained in the booklet allow the

CASA community to obtain a quick overview of the events of the past year and to assure our

advocates of the extraordinary job being done here. As Board Chairperson this year, I ask that

each of you pay close attention to our list of volunteers and review the number of children

served. Please know that these names and figures represent very real exchanges and

intervention into the lives of children who need this support they may otherwise never have

received. The volunteers and the services to the children are the frontline reason for our

organization.

Finally, please note the listing of those who give their time, talent and donations

including donors, Board members and especially the CASA staff. These are the contacts who truly

understand what CASA does for neglected and abused children. Thanks to all who make up the

organization for it has really been my honor to serve on the CASA Board this past year.

Last year we worked hard to spread the word about CASA and collaborated

extensively with other juvenile court stakeholders, while continuing to focus on providing

quality advocacy for as many children in foster care in our area as possible.

We reached 23 different civic groups, churches and other audiences throughout the year sharing about CASA. Our PR outreach included two local television spots and numerous newspaper articles/editorials. With some unanticipated additional VOCA (Victim of Crime Acts) grant funding we hired a temporary, part-time Recruitment Specialist, Carrie Woodworth. During her few months with us more than 3000 church bulletin inserts were distributed to 19 different churches, posters were widely distributed in all our counties, additional speaking engagements were secured and a library of CASA stories to share was created.

In December, with the departure of Northern Circuit Juvenile Court Judge Christopher NeSmith, our program hosted a farewell reception in his honor. Judge NeSmith was on the bench when our program expanded into the Northern Circuit in 2009. His support and appreciation of our CASAs and their hard work was critical to our successfully serving children in dependency cases in Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison and Oglethorpe counties. With Judge NeSmith’s departure Associate Juvenile Court Judge Warren Caswell became the first full-time Juvenile Court Judge in the Northern Circuit. We appreciate his focus on improving juvenile court processes to better serve the children. In the Mountain Circuit we continue to appreciate the support of the Honorable Robert D. Cullifer and the Honorable B. Nichole Carswell.

In the Mountain Judicial Circuit the Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court took wings since it’s beginning the previous

year. CASA participation, under the leadership of Advocacy Coordinator Susan Harris, in both the cases themselves and the strategic

planning and development of this Court with other Mountain Circuit Juvenile Court Stakeholders has been extensive.

Our National CASA one year grant, which enabled us to hire a 3rd

Volunteer Coordinator came to an end and we were very pleased

to receive additional VOCA funding. Our Board of Directors worked hard to recruit additional board members and lay the ground

work for increasing our sustainable funding to continue supporting three full-time Volunteer Coordinators. Our Friends of CASA

campaign generated nearly $52,000, an increase from the previous year.

Our CASA volunteers continued to advocate strongly for the children. We swore in 17 new CASA volunteers as a result of

three pre-service training classes and hosted 8 in-service opportunities and 20 lunch-n-learn networking sessions. Both staff and

volunteers participated in CASA Day at the Capitol and the Georgia CASA state conference. In April we tried a new venue and time

for appreciating our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation week; a luncheon at the private Currahee Club in Stephens County.

As we begin our 13th

year of serving children in foster care in Northeast Georgia I am thankful for our judges, partners in juvenile

court, all our past and current donors, our dedicated board members, experienced and committed staff members, and our

passionate, hardworking CASA volunteers!

Sincerely,

Melissa Mitchell

Executive Director

Northeast Georgia CASA

252 Children were served between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016

Ages & Gender

PlPPle

Age Female Male

1-5 years old 50 63

6-11 years old 40 43

12-15 years old 13 13

16-18+ years 17 13

TOTAL 120 132

41%

24%

24%

11% Reunification

Adoption

Guardianship/long termcustody with relative

Other-long term fostercare/child aged out

Placement of Children upon Case Closure

Types of Dependency & Challenges our Children Experience

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Abandonment

Domestic Violence

Emotional Abuse

Medical Neglect

Parent Incarceration

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Parental Substance Abuse

Other Neglect

Elbert 27

Franklin 42

Habersham 32

Hart 33

Madison 39

Oglethorpe 17

Rabun 29

Stephens 33

TOTAL 252

Children Served by County

Ethnicity

African American 39

Caucasian 193

Hispanic/ Latino 17

Asian/ Pacific Islander 3

MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT CASA. INC

D/B/A NORTHEAST GEORGIA CASA

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

For the Year Ended June 30, 2016

REVENUES, GAINS AND OTHER SUPORT: State, Federal and Local Assistance

$215,159.00 Donations-Unrestricted

$57,427.00

United Way

$10,322.00 Fund Raiser

$29,591.00

TOTAL REVENUE, GAIN AND SUPPORT

$312,499.00

EXPENSES Salaries

$190,411.00 Volunteer Recognition

$8,731.00

Payroll Taxes

$14,093.00 Staff Benefits

$28,465.00

Rent

$7,800.00 Utilities

$5,460.00

Supplies

$6,262.00 Printing and Publication

$656.00

Postage

$1,391.00 Fund Raising

$11,352.00

Travel and Training

$13,221.00 Legal and Accounting

$1,800.00

Repairs and Maintenance

$464.00 Other Expenses

$2,041.00

Insurance

$3,784.00 TOTAL EXPENSES

$295,931.00

Revenues Over Expenditures

$16,568.00

Interest Income

$989.00

Change in Net Assets

$17,557.00

Net Assets July 1, 2015

$147,298.00

Net Assets June 30, 2016

$164,855.00

CASA Volunteers Assigned to Children During Year

Stephanie Astalos-Jones Cheryl Harris Karen Nasworthy

Shirley Atkinson Robert Harrison Kristin Nix

Larry Bailey Tina Harrison Mary O'Neill

Melissa Ball Melissa Hatchett Robert O'Neill

Vickie Baskins Robin Hawkins Janice Parker

Gloria Bona Patricia Hussey Sheree' Parrish

Cassandra Brock Kristen Jackson Sharon Parten

Janet Campbell Susan Johnston Genia Pittman

Anne Carrigan Brenda Kelley Ginger Pitts

Jim Carrigan Donna Kelley Marti Platzer

Geraldine Chalk Doug Kennedy Eleanor Ragsdale

David Cornelius Sheila Kesler Tom Randle

Kathy Cothran Dorothy King Carrie Redman

Jodi Cronic Kate Kirby Patti Roach

Nathaniel Cross Diane Lamb Ginger Rollins

Ruth Daniel Ann Leonard Barbara Setchel

Shirley Dillard Shevella Lucas-Freeman David Setchel

Dennis Dodge Ann Lumley Robert Simons

Sara Dodge Jim Martindale Susan Smith-Patrick

Kathy Dugas Pamela Martindale Carol Von Nessen

Martha Anne Dunagan Carol Maxwell Diane Wampole

Brenda Earley Pat McCollum Dennis Webb

Christi Fordyce Jane McFerrin Betty Wilkes

Deborah Gero Delena McFry Rebecca Williams

Wanda Griffey Susan Millwood Robert Willis

Anny Griffin Beth Morris

Michelle Halpern Cathi Mowen

Northeast Georgia CASA Volunteer of the Year

Pamela Martindale

Pamela Martindale has been a volunteer in good standing with

Northeast Georgia CASA since October 2011, exactly four years.

During her four-year tenure, she has served eleven cases

encompassing twenty children. Pamela is a wonderful collaborator

and has worked with various school systems, medical professionals,

counselors and therapists. Her court reports are stellar and have been

praised by our Judges and our Departments of Children and Family

Services alike for her strong child-focused recommendations and

thorough investigation. Pamela takes time with the children she serves

to develop a good rapport and makes herself available to them, despite the child(ren) being placed several

hours away. One of Pamela’s first few cases involved a 9-year old boy with severe autism. This child was

extremely change-resistant and averse to touch. Communication was difficult but Pamela persevered and

visited frequently so the child became familiar with her. Due to her efforts, the child began speaking to her at

visits. The child’s autism, lack of potty training and severe behavior issues caused him to be moved multiple

times getting further away from Pamela each time. However, at each move, Pamela visited quickly to reassure

him and encourage him. Pam worked with several school systems to ensure his specialized educational needs

were met. She attended multiple Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meetings at his school and advocated

fiercely for this child. Because of her efforts, he was able to attend a special school for autistic children, where

he did well and made significant progress. Pamela always encouraged the child to see his own progress and

instilled a sense of pride in this young boy. Pamela never failed to have current therapeutic and educational

updates for the Court, with reports from the child’s educators and therapists/medical professionals. Pamela’s

persistence in social, medical, psychological and educational areas for this child helped to ensure a successful

reunification between the child and his biological father.

We are proud to have Pamela as our program’s Volunteer of the Year and our Karen N. Sibley Award Nominee

for Georgia.

Thank You to Our Donors!

Champions for Children:

1st Franklin Financial Georgia CASA Payco Inc.

Rabun County Commissioners Northern Judicial CIrcuit Stephens County Commissioners

Habersham County Commissioners United Way of Habersham County US Department of Human Resources- PSSF

Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council- VOCA

Protectors of the Family:

Carolinas Wealth Management Siegal, John Mutton, Frank

Culepper, Mike & Sandra Groover, Charles & Jacqueline Hart EMC Foundation, Inc.

Advocates for the Innocent:

Asbill, Rick & Lynn Battle, Al & Clay Chaddick, Steve & Barbara

Cody, Gerald & Britt Gaik, Bill & Carolyn Georgia Power Foundation

The Allstate Foundation Hester, Laila (In Memory of Carrie)

Plagens, Betty

Harbin Lumber Company, LLC South State Bank Telford, Gordon

Muller & Associates, LLC Lake Rabun Community Association Smitty’s Spirits

Osborn Wood Products, Inc

Beacons of Trust:

Amerigroup Harbin, Barron & Debbie Fritz, Charles & Kristina

Global Tech Henderson, Debbie Johnston, Jack & Susan

KES Group, LLC Martindale, Jim and Pam McFerrin, Jane (In Memory of John McFerrin)

Nasworthy, Karen O’Shields, Karen Randle, Tom & Mary

Simon, Sandy & Collins, Christy St. James Episcopal Church St. Matthias Epicopal Church

Web, Denny White, Alan & Lynda

Sparks of Hope

12 Spies Vineyards Cossart, John Green, Biff & Cynthia

Acree Davis Funeral Home Coughlan, Dot Greene, Al & Gail

Affordable Insurance Daniel, Randy & Ruth Greene, David

Alexander, Roger & Judy Davis, Nancy Grice, Crawford & Katherine

(In Memory of Steve Terrell LeCroy) Deas, Ruddy & Donna Guimond, Roger & Debbie

All Service & Associates Printing Deloatche, Brantley & Helen Gunn, Reginald & Mary Lu

Altholz, Ted & Andrea Dinkins, Joe & Linda Habersham Drug

(In Honor of Al & Clay Battle) Donahue, Gary Habersham EMC

Andrews, Donna Donaldson, John & Mary Harper, Clyde

(In Honor of Jane McFerrin) Eagar, Bob & Betsy Harris, David & Jina

Ayers, Margaret Edens, Al & Kimberly Harrison, Robert

BASF Corporation Edward Jones, Toccoa Hartness Duanne

Bethel, Elizabeth Edwards, DeLois Hatcher, Margaret

Bomar, Bill & Jan Elfenbein, Pamela Hatchett, Missy

Brown, Danny Eubank, Harden & Michele (In Honor of Melissa Mitchell)

Brown, Joany Ezzard, John Hawkins, Dave & Robin

Brown, Ken & Carol Fauss, Margaret Healy, Phil & Betty

Bryant, Patricia (In Honor of Sherri Schad) Hornsby, Bill & JoAnn

Buchanan’s Small Engine Repair Felker, Rebecca Jessup, Bud & Claudia

Burch, Crooms & Company, LLP First Baptist Church of Lavonia,

New Journey Class

Johns, Jim & Barbara

Burton, Ed First Presbyterian Church, Cornelia Johnson, Jim & Carol

Campbell, Janet Flintall, Virginia Jordan, Robert & Geraldine

Carboy, Jim & Beth (In Honor of Rebecca Williams) (In Honor of Royce & Evalyn Carter &

In Honor of Charles & Margaret Carter)

Carter, Charles Flores, Jose & Paige

(In Honor of Geraldine Jordan) Flowers, William & Deborah Joyner, Mike

Chatham, Howard & Julia Floyd, David Keller, Dan & Kathy

Cheek, Ben & Jana Flury, Carl & Millie Kessler, Fred

Cherry, Robert & Pam Fowler, T.A. & Dayle Kibler, Madge

Christ, Alan & Delisa Frank, Jerry Lance, Gary & Judy

Christ, Estelle Frank Worley State Farm Latexco

Church, Sam Glenn, Alice Learning Tree Academy

Clarkesville Drug, Inc. Gnecco, Don & Nancy Line, Robin & Mary

Classic South Properties Grapes & Beans Lionberger, Sid & Little

Clayton Paint & Flooring Center Green, Barbara & Kelly LK&WW Investments

Community Thrift Store, Inc.

Clarkesville

Loftis, Ronnie & Marie

Long, Guy & Nell Pittman, Ricky & Genia Stevens, WC & AM

(In Honor of Jim & Sherri Schad) Plaisted, David & Melissa Stiles, Mavis

Mann, Tom Plutt, Anne Tallulah Falls United Methodist

Church

McCollum, Dan & Pat Pratt, Pat (In Honor of Bill & Anne Plutt)

McCreary, Mary Procko, Mary Ellen The Attic

(In Honor of Sherri Schad) PTI (Pharma Tech Industries) The Gordon Law Firm

Mellichamp, James Raeber, Steve & Carol Thompson, Robert

(In Honor of Jane McFerrin) Ragsdale, Bob & Eleanor Threlkeld, Jim & Beth

Melton, Eston & Peggy Ranck, Brian Toccoa Clinic Medical Associates

Merten, John & Glenda Ray, JoAlice Trepte, Bernard & Shirley

Michels, Vince & Kris Reeves Hardware Tri-State Distributors, Inc.

(In Honor of Jim & Sherri Schad) Roberts, Alan & Joann Tugalo Gas Company

Miller, David Robinson, Don & Celia Turner, Sylvia

Miller, Wayne & Wanda Roper, Byard Turpen, James & Catherine

(In Honor of Wayne) (In Memory of Mrs. Byard Roper) (In Honor of Bill & Anne Plutt)

Mitchell, Melissa Ross, Judith United Community Bank

Molnar, Jack & Kathy Rothberg, Bob & Bobbie Veal, Warner & Ann

Morris, Ray & Joyce (In Memory of Patricia Standard) Verdino, Gary & Donna

Moss, Janice Rowe, Paul & Debbie Vopalensky, Marilyn

Mount Carmel Baptist Church Rutherford, Kirby & Beth Walden, Sandra

Myerholtz, Jimmy & Joyce Sanders, Janney & Cynthia (In Honor of Jim Walden)

Nicholson, Bruce & Brenda Sanders, Stuart & Lynne Wampole, Diane

North Georgia Credit Union Schad, Jim & Sherri White, Jerry & Cindy

Olson, Jim & Priscilla Sewell, Rusty & Linda Whitt, Dennis & Julie

Orchard Links Fellowship Shailer, Harold & Sharon Wilks, Steve

Parrish, Sheree Sigler, Larry & Juanita Williams, Rebecca

Paulsen, Sue Skilling, Matt Wilson, BF & Beverly

(In Honor of Alan White) Southern bank & Trust Wilson, Richard & Phylecia

Perry, Sandra Statham, Linda Yearwood Plumbing

(In Honor of Jim & Sherri Schad) (In Honor of Christi Fordyce)

Piedmont College Stephens County Habitat for

Humanity

Our FY 2016

Board Members:

Al Battle Treasurer

Mike Joyner Betty Plagens

Debby Harbin Secretary

Jane McFerrin Tom Randle Vice Chairman

Missy Hatchett Laura Mickel Amanda Rogers

Debra Henderson Janice Moss Alan White Chair

Bill Gaik Honorary Board Member

For Life

Our FY 2016

Staff Members:

Melissa Mitchell Executive Director

Brenda Nicholson Training & Development

Coordinator

Susan Harris Volunteer Coordinator

Kim Ball Volunteer Coordinator

Keyla Stephens Volunteer Coordinator