DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocates holds informational meeting
Make a difference in the life of a child in foster care. You do not have to be a lawyer or a social worker to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers are everyday people, trained by the DeKalb County CASA Program and then appointed by the Chief Judge of DeKalb County Juvenile Court to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
DeKalb County CASA volunteers work with the Juvenile Court and Division of Family and Children Services to ensure that all the necessary information is collected and presented to the court allowing the judge to make the best decision possible regarding permanent placement of the child.
The DeKalb County CASA Program is designed to give abused and neglected children in foster care a powerful voice. DeKalb County CASA recognizes the need for individualized advocacy throughout the court process and utilizes dedicated, concerned, well-trained citizen volunteers to protect the child’s best interests.
The public is invited to attend a volunteer information session hosted by DeKalb County CASA. This session will provide a brief history of the organization, an overview of volunteer opportunities, offer information on what a CASA volunteer does, commitment expectations, discuss the volunteer training sessions, explain the next steps and answer any questions.
Volunteers must attend an information session and complete a screening interview with staff before beginning training. Please note that the next Flex Training (a blended training of online and in-person sessions) will begin in March; details regarding meeting dates and times will be provided upon acceptance into the program.
When: 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6
Where: Gregory A. Adams Juvenile Justice Center, 4309 Memorial Drive, Decatur
Contact: Justine.Ferreira@dekalbcasa.org or Heather.Mount@dekalbcasa.org.
Information: 404-378-0038 or dekalbcasa.org
Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care launches ‘Change Your Future’ campaign
In the spirit of Groundhog Day, Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care’s Greater Atlanta regional office is calling on interested individuals to “Change Your Future” by becoming a compassionate volunteer for Crossroads patients.
It was 25 years ago that the movie “Groundhog Day” opened, featuring Bill Murray as a smug TV reporter who gets trapped in a time loop, doomed to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.
The “Change Your Future” outreach campaign encourages would-be volunteers to try something new and different.
Volunteers can play a vital role by learning to provide direct comfort, companionship and a helping hand to terminally-ill patients and their families in their homes, in assisted living facilities and nursing facilities. Volunteers are also welcome to help Crossroads staff in the office, including planning a “Gift of a Day,” which asks a patient to describe a perfect day and then makes it a reality.
Volunteers can share their favorite activities like reading, card games, playing music, or arts and crafts. They can bring their pets to visit patients or run errands and provide respite for family members.
Before becoming a Crossroads Hospice volunteer, participants must complete an application, TB skin test, and training session led by members of the Crossroads team. Potential volunteers must wait a minimum of one year after the death of an immediate family member or loved one before applying.
When: ongoing
Where: 1957 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 500, Tucker
Contact: Candyce Patterson at 770-270-9898 or volunteerATL@crossroadshospice.com
Information: www.crossroadshospice.com/hospice-volunteering/hospice-volunteering or http://on.fb.me/1oO8s1n.
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