Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
A CASA is a community volunteer who has been screened and trained regarding dependency, child development, and juvenile court procedures. The CASA volunteer training is a 40 hour program that meets the requirements for GAL training to be an approved GAL.
If there is not a CASA program in the county, then the judge can appoint a lay guardian who must meet the minimum basic requirements to be a GAL and be apprised
Georgia CASA's 40-hour preservice training curriculum has been approved as meeting the CAPTA requirement for non-attorney GALs. For more information on volunteering with CASA in your area, visit Georgia CASA at www.gacasa.org.