School District Employees Become CASA Volunteers

CANTON, GA -- Three employees with the Cherokee County School District recently completed training to serve as volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates for children.

The employees, Clayton Elementary School paraprofessional Tammy Deal, Etowah High School Nurse Cathy Alexander and Knox Elementary School teacher Kason Sams, were all sworn in as officers of the court by Cherokee County Juvenile Court Judge John B. Sumner.

These newly appointed advocates will stand up for the rights of children in Department of Family and Children Services custody “to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and permanent home,” according to The Children’s Haven, which oversees the program.

“Every abused child needs a caring, consistent adult to advocate for their well-being,” The Children’s Haven Executive Director Deidre Hollands said. “These CCSD employees are doing their part to help."

Volunteers are tasked with reviewing records and talking to everyone in a child's life to determine what would be in the best interest of that youngster.

Those volunteers report their findings to the judge, who uses the information to determine where a child in the foster care system should live on a permanent basis, The Children's Haven's website states.

The next training begins in October. For more information, contact Amy Blanton at 770-345-3274.

---

Photo: Three Cherokee County School District employees recently completed training to serve as volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates for children: Clayton ES parapro Tammy Deal, Etowah HS School Nurse Cathy Alexander and Knox ES teacher Kason Sams. Credit: Cherokee County School District