By Tanya Moore
NORCROSS, Ga. | In the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court system, sometimes it takes someone separate from parents, guardians, foster parents, attorneys, and Department of Family and Children’s Service workers to advocate truly for a child.
Ruthy Paul and Judge Rob Waller
This is exactly the purpose of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). These volunteers, now 29 of them in Gwinnett County, are regular citizens who give of their time to support children in the midst of abuse, neglect or custody proceedings. Although within the Juvenile Court system, children served are not those involved in criminal cases. The bulk of the children served are under 18 years old ,unless in the foster system, where they are eligible up to the age of 21.
Seven new CASAs were sworn in last month by the Juvenile Court’s Judge Robert Waller. “CASAs may be volunteers,” he says, “But they do their work with a compassion and professionalism that is unique. They are a tremendous asset to the Court and a Godsend to the children they represent.”
The new advocates’ reasons for volunteering as well as their backgrounds are as varied as the cases to which they will be assigned. Last week’s new group came from law, nursing, education, architecture and law enforcement.
One of these new members is Norcross resident Ruthy Lachman Paul, an immigrant from Israel who gained her U.S. citizenship in 2021. When asked her reason for applying to the intensive five-week program, she responded “It’s to make a difference in the life of children. I see that children need to thrive all the time. …we have a child inside of us, and we care about that child”
The Gwinnett CASA program, established in 2002, is headed by program Director Ericka McLam and Coordinator Elaine Cannick. They take requests from the court for a CASA advocate who can be assigned one or two cases at a time. In 2022 (with 22 advocates) 62 children were served. CASAs, once assigned to a child, may interview a variety of adults involved with the child; teachers, parents, Scout leaders, relatives, faith leaders, neighbors. Their resulting report is considered by the judge when making a decision that will be in the best interest of the child.
City of Norcross Mayor Craig Newton says of the program: “One of the most consistent people in the life of a child or youth in foster care is a Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASAs are volunteers appointed to be a voice for a child, teen, or sibling group in court. While caseworkers, judges and even foster families might change, a CASA can be a consistent friend for a child or teen in foster care. It is a relationship that can last a lifetime. The appointment of Ruthy Paul, Norcross’ community representative, is a testament to the selection process of choosing the best of our local citizens as CASA participants.”
Six other Gwinnett citizens were also sworn in by Judge Waller. They include Tammy Kronenberger,Patrick Shiflett, Debra Oliver, Michelle Nguyen, Aviance Jenkins and Reagan Kaempf.
It truly takes a village and we are happy to have villagers such as Ruthy and the other Gwinnett County CASAs in ours.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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