Federal law requires that a Guardian ad Litem (GAL- person appointed by the court to advocate for the best interest of a child involved in a juvenile court deprivation proceeding), a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), or both, be appointed in all cases of child abuse or neglect. Georgia law includes “court appointed special advocates” and/or attorneys as Guardians ad Litem for children in juvenile court deprivation (abuse and neglect) proceedings.

Every month more than 1900 Georgia children are in the legal custody of the state. For ten years Georgia CASA has provided an innovative approach to a very urgent crisis. Georgia CASA's mission is to develop and sustain community-based CASA programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to provide individualized advocacy for these victims. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to provide an independent voice for their abused and neglected children who are brought into the court. They work to learn about the child's needs and make recommendations that will help the judge make far-reaching decisions that affect the child's future. The CASA volunteer remains involved to keep the focus on the child until he or she is placed in a safe, permanent home - no matter how long it takes.