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A victory for abused children
The Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) program, a pro
gram that trains volunteers to
speak up for the best interest of
abused and neglected children
incourt, praised the amendments
to the Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
approved by Congress on Sep
tember 27. The CASA program
serves the Augusta Judicial Cir
cuit and is part of a nationwide
network of 642 CASA programs.
“For the first time, national
legislation specifically recogniz
es the value of volunteer repre
sentation of children,” said Na
tional CASA president Helen
Leonhart-Jones.
Previously, CAPTA called for
all abused and neglected chil
dren to be represented by a
Guardian ad Litem, butitdid not
specify who could serve and what
their role would be. According to
the new language, the guardian
may be an attorney or a CASA.
CASAs are volunteer citizens
who have been speaking up for
WWII exhibits now at Fort
Gordon museum
Two new World War II exhib
its are now on semipermanent
display at the U.S. Army Signal
Corps Museum.
One exhibit features the work
of Signal Corps combat photog
rapher Hugh McHugh. The oth
er exhibit is dedicated to Signal
the best interest of abused and
neglected children for 20 years.
CASA volunteers are especially
valued because they receive
training specific to representing
abused and neglected children.
The role of the Guardian ad
Litem was also clarified with the
specification that the Guardian
obtain, first-hand, a clehr under
standing of the child’s situation
and needs, and make recommen
dations to the court on what is
best for the child. This action on
behalf of children resulted from
Congressional concern over in
adequate representation by ap
pointed Guardians who either
did not have training or did not
take the time to meet with the
child, resulting in unsound rec
ommendations.
Created in Seattle in 1977,
CASA’s growth and success has
been credited to the fact that
volunteers are well-trained and
are not burdened with heavy
caseloads, so they can provide
detailed attention to one child at
Corps messenger pigeons.
The museum is on Avenue of
the States atthe intersection with
37th Street. It is open to the
public Tuesday - Friday, 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 5
p.m. Admission is free.
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Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.
Those who appreciate quality enjoy it responsibly.
a time. The CASA volunteer is
an independent voice whose sole
allegiance is to speak up for the
child’sbestinterests. CASAsalso
monitor the safety of the child
until a permanent resolution of
the case is reached.
Senator Dan Coats (R) of Indi
ana, a principal sponsor of
CAPTA, commented on the new
requirements. “This law, which
was a bipartisan and bicameral
legislative effort, establishes
stronger protections for abused
andneglected children thanever
before.”
S. 919 includes new require
ments for individuals who are
appointed to represent abused
and neglected children. These
new requirements will help en
sure that children who have suf
fered abuse at home will not face
further hardship in court.
CASA’s efforts to assure qual
ity representation for these chil
dren focuses on helping move
these children out of the system
into safe, permanent homes as
Fifth Army Asso. plans reunion
The sth Army Association,
comprised of veterans of the Ital
ian campaign during World War
11, will hold its fourth annual
reunion next year in historic
London. The group will leave
New York on March 18,1997 and
return March 25, after visiting
quickly as possible.
“Currently, there are over 450
children in foster care in the
Augusta Judicial Circuit who
need a voice in court. CASA
volunteers are serving 19 per
cent ofthese children. With grant
applications and additional local
funding, the program hopes to
increase the number it serves in
the near future. The recognition
of how important this work is at
the federal level is to be com
mended. Our next step is to
translate it to making a differ
ence in children’s lives,” stated
Julia Bloodworth, interim CASA
program director.
Thelegislation received broad
based support in Congress, in
cluding the sponsorship of Sena
tors Coats (R-Ind.), Kassebaum
(R-Kan.), Dodd (D-Conn.), and
Kennedy (D-Mass.) Representa
tives William Gooding (R-Pa.)
and Dale Kildee (D-MI) led the
efforts in the House. The presi
dent signed the bill.
memorable landmarks associat
ed with the war.
Those interested should con
tact Sy Canton, executive direc
torat46s Shore Rd., Long Beach,
NY 11561 or phone (516) 432-
3022.
AUGUSTA FOCUS December 19, 1996
Power companies to
market electric vehicle
charging system
Georgia Power Co., a subsid
iary of The Southern Company,
and Virginia Power announced a
joint initiative to develop plans
to market electric vehicle (EV)
infrastructure in Georgia.
Virginia Power has been an
authorized distributor of Delco
Electronics’s MAGNE CHARGE
(TM) vehicle chargers in the
Southeast since February 1996.
As of today, Georgia Power will
be their authorized distributor
of the vehicle chargers in Geor
gia. The utilities, with support
from General Motors (GM), will
develop a plan for marketing,
service and installation of Delco
Electronics inductive vehicle
chargers.
“Georgia Power has been in
volvedin electric vehicleresearch
since 1993,” said Paul Bowers,
Georgia Power’s senior vice pres
ident of marketing and execu
tive sponsor for The Southern
Company’s electric transporta
tion initiatives.
“Virginia Power’s partnership
with Georgia Power recognizes
the extensive groundwork that
has been laid in the Southeast to
support electric vehicle technol
ogy — from education to charg
ing infrastructure to mass tran
sit initiatives,” said James T.
Earwood Jr., Virginia Power’s
vice president-Energy Efficien
cy and Division Services. “GM’s
and Delco Electronics expertise
will help ensure that the South
east is among the best-prepared
areas in the nation when EVs
reach the commercial market.
This will be of enormous benefit
in improving air quality, stimu
lating economic development and
demonstrating the viability of
this clean, quiet technology.”
General Motors and Georgia
Power have indicated they will
develop a marketing plan for the
Chevrolet S-10 Electric pickup,
which will focus on commercial
fleets as well as federal, state
and local government fleets.
Robert C. Purcell Jr., execu
tive director of General Motors
Advanced Technology Vehicles
said, “A market-based approach
is critical to establishing a sus
tainable market for electric ve
hicles. We look forward to join
ing Georgia Power to bring the
Chevrolet S-10 Electric pickup
and Delco Electronics’ MAGNE
CHARGE (TM) inductive vehi
cle chargers to Georgia and the
other states of the Southeast.”
The S-10 Electric is designed,
built and warranteed by GM.
Chevrolet will begin marketing
the S-10 Electric pickup truck to
fleets nationwide in 1997.
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