Prevent Child Abuse Georgia (PCA Georgia) has added Child Advocacy Services SEGA, Inc (CASSEGA) as its newest local council serving Jenkins, Screven, and Effingham and collaborating with the established council, Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County.
CASSEGA was established initially as CASA Ogeechee in 2002 to train community volunteers to provide a voice to children experiencing foster care. In 2016, the vision of providing more services to our community was achieved by officially changing our organizational name to Child Advocacy Services SEGA, Inc and opening the two visitation centers. Ogeechee Visitation Centers provides supervised visitation for child victims of abuse and neglect or families ordered through child custody proceedings. Caregivers receive individualized parent coaching and access to evidence-based parent education classes.
In its new role as PCA Ogeechee, leadership will work to expand current programs to bolster child abuse and neglect prevention efforts and awareness in the community. PCA Ogeechee will also direct resources to PCA Georgia’s statewide resource hub, Find Help Georgia. Parents or caregivers can access local supportive programs in Bulloch, Screven, Jenkins, Effingham, and beyond. These resources will also be available to search by zip code through an interactive website at FindHelpGA.org, a mobile app, or a helpline at 1-800-244-5373.
PCA Georgia is housed in the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development at Georgia State University. PCA Georgia, a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, provides statewide direction to prevent child abuse and neglect, promote healthy child development, and develop strong families through its prevention network, public awareness, prevention programs, and advocacy.
“It takes all of us working together along with state and local resources to help children mature into healthy adults,” said PCA Georgia Executive Director Jennifer Stein. “We are grateful for our partners across the state who play a vital role in helping us promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for Georgia’s families and children.”
“PCA Ogeechee looks forward to engaging the community in new ways to strengthen local families and help all children thrive,” said CASSEGA Executive Director Dr. Julie Pickens.
To learn more about PCA Ogeechee, visit casaogeechee.org/pca, or for the state chapter Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, visit www.PCAGeorgia.org.