Advocates Working to Protect Children and Build Families in Gordon County
If you’ve recently found yourself in Gordon County, you probably noticed how a once sleepy corner of northwest Georgia is now a bustling community of residential and industrial growth. While this is an exciting time for Gordon, it is also a critical time for child welfare in the county. Recognizing the need for expanded services for children in foster care and homeless youth, Advocates is growing our presence and program offerings in Gordon.
Advocate’s RISE Independent Housing Program and Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program have been addressing the needs of youth experiencing homelessness in Gordon for several years, but as youth homelessness continues to grow, so do our plans for meeting the needs of these vulnerable youth. RISE is expanding our presence in Gordon by partnering with more landlords to provide apartment rentals, strengthening our relationships with hotels for emergency placements, and adding additional RISE Case Managers to staff a new RISE office in Gordon County soon.
Since Spring of 2021, our CASA of Northwest Georgia program has expanded to serve Gordon children in foster care. By recruiting and training Gordon County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected, we are ensuring a voice for children in the courts in Gordon County. Through the gracious partnership of the Gordon County Judicial Services, we’ve recently been able to obtain office space for our CASA program directly in the Gordon County Courthouse.
We are excited to see Gordon County continue to prosper and are committed to sharing our vision that “Every family in our community is building a life where they are safe, thriving, and loved.”