Meet Emily Hall | Trainer & Recruiter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Rockdale CASA supports the community by showing up for children when they need it most. Every year there are many children in Rockdale County who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in the foster care system. Each new case
represents a real child with their own story, their own fears, and their
own hopes. During an often overwhelming and confusing time, our trained volunteers step in as a consistent, trusted presence focused on one thing: the child’s best interest.

Court Appointed Special Advocates take the time to truly know the child behind the case. The CASA gathers information about the child’s situation, attends court proceedings and makes fact based, independent recommendations to the court so that the judge has the information to make an informed decision about the child’s future. They listen, ask questions, and connect with families, schools, and professionals involved in the case. This helps ensure decisions are made with the child’s safety, stability, and long-term well-being are at the center.

The impact goes beyond the courtroom. When a child feels seen and supported, outcomes improve and families are better positioned to heal and move forward. By advocating for children, we’re strengthening families and building a healthier, more connected Rockdale County. Children who have a CASA are more likely to receive supportive services, spend less time in foster care, are more likely to do better in school and are more likely to find a safe and permanent home.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Our work at Rockdale CASA is very much a team effort, and each role plays a critical part in making sure children and families are supported in meaningful ways. We have a trainer/ recruiter who connects with the community, raising awareness and inviting people to step into this work as volunteers. We have an advocacy coordinator who oversees our CASA volunteers as they walk alongside children through abuse and neglect cases. We also have an advocacy coordinator dedicated to our private cases, which include guardianships, adoptions, and custody matters. Another key piece of our work we all come together for is our Pat Mann Visitation Center that helps create a safe, home-like space where children can spend time with their parents and families while in foster care. And holding everything together is our director, who oversees grant writing and the day-to-day functioning of our office and staff.

What sets Rockdale CASA apart is how deeply personal this work is to all of us. We’re incredibly proud of the way we advocate for children and families, whether that means making sure a child is receiving the support they need at school, has access to basic personal items in their placement, or simply has someone consistently showing up for them. The needs are often small on the surface, but the impact is lasting.

This work isn’t easy. There are moments that are heavy, emotional, and heartbreaking when you see the effects of abuse and neglect on a child. But we get through those challenges by remembering why we’re here. We have the privilege of being a child’s constant in a system that can feel overwhelming and unpredictable. We get to give them a voice when they don’t feel heard and stand beside them until their case is resolved.

What we want the world to know is that Rockdale CASA is built on care, commitment, and consistency. Our story isn’t about quick wins or recognition. It’s about showing up, doing the hard work, and believing that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and protected.

“To give a child a CASA volunteer is to give them a voice. To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world.” -Pamela, Former Foster Child

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d start by showing them around Olde Town Conyers, because it really captures the heart of Rockdale County. It’s known for so many things from local shops, small businesses, great food, community events, and a history that still feels very present. You can spend hours there just walking, popping into stores, and running into people you know. It has that small-town feel where everything slows down in the best way.

Lunch at Love You Brunches would definitely be on the list. It’s one of our favorite go to spots! From there, we’d grab coffee at Starbucks for an extra caffeine boost.

We’d also make time for a walk at Costley Mill Park. It’s peaceful, scenic, and a great place to just talk and reset. For us, the best parts of Rockdale County aren’t about doing a lot, they’re about being present in places that bring people together. That sense of connection is what makes this area special and why it feels so much like home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This story truly belongs to many people, but it starts with Judge Schneider. In 1996, he believed that children in Rockdale County deserved someone solely focused on their best interest. With that belief, and just two volunteers, Rockdale CASA was born. That foundation of care, accountability, and compassion still guides our work today.

We also owe so much to our community. From local partners and supporters to individuals who show up, donate, share our mission, and speak our name, Rockdale County has continued to believe in this work for nearly three decades. That kind of sustained support doesn’t happen without trust, and we’re deeply grateful for it.

Most importantly, our volunteers deserve immense recognition. They are the heart of Rockdale CASA and the reason this program works. They make the time, ask the hard questions, and stay committed to children who need consistency the most. Our volunteers show up again and again, not for recognition, but because they care. Our story is their story, and we are endlessly grateful for them.

Website: https://rockdalecasa.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockdalecasainc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASArockdale

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rockdalecasa

Image Credits
Emily Hall Photography