Children have the right to grow up in an environment free of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, or other forms of family violence, and Kim Force is devoted to making a safe environment a reality. As a volunteer for the CASA program for children in the state of Georgia, she fights for a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home. 

CASA volunteers like Kim bridge gaps among children and families, teachers, social workers, lawyers, and judges to help courts make the best decisions for children in difficult situations. Because judges typically assign their most complex and serious cases to these advocates, each assignment demands a significant commitment of time and emotional energy. Each of Kim's cases can require as much as 480 hours of pro bono legal and volunteer work. She has managed more than half a dozen such cases since 2018. 

Kim received the 2023 Karen N. Sibley Award for her efforts, recognizing her as the CASA Volunteer of the Year for the entire state of Georgia. The previous year, she earned similar recognition in her home county of Gwinnett. 

"Minor children rarely have financial assets, so their legal representation is often passed over by attorneys in favor of private pay cases. And minor children can't vote, so their needs are often overlooked by politicians," Kim explains. That's why she feels their best-interest advocates "need to be a conscience for the community, reminding all of us that children deserve both a safe environment and humane treatment if they are to grow into healthy and productive adults."

Kim says her late husband, through his law practice and volunteer efforts, was a tireless advocate for abused and neglected children. "Participating in the CASA program has been one of the most meaningful ways for me to carry on his legacy," she explains. "These incredible children have touched my heart and changed my life. It is to them that I dedicate my time, my energy, my passion."