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December 2016 | In This Issue
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Foster Care & The Holidays
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 The stockings are hung, by the chimney with care, in hopes that...In hopes of what? For many children who have been placed into the foster care system, they have come from homes where there was no Christmas, there was no hope. They have come from families that did not celebrate a holiday. They have come from environments where there were no presents, no tree. They have come from homes where there was no holiday joy or love.
The Holiday Season is upon us. Christmas, Hanukah, New Years, Kwanzaa; these are times that can be extremely difficult for many foster children. During this time of Holiday Cheer, many foster children are faced with the realization that they will not be "home for the holidays," so to speak, with their biological family members. When they wake up Christmas morning and are surrounded by people who just may be strangers to them, strangers who are laughing and having fun, it can be a very difficult time for them indeed. To be sure, it is a day that is a stark reminder to these children that they are not with their own family. It is during the holidays when families are supposed to be together, yet these children in care are not. They are not with their families, and they may not know when they will see them next.
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Remember to keep your CASA Volunteer file up-to-date with your current
auto insurance card, driver's license, and contact information.
And remember to visit your CASA child face-to-face at least
once a month.
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(CASA) Court Appointed Special Advocates provides a voice for children as
they navigate through the court system to help them reach a safe and
permanent home. Be the 1. Be A CASA. Volunteer Today!
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the CAS Staff!
CAS CASA Program Staff wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our CASA volunteers and community partners. We are so grateful for your dedication and commitment to provide a powerful voice for children and families.
"Be A Voice"
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TRAININGS STARTING SOON !!
Contact us about upcoming trainings.
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CASA Myth Buster
MYTH
:
I don't have experience working with children so I can't be a CASA volunteer.
FACT:
CASA volunteers are men and women from all walks of life with a variety of professional, educational, and ethnic backgrounds. No special experience or background is required, only the desire to help children
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Happy Anniversary!
Thank You For Your Dedication and Commitment to CAS!
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East & West Feliciana (
20th JDC
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Tangipahoa, St. Helena & Livingston (21st JDC)
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Davalyn B., Jeanette M., and Sherry R. for seeing their cases through to adoption.
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Jimmie Fay S., Jim S., Kelley K., Marilyn H., Krystal B., Velma A., Mark S., and Lara A. for advocating in court for the best interest of their children.
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Lara A. and Krystal B. for advocating for their CASA children in court.
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Jessica E., Sara E., and Julie R. for following up with important information for their court report.
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Ascension, St. James & Assumption (23rd JDC)
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Audrey A. for taking on a second case!
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Sarah K. for taking on a new case!
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Melanie D. for working hard so her CASA child remains in her placement.
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Sandra R. for her continued support for her CASA child.
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Jill J. for her outstanding advocacy on her two cases!
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St. Charles (29th JDC)
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Terri H. for always submitting the most thorough and beautifully written reports in a timely manner. I cannot thank you enough.
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Angie D. - It seems like you have all the tough cases, but you've maintained focus on the children and what's in their best interest! Thank you!
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Tammy B. -Thank you for your continued advocacy for your CASA children! Always thorough and right on target!
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Shanika B. for becoming our newest volunteer advocate and accepting her first case.
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Camille H. for being on task, writing amazing reports, staying child focused, and maintaining strong advocacy for the best interest of her CASA kids.
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Savannah S. for building great rapport with her CASA kids, advocating for their best interest, and always using her resource lenses.
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Sandra L. for staying committed to her case through a move to another parish.
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Ivy M. for working collaboratively and mindfully for the best interest of her CASA child.
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Latoshia F. for being flexible and advocating in court for the best interest of her CASA child.
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Onica J. for gathering important information to help advocate for her CASA child.
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Lesia R. for her commitment to finding permanency for her CASA child.
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Amanda M. and
Mellissa M. for hitting the ground running with their first cases.
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Brian S., Lanissa S., and
Dawn O. for their commitment to their cases and finding permanency for their kids.
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Congratulations & Welcome To Our Newest Advocates!
Debra P. Jennifer B. Sandra L.
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CASA Volunteers Make A Difference
Click the video below to see first hand how a CASA made a difference in a child's life. This video features the testimonial of former foster youth Lynasia and her journey with her CASA. Be the VOICE for a child.
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| Lynasia's Journey Through Foster care |
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What Happens After Foster Care?
When children cannot return home to their families, child welfare systems must move quickly to find them alternative homes. As time goes by, the prospects for landing in safe, loving, permanent homes grow dimmer for foster youth. Many will simply "age out" of the system when they turn 18, without a family and without the skills to make it on their own. The news clip below features an interview with a former foster youth who aged out of the system and had no place to go. It gives insight on how aging out of the system and having no resources or permanency plan in place can affect a child. Take a moment and click the link below.
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(CAC) Children's Advocacy Center conducts forensic interviews in a safe, child-friendly environment for children who have disclosed sexual or physical abuse. Additional advocacy, resources, and prevention education are offered.
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Write us your questions or concerns about the emotional aspects of volunteering and get a counseling perspective.
CAC Cares
Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Greetings! We hope you have had a wonderful year and learned many new things from our previous memos. Our CAC Cares section is getting an overhaul to provide a new and improved segment to better serve our communities!
In the New Year, look for new information on topics such as Teen Dating Violence, The Weather & Our Emotions, Internet Safety, Bullying Prevention, Domestic Violence Prevention, and much, much more! If you have questions you want answered or topics you'd like covered, please contact either Angela Golden [email protected] or Ashleigh Fuller [email protected].
Primarily, our Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) conducts forensic interviews in a safe, child-friendly environment for children who have disclosed sexual or physical abuse. But we also provide additional advocacy, resources, and prevention education classes. Check back in 2017 for more information!
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SINCERE THANKS FROM CAS!!
Many thanks go out to the partners, sponsors, volunteers, guests, and staff that attended the 2016 Sundresses and Shrimp Boots event on Sunday, November 20th at The Cedar Post Barn in Albany! Attendees were treated to live music, entertainment, food, and fun. We appreciate all who helped with the event and are grateful for the opportunity to show appreciation to the many who supported Child Advocacy Services throughout the year.
- CAS
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Brave children tell their stories. Courageous adults help these children through their trauma and assist them in finding a safe future.
Buttons of Bravery represent the journey of one child for a year under the care of Child Advocacy Services.
Help hold them together through their experience by participating in the Buttons of Bravery Child Sponsorship Program.
We would like to extend our appreciation to our ongoing and renewing sponsors that continue to support Child Advocacy Services through continued giving for our Buttons of Bravery Child Sponsorship Program:
Pat Zieske and family for renewing your Child Sponsorship for 2017!
During this
2017 Season of Giving,please consider becoming a 1541 Button of Bravery Child Sponsor. The smallest members of our society need to know that there is hope. IT CAN BEGIN WITH YOU! Your end of the year sponsorship donation is tax deductible.
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Be the thread of hope for a child!
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To report Child Abuse or
Neglect
, call:
1-855-4LA-KIDS
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