UPCOMING TRAINING SESSIONS AND EVENTS |
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Culture, Identity, and Connection for Indigenous Families in non-Indigenous Systems
When: July 1 from 1-2 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Who: Jack Trope, Senior Director, Indian Child Welfare Program at Casey Family Programs
What: Participants will learn about:
- The unique challenges of working with Indian families.
- The history of family separation and displacement from the land, supported by past and present data.
- The perception of child welfare agencies/dominant culture.
- Cultural diversity/cultural humility/cultural identity and connection.
This is the first training session in a three-part ICWA series by National CASA/GAL.
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Anxiety & Depression in Youth
When: July 7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Online
Who: Indiana Youth Institute, Allen County
What: Youth who experience anxiety or depression face a higher risk of poor health outcomes as adults. Depression during adolescence can be associated with disrupted school performance as well as peer and family relationships.
Nearly 1 out of 10 Indiana youth have been diagnosed with anxiety at some point in their life, and nearly 1 out of 3 Indiana high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless at some point in the past year. Learn strategies to assist youth who struggle with anxiety or depression.
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Fundamentals of Report Writing
When: July 22 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Where: Tippecanoe Room in the Tippecanoe Office Building
Who: Tippecanoe County CASA
What: Learn the basics of report writing for our courts. You will learn the best layout for report writing, what to include in your reports, and how to write them professionally.
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Intersection of Drug Endangered Children (DEC) and Human Trafficking
When: July 27 from 1-2 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Who: National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
What: There is a disconnect across the country on how substance misuse and trafficking are connected and what professionals and volunteers can look for and how they can help.
This one-hour presentation will look at both drug endangered children and human/sex trafficking individually as well as their intersections to increase knowledge of the issues as well as ideas of how to identify and help these at-risk children. Presenters will provide data, information, and examples to round out the picture for participants.
Participants will:
- Have increased knowledge of both drug endangered children and human/sex trafficking.
- Understand the intersections between drug endangered children and human/sex trafficking.
by National CASA/GAL
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Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA): Family, Community, and Culture
When: August 3 from 1-2 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Who: Jack Trope, Senior Director, Indian Child Welfare Program at Casey Family Programs
What: As a result of attending this training, participants will learn:
- About the concepts and philosophical framework which undergird the ICWA, including the reasons why many child welfare organizations refer to the ICWA as the “gold standard” for child welfare, and key requirements of the law and regulations that would be particularly relevant to CASA/GAL work.
- Strategies to keep children with parents and families, and connected with culture and community.
This is the second training session in a three-part ICWA series by National CASA/GAL.
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Legal 101
When: August 19 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Where: Online
Who: Tippecanoe County CASA
What: Learn from our two legal experts, CASA attorneys Christina Thomas and Shawn Rountree! This training will teach you the fundamentals of CHINS law to help you advocate effectively for your CASA children.
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Child and Families of Tribal Nations: Effective Engagement with Tribes to Secure Best Outcomes
When: August 26 from 1-2 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Who: Jack Trope, Senior Director, Indian Child Welfare Program at Casey Family Programs
What: As a result of attending this training, participants will:
- Recognize the important role of tribes in the ICWA, including the specific tribal rights specified in the law, and the importance of effective collaboration with tribes in ICWA cases.
- Learn about Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Citizenship/Membership.
- Learn strategies to collaborate with Tribes regarding active efforts, services to families, and placement of children.
This is the third training session in a three-part ICWA series by National CASA/GAL.
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Intersection of Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence
When: August 31 from 1-2 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Who: National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
What: Numerous research studies have informed us that there is a correlation between legal or illegal substance misuse and violence/domestic violence in the home. Often, one of these is missed when we are working with children and families, and it one of the reasons families have high recidivism rates.
This one-hour presentation will take a look at both legal and illegal substance misuse and domestic violence individually, how they impact the family unit, and then discuss their intersection in order to provide a larger picture of the combined impacts.
by National CASA/GAL
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SUBARU CASA CYCLING CHALLENGE |
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When: August 7-8, 2021
Where: Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana
The Subaru CASA Cycling Challenge is an extreme cycling event that allows individuals and teams to raise funds for children in need.
The event is the largest annual fundraising event for CASAs for Kids Fund, and the funds support the CASA program and facilitate opportunities for abused or neglected children in Tippecanoe County.
The event needs riders and volunteers! To learn more about volunteering, please visit this page.
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Patti O'Callaghan, CASAs for Kids Founder, speaks to Star City News about the upcoming CASA Cycling Challenge. |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
SPRING 2021 CLASS
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Congratulations to our new CASAs! Judge Graham swore in one staff member and five volunteers as officers of the court on May 27.
Each of these CASAs will use their voice to advocate for children, and we look forward to the unique contributions they will bring. Please join us in welcoming them as CASAs!
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JOIN OUR TRAINING CLASS THIS AUGUST |
Before becoming Court Appointed Special Advocates, prospective volunteers attend a training class. Our next training class begins in August. View our upcoming training class schedule here.
After completing the training and being sworn in as an officer of the court, the CASA is appointed to a case.
To apply to become a volunteer, please visit our website.
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ATTEND A VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL SESSION |
Our virtual informational sessions help prospective volunteers learn more about the CASA role. We host these sessions once a month over Zoom.
Click on the following date and time to register:
Elizabeth Dunlap, staff advocate and outreach coordinator, facilitates these events. If you would like more information or would like to invite people you know to a future session, please email Elizabeth at [email protected].
You can also follow us on Facebook to share the events with your friends and family on social media.
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Elizabeth, Steven, Cheryl, and Connie attended Greater Lafayette Commerce's Annual Golf Outing. |
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PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNRISE DINER |
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The diner has been an excellent support to our program. During Child Abuse Prevention Month, they placed our table-top signs on all of their tables. |
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Elizabeth and Cheryl loved attending YMCA Camp Tecumseh's Running with Raccoons 5K! CASA volunteer Cadi Bien, who is also a member of Camp Tecumseh's Board of Directors, also stopped by at our table.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO JANET SMITH |
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Congratulations to Janet for her retirement! Janet started her relationship with our program as a CASA volunteer. She took her Oath of Office on March 9, 2006, and she later joined our staff on June 4, 2009. We are so thankful for Janet's dedication to our program for all these years. We will miss her, but we wish her a happy retirement! |
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WELCOMING CATHERINE MACLEOD |
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Please welcome the newest addition to our staff, Catherine MacLeod. Catherine is working as our Intake Case Coordinator. We are excited to have her join our team!
Here's more about Catherine in her own words:
"I am excited and grateful to join the team at CASA as the Intake Case Coordinator. My professional background is in social work, specifically providing therapeutic services to youth with a mental health diagnosis and their families. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master of Social Work degree from Salem State University.
When I am not at work, you will most likely find me spending time with my family, going for a walk, watching sports, or playing a board game. Since living in Tippecanoe County for two years, I have seen how this community comes together to support those in need. I am eager to start at CASA, advocating for children and working alongside this community."
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