Welcome to another edition of CASA Up Close Monthly. Please feel free to contact CASA for more information about anything you read. And, as always, thank you for your continued support! Use these quick links to get involved.
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- A Hole Lotta Love for CASA
- Upcoming Training Dates
- Welcome New CASA Volunteers
- Information Sessions
- Continuing Education
- Employer Matching Donations
- CASA Superhero Run
- Payroll Deductions for CASA
- CASA Training and Support Center
- Share Your CASA Experience
- Events Benefiting CASA
- Community Support
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Letter from the Executive Director
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I want to use this as an opportunity to highlight the issue.
According to the Department of Family and Protective Services,
in families where battering occurs, the rate of child abuse or neglect is 15 times higher than the national average
. Children may be hurt indirectly when their parent is abused. They may be injured trying to protect their parent.
Because CASA often sees the result of this abuse, it is important for us to be knowledgeable about domestic violence. Here is some information from the DFPS that I would like to share.
Also known as "domestic violence," family violence is an act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to cause physical or emotional harm. It is against the law in Texas.
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The first step in stopping domestic violence is to recognize it when it happens. It's hard to accept that you may be battered by someone you love. Still, you may be a victim of family violence if:
- you are being pushed, shoved, slapped, bruised, kicked, strangled or threatened with a weapon.
- you are verbally attacked or accused.
- your possessions are intentionally damaged.
- you are not allowed to come and go as you wish.
- you are being followed, harassed, or spied upon.
- you are forced to have sex or perform a degrading sexual act.
- you are kept in isolation.
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No one deserves to be abused.
If something about your relationship frightens you,
or if you or someone you know is suffering abuse in a relationship, please call:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TDD for hearing impaired)
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
CASA of Central Texas Executive Director
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Show a "Hole Lotta Love" for CASA
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All proceeds benefit
CASA of Central Texas
October 29, 2018
River Crossing Golf Club
Spring Branch
Register and details
here
.
9:30 am: Check-in & Practice Open
11:00 am: Tee Time & Play Begins
5:00 pm: Dinner, Raffle Drawings & Awards
Even if you don't have the lowest score, you could still go home a winner! Check out some of our raffle items
here
!
Make a hole-in-one and you will go home with this
Sportsman Touring ATV 570 SP, Valued at $11,100 courtesy of:
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Sponsorships Available:
Ace $5,000 - 2 teams included
Front Nine $3,000 - 2 teams included
Back Nine $3,000 - 2 teams included
Eagle $2,000 - 1 team included
Birdie $1,500 - 1 team included
Hole - $400
Team Registration (4) $600
Individual Registration $200
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Interested in supporting this event?
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Hole Sponsors:
CoWork Factory
Davidek Law Firm, PLLC
Dexter Jones
Fuse Architecture Studio
KW Heritage-Sheryl Gibson Team
Nissan
Sadler Concrete
Taste of New Braunfels
Texias LLC
Utility Engineering Group
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Final Training Dates of 2018
Wednesdays-San Marcos
October 24 - November 14th
4:30-8:30 p.m.
Thursdays-New Braunfels
October 25 - November 15
1-5 p.m.
Submit your application for an upcoming training
here
.
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For more information on training courses, contact Layla Coleman at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272, or by
email.
A complete Training Course is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers
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Five new CASA Volunteers were sworn in this month. They have completed 5 weeks of training, background checks, courtroom observation and are now ready to advocate for a child in court.
There are only two regular training sessions left this year. Visit our
calendar to see all of the dates.
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Pictured l-r:
Genevieve Nolan
of Hays County,
Cindy Wallace
of Hays County,
Marilyn Aden
of Comal County,
Karen Hollensbe
of Hays County and
Janet Tabler
of Comal County.
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"Voices" Information Sessions
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Want to learn more about the role of a CASA Volunteer?
Come to our one-hour information session and hear how our volunteers advocate for children who have been abused and neglected.
New Braunfels
Wednesday,
October 3rd, noon
CASA office
San Marcos
Wednesday, October 17th, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
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CASA staff and volunteers will be on hand to share their stories and answer your questions.
Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by
email
or at 830-626-2272.
Lunch provided by Chick-fil-A.
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Communicating as a CASA served as a refresher for our advocates, as well as an opportunity for some tips on best practices from CASA Supervisors, CPS Supervisor Christy Doerr, and foster parents.
CASA Supervisors Rob Edwards and Lonnette LaBorde highlighted minimum expectations for advocates - one of which is that CASA has to interview all parties in the case and that we need to maintain contact with parents between each hearing, even incarcerated ones.
Comal County CPS Supervisor Christy Doerr, with 14 years of CPS experience, shared that CASAs provide a helpful extra set of eyes and that she appreciates our advocacy for foster children, regardless of whether we agree or not. She stated that she especially appreciates when our volunteers assist her workers with educational advocacy.
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Former CASAs and current foster parents provided some insight as to the challenges of foster parenting and realized that their experience is not an isolated one. Additionally, they stated that CASAs should never assume that everything is going well and to ask specific questions of the caregivers, such as, “Have you seen any changes in the child’s daily functioning.”
Overall, it’s important to note that CASAs are not the source of information; our role is to gather as much information to make a well-informed recommendation regarding the best interest of the children we serve.
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Thank you to the nearly
3,500 superheroes
who joined us at the 2018 CASA Superhero Run 5K and Kids 1K!
On September 16, superheros from across Central Texas raised much needed funding for CASA of Central Texas, CASA of Travis County and CASA of Williamson County.
We hope to see an even greater turn out in 2019!
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Check out some great moments from race day!
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CASA Training and Support Support Center
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The journey to a new, permanent office located in San Marcos is progressing having recently completed the 100% Design Development stage of the project. Construction permits were filed with the city in June.
The journey to a new, permanent office located in San Marcos is moving along. Construction permits were filed with the city in June.
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To be a part of this exciting addition to CASA of Central Texas, contact Tricia Schneider by
email
, or visit our
website
.
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Payroll Deductions for CASA
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State and Federal employees may give to CASA of Central Texas through payroll deductions under the State Employee Charitable Campaign and the Combined Federal Campaign.
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State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)
CASA of Central Texas Code
#475017 (Capital Area)
#475030 (San Antonio Area)
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Watch for Campaign drives at your office, or talk to your Human Resources Representative for information.
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Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC)
CASA of Central Texas
#60661
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If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community.
GreatNonprofits
– the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback – is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2018 Top-Rated List. Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us?
All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes!
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80% of donors
say reviews influence their giving!
90% of donors
say reviews help them better understand a nonprofit's work!
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Events Benefiting CASA
CASA of Central Texas welcomes community initiatives to help promote awareness and funding for our program. By taking on this type of project, event organizers assume the responsibility of creating a successful event without a significant level of assistance from CASA. All special events and fundraising efforts conducted to benefit CASA are run by financially responsible and reputable organizations and individuals motivated by a genuine desire to help CASA. If you are interested in hosting a third-party fundraiser to benefit CASA, please review these
guidelines
.
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October 6th
Oh My Guad! 5k Run
Oh My Guad! 5K Beer Run
Hosted by Guadalupe Brewing Company
Proceeds to Benefit CASA of Central Texas
Early bird registration
Sign up early (1st 100 registrants will get a t-shirt)
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October 27th
Guadalupe Brewing 5K Beer Run
THIS EVENT COUNTS AS A WILD CARD IN THE 5K 6-Pack Challenge.
Upon finishing all runners receive a finisher pint glass and up to 4x 8oz Guadalupe Craft Beer tastings. Runners also get a nice Gildan 4200 tech shirt with included with entry. Food truck with food for purchase will be on site. Families welcome! Minors receive shirt, finisher glass but no beer, obviously.
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Walmart Distribution Center
New Braunfels
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Star Tex Real Estate
Kyle/Buda
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