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CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers.
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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.
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Letter from the Executive Director
Extraordinary People
In a collaborative project with Texas CASA and seven other local CASA programs in the state, we have been increasing and improving CASA services to children and youth in Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC), also known as "long term foster care."
CASA of Central Texas aimed to serve 60 new children and youth from January to August 2016. We exceeded our goals by 15% and actually served 69! Many thanks to the 44 new volunteers who worked on these cases! Through their advocacy, these children and youth were sure to receive more help with their education, medical, mental health, and long-term placement needs.
To be a voice for these older youth or for the younger children, we are now enrolling volunteers in our last training sessions of 2016. We also set all of our 2017 dates which you can see here. The children and youth need your voice!
We look forward to the year ahead and continuing this important project for children and youth who often are overlooked. Keep up the great work!
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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Volunteer Spotlight
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Dorothy Walker, CASA of Central Texas Volunteer since 2014 |
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I became I CASA volunteer because I wanted to be able to give a voice to kids that felt like they didn't have a voice. So many of them get lost in the system and I just wanted to make a difference for them."
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What I've learned as a CASA volunteer is how important a role CASA plays in the lives of our children. We are their confidants, friends and sometimes sole defenders for their rights and their voice."
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To anyone considering being a CASA volunteer, I would say go for it! The time you spend is well worth the difference you will make in our children's lives and well-being.You will not find a worthier cause. "
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Become a CASA Volunteer
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Bob Williams
CASA Volunteer since 2010
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Sign up for a 2016
Training Course
For more information on training courses contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by
email, or click
here
to visit our website.
Training is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.
The Volunteer Training Course is a 6-class series.
Upcoming Training Courses
Saturdays Accelerated Course (5 sessions)
October 1 thru October 29
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
New Braunfels
Last Training Courses of 2016
Wednesdays
October 12 thru November 16
1 - 5 p.m.
San Marcos
Thursdays
October 13 thru November 17
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels
For our 2017 training dates, check our
calendar
San Marcos
Historic Hays County Courthouse Room 101
111 E. San Antonio Street
New Braunfels
CASA office
1619 E. Common Street, Building C
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CASA of Central Texas Casework Supervisor Rob Edwards with his children Claire, who ran the 1k, and Rowan, who ran the 5k.
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CASA of Central Texas joined the Travis and Williamson County programs again for the annual Superhero Run on September 18th. This year's event included a 5K, Kids 1K, costume contests and activities for the whole family!
Thank you to all our supporters who participated or donated to the 2016 CASA Superhero Run. More than 3,350 superheroes broke records in attendance and fundraising!
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CASA of Central Texas Board President Susie Russell (second from right) with her "A Team" of superheroes.
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Voices Tour Information Sessions
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.
CASA staff and
volunteers will be on hand to share their stories and answer your questions.
Voices Tours
Wednesday, October 5th, noon
Hosted by Emily Hutchison, CASA Board Member
CASA office
San Marcos
Wednesday, October 19th, noon
Hosted by
Naomi Narvaiz
, Community Supporter
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
Seguin
Thursday, October 20th, 6 p.m.
GVEC Community Room
Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by
email
or at 830-626-2272.
Would you like to host a CASA Voices Tour in your town? Please contact us and get more information
here!
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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 Christian Youth Theater New Braunfels is teaming up with 6 wonderful community Stars to host a great night of dinner and entertainment, and one of their stars chose CASA of Central Texas as her beneficiary!
Norma Herrera will be dancing on October 22nd at the McKenna Events Center to benefit CYT and CASA of Central Texas.
"I was a probation officer for Comal County for 15 years and during that time witnessed numerous hearings involving child victims. As a juvenile probation officer I sometimes worked with young offenders who had turned to delinquency as a result of the abuse they had been subjected to," Norma said about choosing CASA.
"I have always had a great respect for what CASA advocates do for those victims and would love to do what I can to support CASA."
We are honored Norma chose us and we wish her the best of luck!
CYT is a 501c3 non-profit children's theater program in New Braunfels that provides classes and productions in live theater.
To donate to CASA through Norma's fundraising page, click here.
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Upcoming Continuing Education
Advocacy Matters for Older and Aging Out Youth
PRESENTATION BY:
Tim Judkins
CASA Casework Supervisor and
Transitional Youth Specialist
CASA's own Tim
Judkins will discuss the unique challenges and responsibilities that come with advocating for older youth in the foster care system. Tim will share the presentation that he will be giving at the upcoming Texas CASA Conference in Dallas (November 3-5).
Monday, October 17
1:30-3pm
New Braunfels CASA Office Conference/Training Room
1619 E. Common St. Suite 301
New Braunfels, 78130
RSVP to Debbie Haynes at
830-626-2272 or by email
Advocates are required to complete 12 hours of Continuing Education per year.
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Wing Social and Annual Photo
CASA Advocates are invited to the Wing Society's Fall Social at Patio Dolcetto in San Marcos this Thursday. We will take the annual advocate group photo that will be used for our holiday card. Don't miss it!
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The 2015 Annual Advocate Photo
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Wing Society Fall Social & Annual Advocate Photo
Thursday, September 29
4-6 p.m.
Patio Dolcetto
322 Cheatham Street
San Marcos, TX 78666
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Hit the Road with CASA 
Get the CASA logo on the road, order your plates today!
The Big Voices for Little Texans license plate is available for purchase through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Based on your county of residence, a portion ($22) of the proceeds is passed along from the Office of the Attorney General directly to CASA, sharing equally between Texas CASA and CASA of Central Texas. Last year, we received $345 in license plate funding so that children and youth were helped right here locally in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties.
Show your support for Little Texans! Order your license plate
here.
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Help Recruit CASA Volunteers
Do you love CASA and want to help recruit volunteers? Now you can get the word out by being a host for one of our CASA Voices Tours Information Sessions.
How? You pick a tour date and location that works best for you, commit to invite your friends and join us for the session. Let us do the rest. Our goal is for you to have five of your friends or colleagues attend as your guests and for them to hear why you support CASA. Then a CASA staff member will explain the history of the program, what's involved with being a CASA and how to get started. We believe your personal invitation will go far in encouraging people to learn more about CASA, and help us reach the goal of providing a CASA for every child in State care.
CASA will also invite people through social media and word-of-mouth so expect to see faces new to you, too!
Voices Tours are held from noon - 1 on the first Wednesday of each month in New Braunfels and the second Wednesday of each month in San Marcos. Additional dates and locations are scheduled upon request. Please contact
Eloise Hudson if you would like to host a Voices Tour.
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Community Support
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Canyon Lake Methodist Church Love Circle
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Stay Connected
Spread the Word
Click the icon to view our profile
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Upcoming Events
October
1st
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
5th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
12th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
13th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
Continuing Education
1:30 - 3 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
More info click here
November
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse room 101
December
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
8th
Advocate Appreciation Mixer
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