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
As we start 2015, I want to take a moment to say thank you for your support of CASA in 2014. Because of you, 466 children had the powerful voice of a CASA volunteer to speak up for them in the courtroom, in schools and in our community. This is 45 more children than last year! We were blessed with 244 dedicated CASA volunteers who were active last year and we helped close 78 cases for 165 children! Of the 165 children whose cases closed, the number of reunifications with family members is one that should be highlighted. 134 of the children we worked with found permanency with their parents or relatives: * 81 of the children were reunified with their parents * 53 were adopted by or now live permanently with relatives * 18 were adopted by new families * 13 reached independent living (turned 18 years old)
Even though we made great achievements in 2014, we must work even harder in 2015 to reach our goal of providing a CASA Volunteer to every child in State care. For every child that has a CASA volunteer, he or she is more likely to find a safe, permanent home, get more help while in the system, and spend less time in state-funded foster care. If you're already a volunteer, please consider joining the Community Outreach Team and help us recruit more volunteers. If you aren't already a volunteer advocate, consider becoming one. The first step is to complete an application and schedule a pre-training interview. More information can be found here. If becoming a CASA volunteer isn't a fit for you, you can still help by getting the word out about CASA. Invite one of our representatives to speak to your organization or invite your friends to a Voices Tour information session. We will work hard in 2015 to come closer to our goal of providing a CASA to every child in State care. We hope you will support us in this mission.
Thank you,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
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Volunteer Voices
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LaVerne Johnson, CASA volunteer since 2007.
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"I had first heard of CASA in the Valley when I was still teaching, but did not have time to devote. After I retired, there was a front page newspaper story and picture that 'spoke' to me and I called."
"There have been times when judges or attorneys or case workers changed and CASA was the unifying factor. On those occasions, I provided important details and clarified key points." "I have never regretted the time and energy I devote to my cases. I always feel a quiet satisfaction and pride in the new forever families that I help form."
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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
New Braunfels
CASA office
First Wednesday of each month - Noon
San Marcos
CASA office
Second Wednesday of each month - Noon
Schertz
GVEC Community Room Tuesday, March 17th - Noon
Seguin GVEC Community Room Thursday, March 19th - Noon Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by email or at 830-626-2272. Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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CASA in the Keys
Put on your tropical shirts and grass skirts as CASA of Central Texas "heads down Route 1 to the Islands." Join us as we celebrate three decades of advocating for abused and neglected children in Central Texas!
April 10, 2015 6:30 p.m. Wurstfest Stelzenhaus New Braunfels Purchase tickets here Sponsorship information here
Thank you to our sponsors!
Mariposa at Hunter Road Apartments
McKenna Foundation
Robin and David Pfeifer
Tomblin Family Foundation (2)
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Welcome New Advocates
The last class of 2014 was sworn in at our Holiday Mixer on December 12.
(l-r): Maneka Brooks of Hays County, Dianna Price of Hays County, Sara Hughes of Comal County, Meghan Taylor of Hays County, Karyn Myers of Hays County, Judge Melissa McClenahan, Mary Marek of Guadalupe County, John Nixon of Guadalupe County, Rick Jones of Comal County, Jennifer Polcyn of Guadalupe County, Ray Jacobson of Hays County, Ren Liner of Hays County and Bill Morton of Comal County.
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Become a CASA Volunteer
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Bob Williams, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2010.
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Upcoming Trainings:
Saturdays
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 28th through March 28th New Braunfels office Training sessions will also begin the following weeks:
Week of March 2 Week of April 26 Week of June 21 Week of August 9 Times and locations TBA To learn more about training sessions, contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by email.
For more information on becoming a volunteer, click here. |
Kronkosky Birthday Gift
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L-R: Kronkosky CF Grants Manager Tom Maguire, CASA Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell and Kronkosky CF Managing Director J. Tullos Wells.
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The Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
surprised CASA of Central Texas with a very special gift last month. Each year the Foundation makes an unsolicited, unrestricted $50,000 grant in honor of each of their founders on their birthdays.
Born on December 13th, Bessie Mae Kronkosky led a full life of philanthropy supporting numerous worthy causes in a four-county area. CASA Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell thanks the Kronkosky Foundation for believing in the CASA mission and supporting our volunteers. With this gift, CASA will move closer to providing a trained CASA volunteer for every abused and neglected child in Comal County. This is the first time we are recipients of this birthday gift and we are very, very thankful!
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CASA Day at the Capitol Feb. 12
The 2015 CASA Day at the Capitol is geared up to be bigger and better than ever! Hundreds of CASA advocates from all over the state will attend appointments at the legislative offices to spread the word about CASA and talk about bills that will be helping the abused and neglected children from their districts. We want CASA of Central Texas Advocates to be a part of this great event! To attend or for more information, please contact Eloise Hudson at 830-626-2272 or by email. |
Challenge Complete
From May through November last year you heard about progress being made in CASA of Central Texas' first-ever endowment campaign. We are so happy to report that our goal to raise $25,000 was achieved - 100% and more! This fundraising goal was established to meet a challenge put before us by the McKenna Foundation. It also helped us complete a remaining element of our 2009-2014 strategic plan. As a result of achieving this goal, the Foundation donated to CASA a matching gift of $25,000, making the initial opening fund balance just over $50,000. Our endowment fund is held at the New Braunfels Area Community Foundation. Thank you all for your help in starting this new fund that helps CASA of Central Texas begin building a long-lasting revenue stream as interest and earnings may be used to support our operations and the principal will remain intact.
Going forward, gifts may continue to be designated to the endowment fund to further help the fund grow. This is a giving opportunity that you may wish to pursue by naming CASA of Central Texas in your will, as a beneficiary to a life insurance plan, or as part of your annual giving plan. There are many options to consider for your planned giving. Please call CASA Development Director Tricia Schneider, 830-626-2272, to discuss your plans, ask questions or request more information.
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Advocate Appreciation Holiday Mixer
CASA honored all Central Texas Advocates at our annual Holiday Mixer on December 12 at the Price Center in San Marcos. |
Advocates from Hays County with Child Protection Court Judge Melissa McClenahan.
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Guadalupe County Advocate Gillian Siemens with Judge McClenahan.
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Caldwell County Advocate Rosa Hernandez with Judge McClenahan.
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Comal County Advocates with Judge McClenahan.
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Holiday Gift Drive Helps 250 children This year community members donated gifts and gift cards so that more than 250 children and youth would receive something special from CASA during the holidays. Thank you to all of our CASA volunteers who worked hard to turn in gift requests and then deliver the gifts during December. Thank you also to everyone who donated and helped make the holidays special for these children. 2014 Holiday Gift Drive participants:
Amanda Swafford, Amanda Tooker, Annette and Jim Berry, Ashley Byrnes, Ashley and Tamara Duke-Matthews, Brad and Yvonne Smith, Buda United Methodist Church, Cathy and Everett Dodson, Cathy and Wayne Vrba, Cindy Tucker, Cody Randall and Darbie Walker, Dana Ritchie, Dee Bartlett, Diana Price, Diana and Carlos Ruiz, Diana Vazquez, Everett Dodson, Gentiva Hospice, GE Oil & Gas, Gin and Mike Hudson, Guadalupe County FSA, Ibex Global Ivey Family, Jan Ashford, Jerret Swierc, Kay Lynch, Keeffe Family, Kelly Aurthur, Kyle/Buda PeeWees, Linda Schlather, Lisa Layva, Lonnette and Patrick LaBorde, Margaret Koranek, Margot and Robert Brown, Mary Eisenberg, Meagan Day, Monica Sanchez, New Braunfels Prestige Auto Detailing, New Braunfels Girl Scouts, Northeast Bible Church, Patricia McCaleb, Pan American Golf Association, Sam Gonzales, Shelby Flournoy, Sheri Seward, Stacy Long, Society of Women Engineers at Texas State, Stacy and Darrell Long, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Student Volunteer Connection, Suzanne Williams, Taylor Polanco, Tech Ridge Dental, Texas Home Systems, Texas State Women's Soccer Club, The Wing Society, Timothy Trigo, and the Tomblin Family Foundation.
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Be a Part of Online Giving
CASA of Central Texas is excited to be participating in Amplify Austin and The Big Give San Antonio this year.
Amplify Austin is a community-wide day of online giving with the goal of raising $7 million for nonprofits in 24 hours. Amplify Austin March 5-6 https://amplifyatx.ilivehereigivehere.org/ Schedule your gift to CASA today! The 2nd Annual Big Give San Antonio is an online giving day dedicated to raising funds and awareness for nonprofits throughout South Central Texas, including Comal and Guadalupe County. The Big Give San Antonio May 5 https://www.thebiggivesa.org/
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Thank You to Our Supporters
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Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson (left) presented CASA Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell with funds from the General Land Office's annual chili tasting.
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Volunteer Continuing Education
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Advocates Sharon Skrocki and Greg Golian were the giveaway winners of the evening.
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On January 27th, CASA volunteers learned about The THRU project as part of our Continuing Education series.
The THRU project was founded in 2011 in San Antonio in order to help foster children who have aged out of foster care. The program provides these youth with mentor advisors that help guide them while they navigate life outside of the system. The THRU project works closely with PAL services in San Antonio in order to get children referred and matched with an adult mentor.Next Continuing Education February 24th, 5:30 p.m. Family Violence and Stalking Click here for more information Volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually
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Upcoming Events
February
Noon -1 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
11th
Voices Tour
Noon - 1 p.m.
San Marcos CASA office
12th
CASA Day at the Capitol
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Austin
19th
Community Outreach Team Meeting
Noon - 1 p.m.New Braunfels CASA officeMore info click here24th
Continuing Education
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Hays-Caldwell Women's Center
28th
New Braunfels CASA office
March
2nd
CASA Volunteer Training
4th
Voices Tour
Noon -1 p.m.
11th
Voices Tour
Noon - 1 p.m.
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