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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
Go Blue in April
April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and agencies will promote the month with the color blue. What does it mean to "Go Blue" in April? For me, it is about not letting the issue of child abuse be ignored. It is a topic not talked about enough until it makes headlines when it involves tragedy. In April, I want the color blue to stand for something positive - communities showing that we will work together to protect our children.
Our local Counties and Cities will commit to the fight against child abuse by signing their own proclamations recognizing the month. I encourage anyone who can attend their local signing to do so. See the calendar below for dates and times of proclamations in your community.
As an individual, I ask you to think how you can recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Wear the blue child abuse prevention bracelet, change your Facebook profile picture to the blue ribbon (find it on our page here), invite CASA to come speak to your church group, attend Family Court one morning to observe and understand how abuse is occurring in your own community, or talk to your children about being nice to the new kid in their class who has just joined them after being placed in a foster home.
As a business owner, celebrate the month by asking your employees to wear blue on Fridays, announce the month on your marquee, invite a CASA representative to speak to your employees, or decorate your office with blue ribbons.
Although April brings child abuse to light, we need to remember that our children are being abused all months of the year. Our dedicated volunteers here at CASA recognize this and work year round to protect these children. It is fitting to me that this month we will also celebrate these great people during National Volunteer Week
and the children they serve
during Texas Crime Victims Week both
April 10 - 16.
This April, take a stand, speak your voice and Go Blue.
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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April Proclamations
Local government officials will read proclamations throughout the month, officially recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Community members are invited to attend these proclamations to show your support.
| 11-Apr |
Caldwell County |
9 a.m. |
217 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor Lockhart |
| 5-Apr |
Lockhart |
6:30 p.m. |
217 S. Main Street, 3rd floor |
| 5-Apr |
Martindale |
6:00 p.m. |
City Hall |
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| 29-Mar |
Hays County |
9:00 a.m. |
County Courthouse |
| 5-Apr |
Kyle |
6:30 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 5-Apr |
Buda |
6:30 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 7-Apr |
Wimberley |
6:00 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 12-Apr |
Dripping Springs |
7:00 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 19-Apr |
San Marcos |
4:00 p.m. |
City Hall |
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| 7-Apr |
Comal County |
8:30 a.m. |
County Courthouse |
| 6-Apr |
Garden Ridge |
6 p.m. |
Council Chambers |
| 11-Apr |
New Braunfels |
6 p.m. |
Council Chambers |
| 12-Apr |
Bulverde |
6:30 p.m. |
Council Chambers |
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| 29-Mar |
Guadalupe County |
10 a.m. |
County Justice Center |
| 22-Mar |
Cibolo |
6:30 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 4-Apr |
Seguin |
10 a.m. |
City Hall |
| 4-Apr |
Marion |
6 p.m. |
City Hall |
| 5-Apr |
Schertz |
6 p.m. |
City Hall |
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| The City of Cibolo recognized the month with an early proclamation on March 22. |
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Hays County recognized the month with an early proclamation on March 29.
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Guadalupe County recognized the month with an early proclamation on March 29.
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Save the Date
Buona Salute! It is with great pleasure that CASA of Central Texas is hosting our annual fundraising celebration. You are invited to
una festa Italiano!
April 8, 2016
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wurstfest Stelzenhaus, New Braunfels
Honoring
Bert Cobb, M.D., Hays County Judge
&
Judge Charles Stephens, Comal County Court at Law #2
Purchase your tickets
here
Thank You to our sponsors
Campania Level
Veneto Level
Tomblin Family Foundation
Toscana Level
Friends of Canine Classmates
Maribess and Jerry Miller
Mariposa Apartment Homes at Hunter Road
McKenna Foundation
Sicilia Level
Airforce Turbine Service
Alligator Dental
Carol and Charlie Little
Children's Dental Ark
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital
CMC Steel
H-E-B
Ingram Family Foundation
River City Engineering
State Representative Doug Miller and Miller and Miller Insurance
Support our event, become a sponsor
Sponsorship Information
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Become a CASA Volunteer
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CASA Volunteer Toni Urban sworn in March 2014
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Sign up for a 2016 Training Session
For more information on training sessions contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at512-392-3578 or by
email, or click
here
to visit our website.
A New Volunteer Training Course is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteers.
The Volunteer Training Course is a 6-part training series and all 6 classes are required.
Upcoming Training Courses
April 4 thru April 20th, Mondays and Wednesdays
Noon to 4:00 p.m., Lockhart
May 9 thru May 8, Mondays and Wednesdays
4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, San Marcos
May 10 thru May 26, Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, New Braunfels
June courses TBA
San Marcos
Historic Hays County Courthouse Room 101
111 E. San Antonio Street
New Braunfels
CASA office
1619 E. Common Street, Building C
Lockhart
Lockhart First National Bank
111 S. Main Street
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Volunteer Spotlight
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Rita Morieras, CASA Volunteer since 2012 |
"I became a CASA because I wished I had a voice when I was a child, so now I want to help children who do not have a voice."
"We do make a difference in the children's lives."
"As long as you care, it is enough."
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers
Welcome to our newest CASA volunteers sworn in February 29th!
Back left to right:
Jan Hutchings of Comal County,
Nancy & Don Seymour of Guadalupe County,
Emma Mouzley of Guadalupe County,
Amanda Salazar of Comal County, Judge Melissa McClenahan,
Yasmeen Webb of Guadalupe County,
Nick Funari of Hays County,
Meredith Riechmann of Hays County, and
Kelley Sterling of Hays County.
Front left to right:
Cathy Dobson of Comal County,
Deborah Blair of Comal County,
Rita Starz of Comal County,
Kathleen Knoll of Hays County,
Ann Everett of Hays County, and
Daniel Steele of Hays County.
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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
Seguin
Monday, April 4th, 5:30 p.m.
GVEC Community Room, 927 N Hwy 46
New Braunfels
Wednesday, April 6th, noon
CASA office
San Marcos
Wednesday, April 20th, noon
Historic Hays County Courthouse, Room 101
Bulverde
Tuesday, April 26th, 6:30 p.m.
Public Library, 131 Bulverde Crossing
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!
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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Volunteer Continuing Education
On Tuesday March 22, Social Workers from Casey Family Services spoke with CASA volunteers about the role of Permanency in the Child Welfare System and how CASA can play a role in finding Permanency for each child.
Casey Family Services also shared resources with volunteers on how to find family for children in care and how to integrate extended family into the permanency plan for children.
Watch for more information to come about our May 17th continuing education on recognizing and reporting abuse, to be held at the Comal County Children's Advocacy Center.
CASA of Central Texas volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually.
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Executive Director Appointed to National Committee
We are proud to announce our Executive Director Norma Castilla Blackwell has been invited to serve as a member of the National CASA Suburban Leadership Council.
The Suburban Leadership Council will create opportunities to strengthen the services and support that National CASA provides for state organizations and local programs to achieve the goal of an advocate for every child. In particular, National CASA will be working with the Council on growth and sustainability strategies.
"I am honored to serve at the National level and contribute to addressing the need for growth in suburban programs like CASA of Central Texas," Norma said. "I look forward to sharing my experience and hearing what is working for other programs across the county."
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Help Us Recruit 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 Supporters
Luke and Reese Allen (center) put together Easter baskets for CASA children and delivered them to the office with friends. Luke and Reese are the children of CASA Volunteer Leslie Allen.
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Donate Your Jury Pay to CASA
CASA of Central Texas is now appearing on the county courts list as a
 local charitable organization to whom jurors may elect to donate their jury duty pay.
CASA is on the Jury Pay Donation lists of all four of our counties - Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays. If you serve as a juror, please look for our name and consider donating to CASA!
Thank you County Judges, Commissioners and Administrators!
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Stay Connected
Spread the Word
Click the icon to view our profile
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Upcoming Events
4th
Voices Tour in Seguin
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Lockhart First Community Bank
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
8th
Annual Dinner/Auction Fundraiser
Ciao CASA
6:30 p.m.
Wurstfest Stelzenhaus
New Braunfels
20th
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
May
4th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
9th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
9th
Voices Tour in Seguin
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
Advocate Continuing Education
18th
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse room 101
June
1st
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
7th
Voices Tour in Seguin
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse room 101
29th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
30th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
July
Noon - 1 p.m.
6th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse room 101
August
3rd
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse room 101
24th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
35th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
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