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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
Survey Says...
Each year we survey our volunteers and key professionals including Child Protective Services workers, attorneys and judges. The surveys highlight what is working in the program and where we can make improvements. From all the feedback there is one big highlight - CASA Volunteers do make a difference, and we need more of them.
From our volunteers we heard that more than 90% feel they make a difference for the children. This is important because this is the greatest goal of CASA, to empower community volunteers to make a difference in the lives of children. I am pleased to say that none of our volunteers said they don't feel like they make a difference.
Also, we learned that volunteer advocates would like to see additional training topics, more resources and better communication between all parties on the cases. I am pleased that our volunteers' requests reflect tools to better advocate for their children. We will work to meet these requests.
From the judges, we heard that they, too, believe volunteers make a difference, but there are not enough of them. One hundred percent disagreed with the statement "There are sufficient volunteers to meet my caseload." And, 100 percent agreed with the statement "Children and families are better served because of CASA volunteer involvement." The judges emphasized they would like a volunteer on each of their cases, with one judge commenting, "If the kids are in the system, CASA is considered good, period. "
From other professionals including attorneys and CPS workers, we received positive feedback about our volunteers. The attorneys said volunteers are prepared, provide critical information and have a positive impact. They feel the most important roles of the volunteer are to maintain contact and to advocate for services for the children. CPS workers report CASA volunteers act professionally, have an understanding of children's needs, work for the best interest of children, make a difference with the children they serve, and that they would like to see more children served by CASA.
These are just a few highlights from the survey and I encourage you to delve further. Overall, I am proud of my program, proud of my volunteers, and proud of the relationships we have in the child welfare system. We will continue to emphasize what is working in our program, and make adjustments where we can.
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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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 at 512-392-3578 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.
February 27 thru March 26, Saturdays
8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, San Marcos
March 9 thru April 13, Wednesdays
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, San Marcos
March 10 thru April 1, Thursdays
4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, New Braunfels
May 4 thru June 8, Wednesdays
4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, San Marcos CASA Office
May 5 thru June 9, Thursdays
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, New Braunfels CASA Office
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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Volunteer Spotlight
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| Pam Rackler, CASA Volunteer since 2012 |
"Going through the process of adopting our third son made me aware of the CPS system and the need for advocates for the children. I just felt in my heart that I could make a difference."
"The courts are making decisions that affect the child's future and need someone that is independent from the social service system that observes what the child is going through and can tell the court 'I was there and this is what I saw'."
"You can make a difference in a child's life at a time when they are scared and going through chaos by no fault of their own."
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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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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
Wednesday, February 3rd, noon
CASA office
Wimberley
Thursday, February 11th, 11 a.m.
Wimberley Village Library, 400 FM 2325
San Marcos
Wednesday, February 17th, noon
Historic Hays County Courthouse, Room 101
Seguin
Thursday, February 18th, noon
GVEC Community Room, 927 N. Hwy 46
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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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
Judge Bert Cobb, Hays County
&
Judge Charles Stephens, Comal County Court at Law #2
Purchase your tickets
here
Thank You to our sponsors
Veneto Level
Tomblin Family Foundation
Toscana Level
Mariposa at Hunter Road Apartments
McKenna Foundation
Sicilia Level
Christus Santa Rosa Hospital
Alligator Dental
Support our event, become a sponsor
Sponsorship Information
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Continuing Education
A continuing education class was held for volunteers on January 19 at the Public Library in New Braunfels. Teresa Thompson, Adolescent Mental Health Crisis Respite Director of the Scheib Center and Hill Country MHDD spoke about respite care and mental health in adolescents and parents in the community.
Volunteers were given resources specific to mental health services Central Texas and learned of respite care services available in the area free of cost to families.
The door prize winners were Michael Kovalsli and Mike Nash.
The next CE will be held in March in San Marcos, details to come.
Advocates are required to complete 12 hours of Continuing Education per year.
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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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Community Supporters
Kwik Chek/McCraw Oil
Wimberley
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Stay Connected
Spread the Word
Click the icon to view our profile
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Upcoming Events
February
3rd
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
11th
Voices Tour in Wimberley
Wimberley Village Library
17th
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Historic Courthouse room 101
18th
Voices Tour in Seguin
Noon -1 p.m.
GVEC Community Room
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
More info click here
March
2nd
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
9th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
10th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
New Braunfels CASA office
16th
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Historic Courthouse room 101
April
6th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
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
4th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
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
15th
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
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