IN THIS NEWSLETTER: New Staff | New CASAs | Upcoming Events | Giving Tuesday | A Child is Waiting | Volunteer Spotlights | Upcoming Pre-Service Training |Volunteer Anniversaries | Donors Making a Difference

Congratulations to the new CASA volunteers who completed their training.

Voices For Children Montgomery will have an information table at the Takoma Park Street Festival. Please stop by and see us.

Check our website regularly for upcoming events and updates!

Giving Tuesday is November 30, 2021. Because of you, we're able to make a big impact!

Five ways to give:

1. Give your time or talent: volunteer, give your skills
2. Give your voice: sign a petition, speak up for a cause
3. Give money: donate or fundraise for a nonprofit
4. Give goods: organize a supply drive, donate clothes 
5. Give kindness: buy someone lunch, compliment a stranger

*Ryland is a 10-year-old little boy who is waiting for a CASA volunteer. He officially came into foster care in December 2020, following a long history which included sexual abuse and witnessing domestic violence. As a result of the trauma he experienced, Ryland has a history of aggressive behavior, including acting out on other children, and of mental health issues, including a history of hospitalizations for suicidal ideation. While his mother sought help and services, Ryland was formally removed from his mother and placed in a kinship placement with his grandmother because his mother was unable to keep Ryland and his siblings safe. This is a little boy who is going to need a lot of services to work through his trauma history and who would benefit from a CASA volunteer ensuring he is getting the appropriate care.

Dr. Tafadzwa Kasambira is the CASA for 17-year-old *Kyle, who came to the United States on his own, as he and his parents feared for his safety in his home country after local gang members began recruiting him at a young age. Dr. Kasambira started building rapport with Kyle through weekly visits and conversations about Kyle's hobbies and plans for college. Through these conversations, Dr. Kasambira came to learn that Kyle has a passion for music and that he used to play both the piano and flute back home. Dr. Kasambira was able to advocate that Kyle again be afforded this opportunity and he was able to get Kyle his own keyboard piano.

Terry Roder has been working with 19-year-old Sara* for almost a year and half. Sara came into care due to her own mental health needs, and she has been in out-of-home care for years. Two years ago, she was placed on a trial home visit with her father, but it did not work out. Since then, Sara has focused on her mental health treatment and has continued her relationship with her father and other family members. Terry has been a consistent presence in Sara’s life and has followed Sara through different placements and providers. On August 16, 2021, Sara began a trial home visit with her father, brother and extended family. Terry advocated to ensure all Sara’s mental health services were in place before her move. Now that Sara is home, Terry is working to make sure Sara’s family has all the doctor’s notes and information they need to address her medical issues, especially a recently diagnosed condition that affects Sara’s muscles.

*Names changed and photos are not of CASA children

Our fall pre-service training starts this Saturday, September 18, 2021. It is not too late to sign up, email Nancy King at nking@casamontgomery.org for more information.

** Time subject to change to 4:30- 7:45 pm

Thank you to each of the following individuals for your years of service and dedication to your CASA youth. Happy Anniversary!

*Donations received from 6/01/2021 to 9/14/2021

Thank you to everyone who made a donation! Your generosity is the reason we are able to continue to help children in foster care in Montgomery County. We could not do this work without YOU!!

Voices for Children Montgomery is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and receives partial funding from the Montgomery County Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Administrative Office of the Courts Dept. of Juvenile and Family Services.