Voices for Children Montgomery 1010 Grandin Avenue, Suite B-3 Rockville, MD 20851 Phone: 301.340.7458 Fax:301.686.8574 Email: [email protected]

IN THIS NEWSLETTER: Events | A Child is Waiting | Volunteer Spotlight | Upcoming Pre-Service Training | Volunteer Anniversaries | Donors Making a Difference | Volunteers Needed

Pre-Service Training For Prospective Volunteers Starts June 19, 2021!  *Training will be online

In-Service Events, June 2021

A big THANK YOU to our in-service speakers this quarter! In February, Corey Talcott, Chief, Division of Health and Human Services, Office of the County Attorney, explained the court hearing process and how to speak during a hearing. In March, Smita Varia, Program Manager, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Montgomery County Office of the Sheriff, presented information on domestic violence and unhealthy relationships in youth. In April, Peter King LCPC, Program Director at Sandstone Care Rockville, spoke with volunteers about the science behind addiction and how recovery programs treat addiction. This quarter we also had two presentations focused on culture and equity. In January, CASA staff lead a discussion after watching “The 13th ” documentary, and in May, Jerrona Smith, Director of CASA Lower Shore, shared some historic factors that contribute to systemic racism and how it affects our work as CASAs today. We greatly appreciate the time and expertise our speakers provided to help our volunteers better advocate for children in foster care!

COVID-19 A Year Later: Next Steps to Ensure Montgomery County's Vulnerable Children and Youth Thrive

Thank you to everyone who attended our event on May 11th and made it possible! We hope you enjoyed the panel conversation and learned the impact Covid-19 has had on children and next steps to ensure vulnerable children & youth thrive. Thank you to our panelists: Francha Davis, Janet Lee, Dr. Hope Hill, Jose Aguilera, and Grace Edwards. Thank you to our moderator Robin Harris. A special thank you to our sponsor, Patuxent River (MD) Chapter of the Links, Inc.

Voices for Children Montgomery  Board of Directors Holds Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors held VFCM’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Board members reviewed and approved updated organizational By-Laws, which include revised terms of office for Board members, as well as term limits. Thanks to Board members Jarrett Perlow and Heather Collier for all of their hard work on the new By-Laws!! And welcome to new Board member Jennifer Fairfax, who was elected to her first term on the Board. Jennifer is an experienced adoption attorney and a former CASA volunteer!!

CASA Volunteer’s Day Virtual Celebration

To acknowledge the commitment, time, and compassion of CASA volunteers, the National CASA/GAL Association for Children partnered with FosterStrong to host the first-ever, CASA Volunteer’s Day on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. We want to honor and thank ALL of our CASA volunteers who work hard to ensure Montgomery County children and youth, who have been placed in foster care as a result of experiencing abuse or neglect, have their voices heard every day. If you missed the celebration, check out the YouTube video below.

A Child Is Waiting

Delaney* is a 16-year-old who sadly has a long history of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect dating back to when she was 7 years old and lived with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. When her mother passed away, Delaney went to live with her father and half-siblings. Child Welfare became involved again in January 2020, when a report was received alleging Delaney’s father had physically assaulted her. Delaney was removed from her father’s care and placed in a residential treatment center (RTC), where she did well. Delaney was recently moved to a foster home because of the progress she made while at the RTC. Delaney continues to have many therapeutic needs as she and her father work toward repairing their relationship. She could benefit from having a CASA volunteer involved to help ensure services are put in place and to look after her best interests.  *Names changed and photos are not of CASA children

Volunteer Spotlights Spring 2021

Madison Ellis is the CASA for 17-year-old Joe*. Joe is currently placed in a group home, where he has been for the past two years. Joe’s family is not involved, and he has continued to express that he would like to live with a family, specifically a former foster parent with whom he has maintained contact. For the past two years, Madison has been advocating for Joe to return to live with this former foster parent. At Joe’s recent court hearing, the Court decided to let Joe transition to the home of his former foster mother. Joe is very excited to be graduating and transitioning to his possible permanent home.  Andrea Taylor has been the CASA for 18-year-old Katie*, for the past 15 months. Katie has faced many challenges with her senior year of high school, the main issue of which has been learning how to manage virtual learning requirements throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrea has made it a priority in her CASA work to maintain regular communication with all of Katie’s teachers and school staff to help encourage Katie to put forth her best effort but also to ensure that all necessary supports were in place during such a difficult time for Katie. Katie is on track to graduate this month and has applied to pursue a Certified Nursing Assistant program in the fall.

*Names changed and photos are not of CASA children

Next Pre-Service Training Session for Prospective Volunteer Summer 2021

Saturday Monday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday

6/19/2021 6/21/2021 6/23/2021 6/28/2021 6/29/2021 6/30/2021 7/06/2021

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Next Pre-Service Training Session for Prospective Volunteer Fall 2021

Saturday Monday Wednesday Friday Monday Wednesday Monday

9/18/2021 9/20/2021 9/22/2021 9/24/2021 9/27/2021 9/29/2021 10/04/2021

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Volunteer Anniversaries

Special Anniversaries Michele Hamilton - 11 years Sandra-Lynn Berson - 10 years Carmen Collette - 9 years Laura Brown - 8 years Hilary Robbins - 8 years Carrie Sypes - 7 years 6 Years Jack Krakower John Pettibone 5 Years John Belliveau Madison Ellis 4 Years Robin Delaloye Katherine Freeman Jeanne Touzeau Leslie Wiercinski 3 Years Jane Batwinis Rosemary DiGioia Russell Munk 2 Years Elisa Gladstone Barbara Hanlen Taylor Rose Elli Stephanede Kristen Wendel 1 Year Barbara Bullman Katrina Carter Joan Donahue Capri Fowler Susan Hack Timothy Kinsella Cosette Melcher Laine (Peyton) Myers Julie Rasicot Cheryl Reid Barbara Romanoff Leslie Rubell Louise Shaw-Barry Sung Yun Kimberly Zembower

Donors Making A Difference *Donations received from 2/12/2021 to 6/01/2021

Donors Loris Ayirebi Jack Berry Michael Epperson Robin Harris Dilek Goncalves Maleka Lawrence Brauna Martin Teresa McKenna & David Pena Liora Moriel Danelco Moxey Jarrett Perlow Rachel & Travis Stalcup Lillian Teng Stephen Turow & Linda Blumberg Anjali Vora Suzanne Waltzer Leslie Wiercinski Philip York Christine Young - In Honor of Suzie Waltzer's Birthday In Honor of Barbara Faigen's Birthday Phyllis Aaronson Marla Brick Marilyn & Doug Butters Cathy Certner Lynn Dublin Sarah Hall Carol Hartman Mindy Landau

Special Thanks Dell Giving Gilead Sciences John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation Microsoft NCJW Montgomery County Oath Inc. Robert I. Schattner Foundation Scales Family Fund United Health Group

BECOME A VOLUNTEER Be the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer that every child in Montgomery County, Maryland’s foster care system needs.

DONATE Voices for Children Montgomery depends upon donations from people like you to continue its work. Make a donation today to help us reach our goal of serving ALL the children in foster care in Montgomery County by 2026.

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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.