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JUNE 2018 | In This Issue
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Hurricane Season is Here!
Prepared Not Scared™ is a parent's resource for helping children and families understand emotions associated with all severe weather and emergencies.
With the beginning of hurricane season, Child Advocacy Services is excited to share Prepared Not Scared™. This resource introduces "Sunny," a friendly turtle who shares ways to communicate with children and family members regarding emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and thunderstorms. He encourages open discussions and stresses the importance of having a plan for what to do in the case of an emergency.
If you would like to have copies to distribute or more information from our staff about this resource presented to your group, please call us at 800-798-1575. You can view the entire resource here.
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Congratulations On Your New Forever Home!
Joshua was adopted by his foster mom on May 24th after being in foster care for over three years. Special thanks to Judge Gray for officiating the adoption.
Congratulations to Joshua and his family!
Jayce was adopted on May 14th! Special thanks to his CASA, Melinda Roberts, and Judge Alvin Turner, Jr. for officiating the adoption. Congratulations, Jayce!
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Child Advocacy Services CASA volunteers
helped 21 children find safe,
permanent homes in May.
WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT MY CASA IS:
"She is always there to check on me and has my best interest at heart. This CASA worker has saved my life. I don't know where I would be without her."
From 2018 CASA children's survey
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CASA VOLUNTEER TRAININGS
St. John & St. Charles - July 24th.
Livingston,Tangipahoa & St. Helena - July 23rd.
Ascension, Assumption & St. James - August 27th.
East & West Feliciana - TBD
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Thank You For Your Dedication and Commitment.
Happy Anniversary!
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Jim S. - 9 years
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JoAn C. - 3 years |
Amy C. - 2 years
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| Gary M. - 7 years |
Caitlin C. - 3 years |
Tara L. - 2 years |
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Glen D. - 4 years
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Evelyn J. - 3 years |
Charles R. - 1 year
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| Tamala L. - 4 years |
Joseph O. - 2 years |
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| Julie R. - 3 years |
Susan P. - 2 years |
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Congratulations and Welcome To Our Newest CASA Advocates!
Elisha Norris and Keli Hayden were sworn-in by Judge Cashe.
They are ready to be
powerful voices for children!
Lillian Fussell was sworn in by Judge Tess Stromberg on May 21st!
Lillian is ready to be a powerful voice for children!
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Violet Stillday
Florida Parishes Volunteer Spotlight
Violet Stillday has been an East Feliciana CASA volunteer for the 20th JDC for over
2 years. Her first case recently closed and she quickly accepted another case. She recognizes how important this program is for so many children and their families.
Even through her own personal situation, she provided unyielding commitment to the children she serves. Violet gives credit to her CASA supervisor, Veronica London. Without her support she was unsure if she would have been able to continue.
"I really enjoy it. Being a CASA volunteer makes me feel useful.
I am able to help kids that really need my help."
Thank you, Violet!
We are truly grateful for your dedication and commitment to helping children.
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Cheri Marchand
River Parishes Volunteer Spotlight
Cheri was living in the Greater New Orleans area during Hurricane Katrina and
wanted to do her part in the rebuilding of the community in the
Crescent City, so she became a CASA volunteer in 2006. She says she has found so
much joy in working with the foster children she serves, finding in them the sunshine that burns away the darkness of the situations which brought them into care. She says the
children themselves are her true inspiration. Their strengths, personalities, and resilience
have been gifts to her for the seven years she has served as a CASA volunteer.
Cheri moved back to the Ascension area in March 2016. Since being sworn-in in July 2017 in Gonzales, Cheri advocates for children in Ascension and St. James Parishes. She has advocated for five children, of which four of them she continues to advocate for. One child was successfully reunited with her parent. Cheri travels from South Louisiana to North Louisiana to visit her children and to make sure she has updated information to report to the courts. She is a strong supporter of not only what is in the best interest of the children but also their education. She was a teacher for many years in different areas, one being children with disabilities.
Cheri would like to thank the supervisors and her co-volunteers for helping her in her continued journey with the CASA program here in the 23rd Judicial District Court.
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Benefits of Matching Neglected Children with Foster Care Families Earlier in Life
A recent study conducted by Stanford shows neglected children who are placed with foster care families earlier in life are more likely to be just as resilient and competent socially, academically, and physically as their peers who have never been institutionalized when they reach their teenage years.
Click
here to read the full article.
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Another school year has come and gone! There are several things that our CASA Volunteers need to remember to do as our children transition into summer. Summer visits are often challenging to schedule. Summer visits are super important! School aged children are out for the summer and foster parents sometimes have dilemmas regarding childcare. We should always know who is caring for our kids! Please schedule your visits early to avoid not being able to assess your CASA child's well-being.
CASA children who are school-aged will need some extra special attention over the summer to assure that the previous school year is completed successfully and that they are off to a good start for the upcoming academic year.
Click
here to view a timeline with suggested action steps.
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Remember to keep your CASA Volunteer file up-to-date with your current
auto insurance card, driver's license, and contact information.
And remember to visit your CASA child face-to-face at least
once a month.
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Upcoming Darkness to Light Training
Thursday, June 14th
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Charles E. Cate Teacher Education Center
Room 1022
1300 N General Pershing St.
Hammond, LA 70401
Cost: $10 per person
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It's sweet Summer time! The kids are out of school, the weather is HOT, and there's lots of fun things to do to keep cool. A family favorite is swimming; however, this fun activity can also be deadly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in swimming pools and spas. In addition, there are nearly 4,000 more children who are brought to the hospital emergency rooms due to submersion injuries. Water accidents can happen quickly and often without notice until it is too late. We want everyone to have a safe and happy summer so click here to see our top ten tips to maintain a safe swimming environment!
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Gonzales Office Ribbon Cutting & Open House
After nearly 15 years of serving children in Ascension Parish, Child Advocacy Services is proud to open our new office located at 915 S. Nickens Avenue in Gonzales. A ribbon cutting and open house was held on Tuesday, May 15th.
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Brave children tell their stories. Courageous adults help these children through their trauma and assist them in finding a safe future.
Buttons of Bravery represent the journey of one child for a year under the care of Child Advocacy Services.
Help hold them together through their experience by participating in the Buttons of Bravery Child Sponsorship Program.
Thank you to our new and/or continuing Button of Bravery Child Sponsors.
David & Judith Landry
Dear Community Supporter,
With your help, CAS served 523 children with 212 volunteers through our CASA program in 2017. Of those children, 172 were placed in safe and permanent homes. Additionally, we performed 618 forensic interviews and provided 413 hours of counseling to over 95 children through our CAC program.
Child Advocacy Services, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. We appreciate your consideration to start or renew your child sponsorship for 2018. Please remember your contribution is tax-deductible.
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Be the thread of hope for a child!
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To report Child Abuse or
Neglect
, call:
1-855-4LA-KIDS
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