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December 2020 | In This Issue
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Thank you to everyone who tuned-in to our first ever "Threading Hope" Social Media-Thon on Friday, December 4th!
We are truly grateful for everyone who stepped up and became a "Hope Hero" by joining us in our mission to give Voice, Healing, and Security to children!
If you couldn't join us but would still like to become a "Hope Hero," we invite you to support services for children!
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Children's Art Contest
We are excited to host our annual children's art contest "virtually" this year! We invite children from all of the parishes we serve to participate! Please watch the video below with your child and send us the art they create after watching the lesson.
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| | Child Advocacy Services Children's Art Contest |
Dates to know:
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Art Submission
- Monday, December 14th through Monday, December 21st
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Judging on Facebook
- Monday, December 28th through Wednesday, December 30th
Details for the contest: - When submitting art, please include the child's name, city/state, age and a way to contact their parent/caregiver
- In order to keep the judging anonymous, the child's name/identifying information should not be included on the actual piece of art
- Art should be drawn in a landscape orientation (examples are in the video)
- Art can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to 1504 W. Church Street, Hammond, LA 70401
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The Importance of Building Resiliency to Childhood Trauma
Resilience is being able to bounce back from stress, challenge, tragedy, trauma or adversity. When children are resilient, they are braver, more curious, more adaptable, and more able to extend their reach into the world
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136 CASA volunteers served 310 children in November and helped find safe, permanent homes for 21 of those children. 124 children are still waiting for someone to be their voice.
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Training starts January 11, 2021
Want to learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer?
We have a session designed with you in mind.
Register for one of our upcoming virtual information sessions.
Lunch Sessions:
December 17, 2020 at 11:30 AM
January 14, 2021 at 11:30 AM
Evening Sessions:
December 29, 2020 at 6:30 PM
January 07, 2021 at 6:30 PM
January 21, 2021 at 6:30 PM
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Recruiters' Corner
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| | CASA Volunteer, Pat Golembiewski, and former CASA child, Kayla, share why CASA is so important. |
"To make a difference in someone's life, you don't have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care enough and be there." Anonymous
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Congratulations to our newest CASA Volunteers:
Pam Alexander, Tyler Bates, Abigail Wallner & Tina Lamoureaux!
Pam and Tyler were sworn-in by the Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr. on November 13, 2020.
Abigail was sworn-in by the Honorable Judge Blair Edwards on December 9, 2020.
Tina Lamoureaux was sworn in by Judge Erin Lanoux. Tina has already accepted her first case and is excited about getting started.
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2021 Resolutions!
It seems like just yesterday that we were challenging you guys to make meaningful New Year's Resolutions for 2020! What a year this has been. Our staff has been amazed at the resiliency and dedication of our advocates. When we had to stop in person visits at the beginning of the pandemic, you guys went above and beyond to video chat, call, or do "drive by" visits to maintain connections with your CASA kids.
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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. |
Virtual Stewards of Children Training
Offered online via Zoom!
Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program believes and teaches that child safety is an adult's job.
Join us at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 16th!
This training is offered at $10 per participant. Your $10 includes a workbook, personal resources for better protecting children, CEU Certificate for 2.0 hours, and sustains this training for others to be trained.
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Juvenile Detective Brad Landry
Ascension Parish Multi-Disciplinary Team
 Juvenile Detective Brad Landry has been working alongside the CAC as part of the Ascension MDT for a little over two years. He is currently serving at the Gonzales Police Department as Juvenile Detective where he investigates all juvenile, elderly, and sex crimes.
He began working for the Gonzales Police Department in 2009 as a Patrolman where he was able to cross over into his current role of a detective in October of 2018.
Brad's favorite part about working with the MDT is being able to get a glimpse at how other agencies are able to help and advocate for juvenile victims. He says he admires how all the agencies are able to come together to provide valuable resources to those in need.
Thank you Brad for your service and commitment to help protect those in your community who can't protect themselves!
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In November, the Children's Advocacy Center provided advocacy and forensic interviews to 57 children. In the River Region, 20 children and families were provided 43 hours of counseling.
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With the holiday season fast approaching and COVID-19 surging in most parts of the country, millions of Americans will break with tradition this year to celebrate in ways that we hope will help to keep us all safe and healthy.
With these conditions, the holidays may be a very difficult time for many of us. Celebrating holidays alone or with a very small group of people and missing the usual large family gatherings is a very sad thought. But, if you look at it another way, the pandemic does offer opportunities to make this holiday a season to remember in new and different ways.
Here are a couple of ideas that you may want to consider:
Send Gifts: Although COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways, sending cards or gifts remains a relatively easy way to let loved ones know that you're thinking of them. Who wouldn't want to receive some home-baked goodies, a basket of fresh fruit, or a festive wreath? If you enjoy knitting, candle making, or other ways of crafting gifts for the holidays, now's the time to start planning for the holidays.
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Thank you all for your support to Child Advocacy Services CASA program's
"Operation Christmas." Dudley DeBosier (Baton Rouge/Denham Springs)
Donna Bruno
Holy Ghost
Happy Hands Physical Therapy
Sarah Hayes (volunteer)
St. Paul Lutheran Church Hammond
First United Methodist Church of Amite
Southern Samplers
Accounting Division of TPSO
Regina Shoriak
Antoinne Marketing + Design
Athletic Department of SLU
Assessor's Office Tangipahoa
Niki Givens
Pam Perrin Janet Tulley
Lanette Buie
Crystal Foster (board member)
Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Tickfaw
Jamie and Dianne Cambetta
Cypress Pointe Hospital
Associated Terminals (St. John)
First Presbyterian Church of Hammond
First United Methodist Church of Hammond
Melissa Laird
LeAnne Sibley
Christina Mc Speeden
Sarah Easterling (volunteer)
Rotary of East Ascension
St. James Parish Hospital
Word of Life Church in Darrow
Girl Scout Troops 10040, 10205, 10288, 10298, 10340, 10341, 10344, 10629, and 10729 of Ascension Parish
Marcy Thibodaux
Neggleund Law
Robert Gordon
Stephen Gordon King Jesus Ministries
Thank you to our friends at The Kinchen Group in Albany for hosting a Bake Sale to support services for children last month!
We are truly grateful for your partnership and generosity!
From our CAS family to yours!
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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 Buttons of Bravery Child Sponsors.
Patricia Golembiewski
Patricia Davis
Entergy
First Guaranty Bank
Antony Morelli
Sean & Colette Reynolds
Destin & William Sims
The Kinchen Group
Louisiana's 1st Choice Auto Auction
John & Georgianne Poteet
Rob & Tara Peltier *
David & Judith Landry *
Becky Powell *
CH Specialty *
Crossroads Behavioral Health, LLC *
* denotes a recurring monthly donor
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Dear Community Supporter,
CAS served 557 children with 212 volunteers through our CASA program in 2019. Of those children, 205 were placed in safe and permanent homes. Additionally, we performed 662 forensic interviews and provided 663 hours of counseling to 116 children and families 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 2020. Please remember your contribution is tax-deductible.
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To report Child Abuse or Neglect, call:
1-855-4LA-KIDS
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