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January 2021 | In This Issue
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Ensuring the Healthy Development of Infants in Foster Care: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals
Of the almost 600,000 children in foster care nationwide, one in five admissions is an infant. Since an alarming number of these babies are born prenatally exposed to drugs, premature or low birthweight, they are far more likely than other children to have serious medical problems, disabilities and developmental delays.
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134 CASA volunteers served 301 children in December and helped find safe, permanent homes for 30 of those children.
117 children are still waiting for someone to be their voice.
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CASA Training starts March 15, 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.
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Recruiters' Corner
It was Dale Carnegie that once said the only way to get someone to do something is if he or she wants to.
Want to learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer?
Join Stephanie Breeden and Donna Bliss
for a virtual CASA 101
Information Session
February 4th @ 11:30 AM
February 18th @ 6:30 PM
March 4th @ 11:30 AM
March 18th @ 6:30 PM
"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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| Thank you,
CASA Volunteers! |
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Some Things That All CASA's should know about Their CASA Child - Even during a Pandemic
Our Advocate Supervisor Team has continued to be amazed at the work you have done since March. Being a CASA Volunteer has had added challenges since March of last year! You have definitely stepped up to the plate and continued to provide great advocacy for children!
There are some basic things that we need to know about our children at all times. While the manner of gathering the information has changed, we always want to stay on top of the following:
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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. |
Stewards of Children Training
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.
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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Not a #Number Teen Training
Not a #Number is an interactive, five-module prevention curriculum designed to teach youth how to protect themselves from human trafficking and exploitation through information, critical thinking, and skill development. Not a #Number uses a holistic approach focusing on respect, empathy, individual strengths, and the relationship between personal and societal pressures that create or increase vulnerabilities. This training and curriculum is geared toward youth ages 12 through 18.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 4:30 PM
Wednesday, January 25, 2021 at 4:30 PM
Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4:30 PM
Child Advocacy Services
1504 W. Church St.
Hammond, LA 70401
Participants must attend all three sessions. These classes will be held in person. Social distancing will be followed to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Masks will be required.
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Jeffrey Miller
Tangipahoa Parish Multi-Disciplinary Team
Jeffrey Miller has been a member of our Tangipahoa Parish MDT for 13 years. He started his law enforcement journey in 1998 at Ponchatoula Police Department. From 1998-2008 he worked in patrol. While working in patrol, he was promoted to sergeant.
In 2008, Jeffrey was transferred to the criminal investigations department. Since then, he has been handling all juvenile cases. In 2016, Jeffrey was promoted to Captain over criminal investigations.
Jeffrey says his favorite part about being on our MDT is the positive team environment along with team collaboration on cases and working to keep children and families safe.
Jeffrey, we greatly appreciate your passion and always going above and beyond what's needed for the children and families we serve in Ponchatoula.
Adrianna Nelson
Livingston Parish Multi-Disciplinary Team
Adrianna Nelson has been an active Livingston MDT member for 5 years. Adrianna began  working for the Department of Children and Family Services in 2015 as a Child Protection Specialist. She diligently works to investigate child abuse allegations and serve families in Livingston Parish. Adrianna takes pride in being a part of the MDT team whose main goal is the safety and well-being of children.
She feels the Children's Advocacy Center gives children a place where they can talk freely and know that there is always somebody in their corner fighting for them. Adrianna thinks the best part about working with the MDT team is the excellent partnership you have with other agencies with the same end goal as yours.
Thank you, Adrianna, for being so dedicated in protecting the children in your community.
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In December, the Children's Advocacy Center provided advocacy and forensic interviews to 56 children. In the River Region, 20 children and families were provided 37 hours of counseling.
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Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This month, we'll be bringing you some basic facts and stats about human trafficking - because the more you know, the better equipped you'll be to make your community a safer place for children.
Human trafficking is defined as any situation of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power. In the case of child sex trafficking, force, fraud, or coercion do not need to be present - the crime is simply the exchange of any sex act with a child for anything of value. For vulnerable children, these "things" can include a place to sleep, a hot meal, drugs, a ride, etc.
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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.
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Dear Community Supporter,
CAS served 516 children with 198 volunteers through our CASA program in 2020. Of those children, 219 were placed in safe and permanent homes. Additionally, we performed 614 forensic interviews and provided 457 hours of counseling to 68 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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