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Welcome to the reformatted Gist Newsletter. We hope you find this digital, mobile-friendly version of CASA's volunteer news and events easy to navigate and user-friendly.
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CASA Welcomes its Newest Volunteers
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| Please help us in welcoming the newly sworn-in advocates and SEPT facilitators. We're very happy to have this group of people join the CASA family!
Front row (L-R): Pat Hines, Alyssa Mulder, Emmaline Repp, Brian Segal, Mari Tanabe.
Middle Row: Marla Moore, Jess Bolding, Kristan Brown, Ann Fallon, Ruth Foster, Alana Freeman, Elizabeth Schifferdecker, Judge Gilbert Martinez.
Back Row: Keegan Patterson, Jake Ridderhoff, Rick Rivers, Dawn Sutherland.
Welcome and good luck with your upcoming work with the children in our community!
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| CASA of the Pikes Peak Region Receives a 4-Star Rating for the Fifth Year in a Row!
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| I am pleased to share with you that CASA of the Pikes Region has been awarded a 4-Star rating by Charity Navigator for the fifth consecutive year! This is the highest rating that they award and Charity Navigator bases awards on financial health, accountability and transparency.
Charity Navigator evaluates 1.4 million U.S. non-profit agencies and accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. This is considered a prestigious award by non-profits and donors alike and we should all be very proud of our accomplishment!
To view CASA of the Pikes Peak Region on Charity Navigator, just click on this link:
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Happy Birthday to our Volunteers!
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5/3-Susan S.
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6/1-Donovan R.
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5/6-Sherry H.
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6/1-Terilynn R.
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5/9-Stacy F.
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6/3-Al R.
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5/10-Leslie C
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6/3-Randy M.
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5/10-Jessica B.
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6/6-Melanie M.
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5/13-Judy C.
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6/7-Rob M.
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5/13-Rochele R.
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6/11-Elizabeth S.
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5/14-Tanya D.
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6/12-Martha K.
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5/18-Michael S.
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6/12-Dawn S.
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5/19-Michele S.
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6/14-Chris C.
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5/22-Jillian W.
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6/15-Gerald A.
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5/22-Amanda F.
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6/15-Vanessa S.
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5/24-Katherine D.
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6/17-Susan K.
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5/25-Sandy B.
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6/20-Erin S.
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5/26-Lynne A.
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6/20-Sara M.
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5/26-Lynne A.
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6/22-Bonnie S.
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5/26-Diane H.
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6/22-Judith M.
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5/27-Georgeann H.
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6/23-Tammy H.
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5/27-Michael J.
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6/24-Becky M.
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5/29-Joe M.
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6/24-Stacy B.
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5/30-Leonard A.
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6/24-Laura H.
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5/31-Hope F.
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6/27-Bob W.
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6/27-Joe F.
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6/30-Ellen L.
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Barbara Almen
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Kathy Koppers
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Kaye Anderson
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Jennifer McKee
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Mary Brennan
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Stephanie Parker
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Susie Havel
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Robert Waterman
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Rebecca Kluck
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Jean Boddy
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Marla Moore
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Jessica Bolding
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Keegan Patterson
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Ruth Foster
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Scharlotte Rich
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Alana Freeman
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Rick Rivers
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Jaime Hayward
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Dawn Sutherland
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Laura Huspek
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Pieter Traas
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Tina Jordan
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A Note from Our Executive Director, Jenny Bender
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As we wrapped up Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, I wanted to say a heart-felt thank you to all of our CASA volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to ensure that our children have a safe and permanent home. We know that here at CASA we practice child abuse prevention all year long and hope that the rest of our community will catch on. We also know that without you, there would be no CASA. Our volunteers strive to make a difference every day.
You give so much of your time, energy and heart in your volunteer work that this extra effort to raise funds for our mission is extraordinary and it does not go unnoticed.
So many helped make this year's Light of Hope a success. Many of you pitched in to help plan and organize, set-up, greet, work registration, help with childcare, staff the volunteer table, and more. I am especially inspired and grateful to those of you were table captains...your efforts raised money, introduced others to our cause, and helped create a better understanding about the plight of abused and neglected kids in our community.
We are excited to announce that our 2016 Light of Hope preliminary donation total is $315,000. Thank you for your investment in our organization's success. Please know how very grateful we are for all you do to be a Light of Hope for the children we serve.
I will leave you with these words from Margaret Mead, Anthropologist and Activist, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
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June Events
June 13th-17th: 2016/2017 Senior Pictures
Free senior picture photo shoots and picture packages are available for anyone graduating any time during the 2016-2017 school year! Shoots will be in Old Colorado City or Black Forest and are by appointment only. Registration is required and limited spaces are available. Please call Jill at 719-447-9898, ext. 1026 or
[email protected]
to reserve your spot.
CAMP SHADY BROOK:
Come experience the magic of Camp Shady Brook! Each morning campers will choose activities based on their interests.
Some activities include, but are not limited to: boating, archery, arts & crafts, swimming, hiking, camping, ropes course, climbing wall, zip wire, trail rides, drama, fishing, leadership development, riflery, slingshots, creek stomping, astronomy, basketball, volleyball, gagaball, kickball, and so much more. Please note that some of these activities are limited to a minimum age requirement.
EAGLE LAKE CAMPS:
These overnight camps are perfect for kids ages 8-18. The property boasts plenty of exciting activities to keep campers entertained from a private lake and waterfront activities, to ziplining, gagaball, archery, riflery, group games, campfires and more. With so many options, each camper is sure to find something they love! We can't wait for you to experience Eagle Lake's rich legacy of camping excellence.
http://www.eaglelakecamps.com/
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THEATREWORKS SUMMER CAMPS:
These summer camps, true to THEATREWORKS nature, are small, smart and will make your kids think (and do!). With a maximum of 20 students, your child will be immersed in hands-on, experiential learning through programs connected to our rich history of performing Shakespeare's plays.
Sword play, comedy, acting, clowning and all the rest will give your child unique insight into the Bard's (and other classic playwright's) greatest hits. Several camps include opportunities to perform at Rock Ledge Ranch "on the green," before performances of THEATREWORKS Shakespeare Festival.
To learn more about MFCF and the Hanger teen programs
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Want to Help Spread the Word About CASA?
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Learn how to be an effective speaker for CASA at the upcoming Speakers Bureau Training.
CASA relies on a pool of experienced volunteers to speak to groups about CASA's mission and how ordinary citizens (like you!) make an extraordinary difference in children's lives. If you are interested in honing your skills, please join us for our next Speakers Bureau Training.
At this Training, we'll explore how to effectively state the impact you make as a volunteer, how to communicate CASA's core mission, and how we can convert interested onlookers into strong volunteers. Volunteer speakers are often interviewed on the radio, on TV, for print news, and they speak to community groups across El Paso and Teller Counties.
June 16, 11:45 - 1:15, at the CASA Office
For questions or to RSVP, please contact Tonya Lark at
[email protected]
or by calling 719-447-9898, ext. 1016.
Bring a brown bag lunch, we'll provide the drinks!
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| In-Service: Opioid Use and Misuse
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Magistrate Jami Curtis is co-sponsoring a training on prescription opioid use and misuse. This in-service will be an excellent training with some great presenters from CU's medical school. The in-service will include information specifically relevant for individuals on Medicaid.
What: Prescription Opioids: Use, Misuse and alternatives for pain management. Addiction and Treatment Options. What does Recovery Look Like?
Co-Sponsors:
- Dr. Robert Valuck, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Skaggs School of Pharmacy
- José Esquibel, Director, Office of Community Engagement, Colorado Department of Law
When: June 24th, 11:30 - 1:30
Where: Division Q, W160
Target Audience:
- Respondent Parent Counsel
- Guardians Ad Litem
- CASA
- Office of the County Attorney
- Case workers ( such as DHS and Savio)
- Treatment providers/therapists
No RSVP is required.
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| Hooked on Books has collaborated with CASA for over 10 years, and they estimate they have given our children over $6,000 in books. We are so appreciative of all they have done for the CASA children! Hooked on Books has had to make some transitions and they will no longer be able to support the CASA program. We so appreciate their support over the last decade and wish them well going forward! Check out their new store at 10 East Bijou.
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| CASA Connection Training for Advocates and Peer Coordinators
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As businesses move further into the age of advanced technology, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region is also moving in that direction.
One of the biggest digital changes we have made in the past year in the D&N program is the electronic distribution of court documents to our advocates and peer coordinators. This has translated into a cost savings for our agency and the El Paso County Department of Human Services, as it significantly reduces the cost of paper consumption, postage, and man hours.
As we continue our ascent in this direction, another great opportunity which will be a benefit to advocates, peer coordinators, and staff is here! Through our programs' database, you will have the ability to enter your case hours, non-case hours, and casework notes directly into the database. The access point is web-based, and available from your desktop, laptop, and Apple operating systems.
In April, active case advocates and peer coordinators received a registration letter, with a unique code that can be entered into the CASA Connect website,
www.CasaConnect.info
. This is for a 60-day free trial for you that can be converted into a yearly subscription for $28 per year for unlimited usage.
If you want to enter your hours several times a day, you can. If you want to enter your hours on the go using your iPhone or iPad, you can. No more waiting to go back through your records for an entire quarter to complete the paper version. If, at the end or your trial period, you prefer to use the paper method, you may revert back to the paper, quarterly method.
A few more things you need to know:
- We have a limited number of concurrent licenses. That means that if 50 users are on at the same time, and the system is running slowly, or you are not able to log in, please let me know. I will be monitoring the need to purchase additional licenses based on user access.
- This is a new process for us, so there is the potential for a few hiccups along the way. Gina James will be working diligently to make any repairs as soon as possible.
- Once we get a good number of you up and running, Gina will have a mini-training sessions at the office for those who would like more hands-on support. There are also training videos available in the software, once you log into your account.
For additional questions or concerns, please contact Maegan Brundage at [email protected] or by calling 719-447-9898, ext. 1035. |
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Milton Foster Children's Fund
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MFCF is now accepting applications!
Summer Camps are only offered May through July
and they fill up fast so don't delay in getting those applications submitted so that your CASA kids will
be able to attend summer camp this year!
MFCF only meets once a month to approve applications!
Applications can be found at casappr.org under 'Programs/Milton Foster Children's Fund'
Not interested in a summer camp?
MFCF gives funds for things that will help build a child's resiliency, which could include:
- Lessons (music, sports, dance, swim, etc.).
- Educational opportunities and tutoring.
- Equine therapy, science projects, school trip, yearbook, summer camps, tattoo removal, driver's education, special medical/dental equipment, art supplies.
Learn more at:
Call 719-447-9898, ext. 1026
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What to do With my CASA Child When I have a Visit
By Becky Myers
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For some of us, this is the perennial question. Some of the children we serve have been severely traumatized and lack trust in the adults they perceive as authority figures. Unfortunately, this can include the CASA advocate. What to do? As a CASA, we need to remember and understand that it is important for us to meet the children where they are as we experience their tantrums, sarcastic remarks or the abysmal silences. These are coping mechanisms used by the child to evaluate where you, as an adult, stand in relation to their lives.
I have had a toddler who sometimes had tantrums when I visited her and I needed to remember it had nothing to do with me. Currently, I have a CASA child who is 16 years old, runs away to live on the streets and has serious mental health complications. Both children presented their own issues and sometimes I was stymied. Also, what activity could I do with them that was healthy, interesting and feasible for my budget and time schedule?
Some suggestions to break the ice are to find out what the interests of the child are. I always ask, "What is your favorite animal, your favorite thing to do?" This can also be, "What is your favorite music, color, food, pet, movie, book choices?" This works well especially if they are old enough to speak. Activities can be created around their interests.
It is also a great idea to discuss your interests and see if they are compatible. It is so rewarding when you find you have a connection with the child! For example, my teenage CASA loves exotic cats. I am a retired art teacher so I brought photographs in that I used with my classes to make ceramic masks. She loved it! I plan to make a paper mask with her of a cougar with construction paper, markers, glue and scissors and relate it to the Mesoamerican cultures of the Mayas and the Aztecs in Mexico. There are wonderful mythological stories that surround the cougar. I also thought I could put the photographs I took at the San Diego Zoo last year onto a small electronic picture frame with a thumb drive and show them to her since she is not able to make long community trips.
But, what if my child does not respond? This can happen with a child no matter what age or cognitive level they are. During my graduate studies in counseling I learned that boys usually do not talk much unless they are actively doing something; so, playing cards, basketball, softball, etc. while talking with them is a great ice-breaker. The same can be said of girls. If the child is a toddler, playing with their toys, singing or dancing with them can immediately provide distraction and create communication. For older children, doing a simple art or craft activity such as working with clay, drawing with colored markers or making items for themselves, or to donate, is a lot of fun. These activities keep their minds and bodies engaged and also help you develop trust with the child.
Picnics in the park, a walk around Prospect Lake, playing on the play ground, or shooting baskets are some healthy and active alternatives. Remember there are art supplies, board games and other items in the Kid's Closet at the CASA office. The goal of a CASA is not to be a source of goodies, parties and field trips, but to become a trusted listener, voice and confidante for the child.
For more information about art and cultural activities, contact Becky Myers, CASA Volunteer, at [email protected].
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| International Exchange Student Helping Out CASA of the Pikes Peak Region
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Our thanks to Salla, an exchange student from Finland, who filled and donated bags with toothpaste, toothbrushes, school supplies and small gifts for CASA kids. Each bag has a personal note of encouragement from Salla.
This was her service project through Aspect Foundation International Student Exchange while she's visiting the United States. The Aspect Foundation builds international goodwill, cross-cultural understanding and a peaceful future through educational and cultural exchange.
There are still some bags available in the Kid's Closet, so please stop by and get one for your CASA child.
KIITOS, Salla!
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Thanks to our Wonderful Supporters!
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CASA would like to thank our wonderful funders who support our mission each year through a financial donation. Your support is invaluable to the many children we serve through all our programs each year.
The Helen K. & Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, Denver who gave an unsolicited, unrestricted $75,000 general operating grant. They are closing their doors on June 30th after nearly seven decades and four generations of supporting Colorado nonprofit organizations. Their Board of Trustees is, "pleased to distribute one last grant to CASA in honor of our long-standing partnership and in acknowledgement of the wonderful work we have done." The Johnson Foundation has donated over $350,000 to CASA of the Pikes Peak Region over the past 16 years.
Larry H Miller Charities for their generous first time donation of $10,000 to our Milton Foster Children's Fund.
Covington Homes for their $5,000 Light of Hope Sponsorship.
And, to the Dominican Sisters of Springfield Illinois for their $5,000 donation to our Dependency & Neglect program.
Thank you for your belief in CASA!
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Light of Hope North Luncheon
Wednesday, October 19th, 2016
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Following the success of CASA's annual Light of Hope Event in April, we are now gearing up for our Light of Hope North Luncheon taking place on Wednesday, October 19th at the Wedgewood in Black Forest at 12:30 pm. This one hour luncheon is much smaller in size and helps CASA raise money and awareness about child abuse issues in the northern area of Colorado Springs.
We are currently seeking Table Captains for this event. If you are interested in hosting a table of eight (you + seven guests) for this fundraising event please call Tiffany Anderson, Event Coordinator at 719-447-9898, ext. 1036 for more details.
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Please use the link below to go to the CASA of the Pikes Peak Region website for staff contact information:
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The following is the list of staff covering emergencies during the visit and exchange time. Please call the cell phone number listed below for any
SEPT visit cancellations/questions/concerns:
719-314-5008
Weekdays:
Monday - Liz
Tuesday - Angie
Wednesday - Liz
Thursday - Liz
Friday - Angie
Weekends:
Sunday has a rotating staff schedule. Please call the cell number listed above.
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