CASA Chronicle Masthead
Letter from the Executive Director
 
We recently celebrated our Voice of Hope, Jingle Mingle and Joy and Cheer events with great response and enthusiasm. We had good turnout at all three gatherings, with some folks attending all three. As a result of the strong attendance and the solid efforts put in by staff, we have been able to push the Voices For Children message out far and wide as well as collect funds and gifts greatly needed at this time of year. We received contributions that will support our program costs and received enough gifts for distribution to all of the children we advocate for. On Saturday, December 10th a good number of CASAs 'shopped' for the kiddos they advocate for at the annual Joy and Cheer event in Forest Park.
 
And as previously mentioned, we have exciting things to share with you as we kick off 2017.  Our plans are to engage you at a deeper level with our mission. Stand by! There will be details coming out soon. I want to thank each of you personally for all that you do for Voices!!  What a wonderful thing to witness: CASAs hard at work watching out for our kiddos, helping them reach that safe and permanent home!! Happy Holidays to each of you and your families!! And Happy New Year too!!
 
Steve Moergen
Executive Director  
 
Continuing Education
Opportunities to Earn Your Annual CE Credits
 
Look for upcoming CE opportunities in January 2017 edition.



Holiday Gift Drive and Whole Foods Giving Tree
Thank You...Thank You...Thank You!

We would like to thank all of you who participated and donated to the Whole Foods Giving Tree.  It was an overwhelming success again this year!  We would also like to thank our corporate partners who participated in this year's Giving Tree:

Whole Foods
Air Products Prism Membranes
US Bank Lockbox
BC MacDonald & Company
Cushman & Wakefield
United Healthcare
CIC St. Louis




Foster Care Alumni Association of Missouri

The Foster Care Alumni Association of Missouri (FAAM) is  an alumni led, membership based, association dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Missouri's 20,000 plus foster care alumni by connecting them to available community resources, information, college care packages, scholarships, free life skills training, opportunities, FAAM, and each other. 
 
They offer "Help for the Holidays" during the month of December for foster care alumni and their families, along with three (3) community service scholarships for the month of January 2017 to coincide with the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Please take a moment to check out their website and share the information with Foster Care Alumni with whom you work, as well as your constituents. 
 
Foster Care Alumni Association of Missouri
Dr. Lanette R. Madison, MSW, LCSW, DSW
Servant Leader, Change Agent, Clinician, & Foster Care Alumni
P. O. Box 190373
Webster Groves, MO 63119

 
 
Advocacy Resources
Books, Websites and Relevant Info for Your CASA Work

Free 24/7 Crisis Intervention For Families

Crisis Intervention for  pre- and post-adoptive/guardianship families.  Trained staff are available 24/7 to help:
  1. Manage immediate crisis and plan for safety
  2. Improve family relationships
  3. Increase self-management skills
  4. Prevent family disruption

Families must live in St. Charles County, Jefferson County, St. Louis County or St. Louis City and have a child between the ages of 3 and 19 who was placed through foster care.  Call for assistance, 800. FOSTER.3 OR 314.367.8373.

 
Program Dashboard
Statistics as of October 31, 2016

289

Voices CASA volunteers
390

kids served by Voices CASA volunteers and staff
355

kids served by Voices staff
745

total kids served by Voices


 
Maximizing Optima

Tax Reports from Optima:
 
If you've been using the Mileage and Expenses section of Optima and you'd like a copy of your report for tax deductions, please email [email protected].
 
Upcoming Events
Voices for Children County Office Open House
January 5, 2017
 
Come by and visit with Voices' Staff in their new location at the St. Louis County Courts Building.  We have moved to our permanent space on the 5th floor and if you haven't stopped by, do so on January 5th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. 

Voices' Open House
Thursday, January 5, 2017
105 S Central Ave., 5th Floor
Clayton, MO  63105
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
 

To protect our children's privacy as we share their stories, fictional names
and stock photos of children are always used unless otherwise noted.
 
Thank you for all you do for our CASA kids!
  
www.voices-stl.org
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