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CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers.
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Welcome to another edition of CASA Up Close Monthly. Please feel free to contact CASA for more information about anything you read. And, as always, thank you for your continued support.
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Letter from the Executive Director
Excerpt from
Part 11 of our 12 part-series: A Year in the Life of CASA See this entire entry and previous entries in my
Executive Director Blog
A CPS Case Closed:
Various case outcomes for children and youth - safe, stable and loving homes.
Our vision is a world where every child thrives in a safe, permanent, and loving home. To reach for this, CASA of Central Texas has a mission of advocating in the courts and child welfare system for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and abandonment. CASA recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers as advocates for the children.
In the State of Texas, when a child is removed from home, there is a one-year timeline placed on the case. This means that the parent(s) and the court system have a limited time to make improvements and determine if concerns have been resolved and whether it is now safe for the child to return home. Because of this timeline, CASA asks our volunteers for a one-year commitment to the case so that they are consistent and present for the duration.
But, how a case is resolved and how is a volunteer is released from appointment depends upon available options at the end of that period. More importantly, the judge makes a decision regarding the best interests of each child. For any given case, there may be several possible outcomes and likely, many opinions represented by CPS, CASA, Attorneys, parents, the children and others. Ultimately, the Judge listens to the testimony and makes a final court order to bring a resolution.
Read more about the different possible outcomes for a case in this month's ED Blog here.
CASA's volunteer trainings for 2018 are scheduled and posted. I hope that my blog series has shown you just how important the CASA program is and how much impact one CASA volunteer can make. Next month, read about how you can play a part by reading Spread the Word: Share our message, help us find more volunteers and help more children in 2018.
Thank you,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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Central Texas Adoption Day
Central Texas celebrated a day dedicated entirely to adoptions held at the First Presbyterian Church in Seguin on November 20th for Hays, Comal, Caldwell, and Guadalupe Counties. Judges Melissa McClenahan and Thomas Stuckey presided over adoptions for 20 families and 31 children.
CASA of Central Texas celebrated alongside these families and the wonderful network of individuals and organizations that make Adoption Day possible. We took a special joy in participating in adoption hearings for our eight CASA children. Congratulations on finding your forever homes! Special thanks to CASA volunteers Dale Gandy, Bethany Graham, Ruth Cain and Lesley Allen for providing their best interest testimony, and to Lisa Metzler, Laura Torres, and Samantha Zamora for making the Arts & Crafts table a fun place for the children!
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Sponsor a Child for the Holidays
This holiday season, CASA of Central Texas is collaborating with local organizations and individuals to provide gifts for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
This year, we have more than 300 children requesting gifts and over 100 of those children have not been sponsored yet.
This annual project is a wonderful opportunity to extend the giving tradition to children in our community. We hope you will join us in our goal to provide a gift to all of our CASA children.
To sponsor a child, please visit our toy drive
webpage for details and wishlists.
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Become a CASA Volunteer in 2018
Training courses are ready for you!
San Marcos
January 10 - February 7
Thursdays
New Braunfels
January 11 - February 8
4:40 to 8:30 p.m.
Check out our calendar for dates and times for the rest of the year and for information on how to get enrolled.
For more information on training courses contact Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Mundine Coleman at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272 or by
email.
Training is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.
Our weekday Volunteer Training Course is a 5-class series.
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Giving Tuesday is Tomorrow
Join the movement & give back,
kick off the holiday giving season with an end-of-year charitable gift to CASA of Central Texas!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017
Tomorrow is the sixth annual #GivingTuesday worldwide! It is a day
to inspire personal philanthropy and encourage bigger, better and smarter
charitable giving during the holiday season.
Now that
you've celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday and shopped on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, please consider donating to CASA of Central Texas on Giving Tuesday (early donations are accepted, too!).
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"Voices" Information Sessions
Want to learn more about the role of a CASA Volunteer?
Come to
our
one-hour information session and hear how our volunteers advocate for children who have been abused and neglected.
CASA staff and
volunteers will be on hand to share their stories and answer your questions.
New Braunfels
Wednesday, December 6, noon
CASA office
Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by
email
or at 830-626-2272.
Would you like to host a CASA Voices session in your town? Please contact us.
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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Have A Ball with Your CASA Child
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl coordinators are once again offering free tickets to CASA of Central Texas. This is a great opportunity for advocates to have an outing with the children on your cases or request tickets for their placement so they may attend together.
CASA of Central Texas was provided with general admission ticket vouchers, available on a first come, first serve basis. They can be picked up from either CASA office beginning in mid-December
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What: The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is an East versus West showdown that features the top 90 high school football players from across the country and the nation's top 125 high school marching musicians who perform during half-time.
When: January 6th, 2018, noon
Where: Alamodome, Downtown San Antonio
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Support CASA Through Payroll Deduction
State and Federal employees may give to CASA of Central Texas through payroll deductions under the State Employee Charitable Campaign and the Combined Federal Campaign.
State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)
CASA of Central Texas Code
#475017 (Capital Area)
#475030 (San Antonio Area)
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
CASA of Central Texas Code #60661
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You are invited to CASA and Los Compadres, "Viva Ol
é!", CASA's annual fundraising celebration. We truly appreciate your support and hope you join us for this evening to benefit the children in our communities.
CASA will also honor long-time supporters the San Marcos Lions Club and Comal County Commissioner Eccleston.
Online tickets and more information will be available on our
website soon!
Get in early on the great sponsor benefits and recognition!
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Stay Connected
Spread the Word
Click the icon to view our profile
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Upcoming Events
December
1st
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
5th
Advocate Appreciation Mixer
6:30 p.m.
Milltown, New Braunfels
More info here
January
3rd
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
CASA office
More info click here
11th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
27th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
February
7th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
CASA office
More info click here
21st
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
22nd
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
More info click here
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