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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 Six of our 12 part-series: A Year in the Life of CASA See this entire entry and previous entries in my
Executive Director Blog
CASA is Appointed:
How a judge involves CASA, the role of Guardian ad Litem, the CASA volunteer-supervisor team.
In Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties, CASA is appointed to children and youth as a Guardian ad Litem, or GAL. The term GAL refers to the legal status of the CASA volunteer's position and can be translated to Legal Guardian for the Court's purposes only.
Following the laws of the Texas Family Code, with this appointment, CASA volunteers have legal access to the children and their caregivers, as well as documents and information relevant to the child's well-beingjust as would a parent or legal guardian.
The GAL is appointed for the purposes of this particular court case to represent the best interests of the child.
The judge who oversees the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) has the authority to appoint CASA. Anyone can ask the judge to appoint CASA to the case -- the Child Protective Services caseworker, the child's attorney, parents, or anyone else who feels the child would benefit from a special advocate on the case.
Read about how volunteers use this GAL appointment to advocate for children in the ED Blog here.
Next month, learn how CASA Volunteers make a difference inside the courtroom and out in part seven of our series,
Roles and Responsibilities: On a monthly basis, what does a CASA volunteer do?
Thank you,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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Congratulations Graduates
We are so proud of our recent high school graduates! What a wonderful accomplishment! Best wishes to everyone on your future endeavors!
Claudia
graduated on May 31. CASA was appointed in 2016 with Volunteer Melanie Musgraves as her advocate. Claudia turned 18 in May 2017 and aged out of care. She lives with her father and her siblings and hopes to go into cosmetology.
Lillian graduated on June 7. She
plans to attend Texas A&M San Antonio and live in a dorm. She
has an interest in biology. She is pictured with her CASA Volunteers Earl and Sue Dittman, who have been advocates for Lillian and her two younger siblings advocates since June 2016.
Max
graduated on June 7 with his high school diploma. CASA was appointed to Max in 2010. He left care in 2014 when he was 20 years old. He currently holds down two jobs and is looking to go to Austin Community College soon. Tim Judkins was his CASA Supervisor and remains in touch with Max
Melissa
graduated on June 2. Melissa is leaving foster care and hopes to attend junior college in San Antonio. She is pictured with CASA Volunteer Melanie Musgraves who has been her advocate since 2013.
Teresa and Bailey
graduated on June 2 and obtained their high school diplomas. They are pictured with Samantha Coleman, their CASA Volunteer, who has been involved since 2012. Their case remains open as both girls would like to enroll in junior college and pursue their respective vocational interests (Cosmetology for Teresa and Sports Management for Bailey).
Trison
graduated from high school in May. CASA was assigned to him in 2013 and his CASA Volunteer was Mary Jo McLaughlin. Trison left care when he turned 18 in 2016 and currently is living independently. Trison is pictured with CASA Casework Supervisor Tim Judkins.
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Welcome to our newest CASA Volunteers sworn in this month!
Sabrina Fumagalli (right) of Comal County was sworn in on June 2.
Terry Garcia and Amanda Duffield, both of Hays County, were sworn in on June 6.
 Eight new volunteers were sworn in from Guadalupe County on June 19th.
Pictured l-r are: front row- Mary Morin, Anna Patton and Elizabeth Helmkamp; back row- CASA Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell, CASA Board President Susie Russell, Guadalupe County Commissioner Judy Cope, Jennifer Nira, Haley Dixon, CASA Board Member Frank Pereira, The Honorable Thomas Stuckey, Tanasha Smith, Jaria Howard, Sophia Barnard, CASA Board Member JoAnne Germer and Guadalupe County Commissioner Jim Wolverton.
Sharon Krebs and Barrie Breed both of Hays County were sworn in on June 28th.
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Volunteer Voices
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Betty Leto, CASA Volunteer since 2016
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Why did you become a CASA?
"It is an opportunity to help a child and enrich my life at the same time."
What is something that has stood out to you during your time as a CASA volunteer?
"The commitment of CASA Casework Supervisors"
What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer?
"Being a CASA Volunteer is a very rewarding experience and you won't regret it."
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Become a CASA Volunteer
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Nancy Deckard, CASA Volunteer
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Training courses are ready for you!
San Marcos CASA office
July 19 - August 16
4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursdays
New Braunfels CASA office
July 20 - July August 17
1 to 5 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, or click
here
to visit our website.
Training is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.
Our Volunteer Training Course is a 5-class series.
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Summer Book Fair
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Advocate Rosa Hernandez and her CASA children enjoy a book with McKenna of Canine Classmates.
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On June 21st, CASA of Central Texas hosted a summer book fair for all advocates and the children on their cases.
Volunteers stopped by and picked out books for their children to enjoy.
McKenna, the newest addition to our partners at Canine Classmates, also stopped by for a visit.
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Members of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Donna Dishmann with McKenna of Canine Classmates.
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Thank you to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas-Court Saint Joseph-Honey Creek #2260
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"The Role of the CPS Legal Advocate & Domestic Violence"
On June 5th, Child Protective Services Legal Advocate Kayla Reese spoke about domestic violence and how the role of the Legal Advocate is changing with the passing of Senate Bill 434. Kayla detailed how domestic violence intersects with child welfare and answered questions from our CASA volunteer advocates..
Kayla estimated 1 in 3 Texans experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. She took Volunteers through the Abuse and Control Wheel to describe the cycle of abuse and she outlined local statistics as well as services offered by the Hays Caldwell Women's Center in San Marcos.
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| Congratulations to door prize winners Sharon Skroki and Mary Oetzel! |
CASA of Central Texas Volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually.
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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, July 5th, noon
CASA office
Wimberley
Tuesday, July 11th, 1 p.m.
Wimberley Village Library
Buda
Wednesday, July 12, 10 a.m.
Buda Public Library
San Marcos
Wednesday, July 19, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
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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Run, walk or fly to the 2017 CASA Superhero Run 5K and Kids 1K where you can be a superhero for children who've been abused or neglected. You choose what kind of superhero you will be: register for the race, donate to kids, fundraise for the cause, or do all 3!
CASA Superhero Run - 5K and Kids 1K
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Domain Central Park - 11100 Alterra Pkwy, Austin
Race day will feature our annual superhero costume contest, an obstacle course by BAM Academy to test your super strength and agility, special superhero guest appearances, villains to defeat, bounce houses, tasty food, amazing photo ops and lots of fun family activities!
This year's run will be held at the Domain in Austin and will benefit the CASA programs serving Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Please visit the event website to register and for more information, www.casasuperherorun.com.
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Show a "Hole Lotta Love" for CASA
Presents
October 30, 2017
River Crossing Golf Club, Spring Branch
11:00AM Tee Time 6:00PM Dinner & Entertainment
Team and Sponsor registration is NOW OPEN!
Space limited to 40 Teams - Register early!
Register and find details
here.
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Enterprise Holdings Foundation, at the request of Enterprise Fleet Management and its partner Maldonado Nursery & Landscaping.
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Upcoming Events
5th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
11th
Voices Tour in Wimberley
1 - 2 p.m.
Wimberley Village Library
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
20th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1-5 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
2nd
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
Historic Hays County Courthouse room 101
31st
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
6th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
17th
CASA Superhero Run
7 a.m.
Domain Central Park, Austin
More info click here
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
CASA Volunteer Training Begins - Saturdays
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
October
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
CASA office
More info click here
12th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
1 - 5 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
Hole Lotta Love Golf Tournament
11 a.m.
River Crossing Golf Club, Spring Branch
More info click here
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