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! Use these quick links to get involved.
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- Ground Breaking
- Welcome New CASA Volunteers
- Training Dates
- A Year of Impact
- A Decade with CASA
- Have a Wonderful New Year
- Information Sessions
- Welcome New Staff
- Have a Ball with your CASA Youth
- Payroll Deductions for CASA
- Events Benefiting CASA
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Letter from the Executive Director
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2018 was truly a great year for CASA! Thanks to our 263 volunteers, we served 594 children! That is almost 40 more children than in 2017. I hope that through the year, you have seen the value of a CASA volunteer and why each additional child we serve, we see as an accomplishment.
But the reality is, we still did not serve every child in State care. There were children who went through foster care and the court system without the additional voice and support of a CASA volunteer; children without a screened, trained adult advocating both inside and out of the courtroom. Although 263 volunteers is 33 more volunteers than we had last year, it still isn't enough to help every child who needs CASA.
So how can you help in 2019? Spread the word that more CASA volunteers are needed in our community. Invite CASA to come speak at your community meetings. Follow CASA on social media and share our posts so your friends see the work our volunteers are doing. Attend one of CASA's monthly information sessions and invite a friend to come with you. And of course, you can become a CASA volunteer!
I have always said that I know there are enough caring, giving people in our community to reach the goal of serving 100 percent of the children in care; they just don't all know about CASA yet - and that is how you can help.
Thank you again to everyone who helped make 2018 a great year for CASA and our children. I look forward to what this year will bring!
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
CASA of Central Texas
Executive Director
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Please save the date for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new
CASA Training & Support Center.
Thursday, January 31
10:30 a.m.
2725 Hunter Road
San Marcos
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers
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Ten new CASA Volunteers were sworn in last month. They have completed 5 weeks of training, background checks, and courtroom observation and are now ready to advocate for children in court.
Training sessions have been set for 2019. Check out our
calendar
and follow us on
Facebook
for training session dates.
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Cathy Voelkel
(right)
of Comal County was sworn in on December 11 by Judge McClenahan.
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Nine advocates were sworn in at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Mixer on December 12 by Judge Bruce Boyer. Pictured l-r are:
Daniel Weber
of Hays County,
Gayle Campbell
of Comal County,
Glenn Killey of Bexar County
,
David Davis
of Comal County,
Glenn Groves
of Comal County,
Carol Klepper
of Comal County,
Yakima Anderson
of Comal County,
Amy Post
of Comal County, and
Jennifer Silbaugh
of Comal County.
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How did CASA of Central Texas volunteers, board members, donors and community supporters make positive changes in our 4-County service area?
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Become a CASA Volunteer in 2019
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First Training Dates of 2019
Saturdays - San Marcos
January 12 - January 26
9 - 3 p.m.
Wednesdays - San Marcos
February 6 – March 6
1-5 p.m.
Thursdays - New Braunfels
February 7 – March 7
4:30-8:30 p.m.
Application deadline prior to each cycle is two weeks before start of training.
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For more information on training courses, contact Layla Coleman at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272, or by
email.
One-hour pre-training interview to occur at least one week before start of each training cycle. Mandatory 10-hour online class to be completed during the training cycle.
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Submit your volunteer application
here
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Wishing You a Memorable New Year
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Thank you to the many volunteers, community members, organizations and businesses that supported our work in 2018.
Each year, we are excited to send our annual holiday greeting card to our donors and supporters. You should have received yours in early December. If we missed you, please
let us know
!
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Be sure to start 2019 off with a bang and make your gift to CASA of Central Texas! Click
Here
to donate.
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A Decade Dedicated to CASA
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Last month, CASA of Central Texas Casework Supervisor
Carolyn Massey celebrated 10 years with the program.
Carolyn was hired in 2008 as a Casework supervisor and has been supporting volunteers ever since.
Thank you for being part of CASA of Central Texas!
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"Voices" Information Sessions
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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.
New Braunfels
Wednesday, January 9th, noon
CASA office
San Marcos
Wednesday, January 16th, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
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CASA staff and volunteers will be on hand to share their stories and answer your questions.
Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by
email
or at 830-626-2272.
Lunch provided by Chick-fil-A.
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CASA of Central Texas extends a warm welcome to our newest employee:
Joyce Yannuzzi.
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Joyce Yannuzzi started in November as the new Community Relations Coordinator for CASA of Central Texas. She is responsible for volunteer recruitment and a variety of outreach activities for building relationships to attract and engage volunteers, donors, community partners and the general public. Before joining CASA, Joyce worked for State Senator Donna Campbell, M.D. where she served as the District Field Director, building positive relationships with constituents and community business leaders in the Senator’s 6-county district, along with recruiting and organizing volunteers.
Joyce has a long history with working for or volunteering with non-profits, including working for the Salvation Army New Braunfels as their office and financial administrator. She currently sits on a number of boards at the city, county, and state level and is active in the Rotary Club of New Braunfels where she is the President-Elect/Membership Chair. Joyce has a Bachelor degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Joyce shares her priority with CASA is to continue building and strengthening ties with the 4-county community of Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays and promote opportunities for people to get involved with and/or support CASA in various ways. If you, or someone you know, would like to be more involved with CASA, please email Joyce at
jyannuzzi@casacentex.org
.
CASA Advocate training classes are set to begin January 12 with class options on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.
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Have a Ball with Your CASA Youth
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The U.S. Army All-American Bowl coordinators are 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 served basis. They can be picked up at the CASA offices through January 4th.
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.
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U.S. Army All-American Bowl
January 5th, 2019, noon
Alamodome
Downtown San Antonio
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Payroll Deductions for CASA
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. Watch for Campaign drives at your office, or talk to your Human Resources Representative for information.
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State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)
CASA of Central Texas Code
#475017 (Capital Area)
#475030 (San Antonio Area)
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Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC)
CASA of Central Texas
#60661
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Events Benefiting CASA
CASA of Central Texas welcomes community initiatives to help promote awareness and funding for our program. By taking on this type of project, event organizers assume the responsibility of creating a successful event without a significant level of assistance from CASA. All special events and fundraising efforts conducted to benefit CASA are run by financially responsible and reputable organizations and individuals motivated by a genuine desire to help CASA. If you are interested in hosting a third-party fundraiser to benefit CASA, please review these
guidelines
.
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