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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- Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Training Dates - now by videoconference!
- Information Sessions - now by videoconference!
- Champions fore Charity
- Big Give
- Volunteer Voices
- CASA Training & Support Center Update
- CAMP CASA
- Events Benefiting CASA
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Letter from the Executive Director
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and each year, I ask you to "Go
BLUE
" in April. For me, it is about not letting the issue of child abuse be ignored. It is a topic not talked about enough, until it makes headlines when it involves tragedy. In April, I want the color
BLUE
to stand for something positive - communities showing that we will work together to protect our children.
But this year, my focus is shifted.
I am thinking of children who are at home, with no escape. They can not go to a friend's house for a break from the abuse. They do not get to go to school and see their teachers who have become their safe adults. The abuse is being hidden in their home, and may be worse due to the stress and change that we are all facing right now.
Now, while we are all waiting and watching, is the time to take action
. Get ready to become a CASA volunteer. Attend one of our Virtual Information Sessions. Fill out a volunteer application online. Attend our virtual training sessions and become a volunteer. Make a donation so we can continue to serve these children through the pandemic and when restrictions have been lifted. That is how you can Go
BLUE
this month.
Let's turn social media
BLUE
. Update your profile picture to a
BLUE
ribbon or background. Share our posts about becoming a CASA volunteer. Share posts about the children who need us.
I thank our local Counties and Cities that commit to the fight against child abuse by signing their own proclamations recognizing the month, even if this year we will not be able to attend the reading.
Our dedicated volunteers here at CASA work year round to protect the children. It is fitting that we also celebrate these great people this month during National Volunteer Week, April 19 - 25, and the children we serve will be recognized during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 19 - 25.
Let's all come together and remember that just because it might feel like the world has paused right now, child abuse has not. Help us continue the fight.
This April, take a stand, speak your voice, and Go
BLUE
!
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Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
CASA of Central Texas
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Child Abuse Prevention Month
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April is Child Abuse Prevention month and each year, Cities and Counties join the national movement with local proclamations recognizing and supporting our cause to stand up for the children.
With meetings closed to the public, we thank our government leaders who will read proclamations this year, or who have done so for us in the past.
Caldwell County
Lockhart, Luling, Martindale
Comal County
Bulverde, Garden Ridge, New Braunfels
Guadalupe County
Cibolo, Marion, Santa Clara, Schertz, Seguin, Selma
Hays County
Buda, Dripping Springs, Kyle, San Marcos, Wimberley
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Proclamation Naming the month of April 2020 as
“Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month”
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WHEREAS
, There were more than 74,000 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in Texas during 2019; and
WHEREAS,
more than 1,300 children in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in 2019; and
WHEREAS,
child abuse prevention is a community responsibility and finding solutions depends on involvement among all people; and
WHEREAS,
communities must make every effort to promote programs that benefit children and their families; and
WHEREAS
, effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community; and
WHEREAS,
everyone in the community should become more aware of child abuse prevention and encourage parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment
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CASA Executive Director Norma Blackwell reads the Proclamation
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that we do hereby proclaim the month of April 2020 as "
Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month
" and we urge all citizens to work together to help reduce child abuse and neglect significantly in the years to come.
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Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
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Become a CASA Volunteer
April 18 - May 2
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
This training will be a virtual training held online via Zoom
All dates and locations below are tentative
and may be moved online
May 13 - June 10
1 - 5 p.m.
May 14 - June 11
5 - 9 p.m.
June 24 - July 22
5 - 9 p.m.
June 25 - July 23
1 - 5 p.m.
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For more information on training courses, contact Brandi Raschke 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.
Application deadline prior to each cycle is two weeks before start of training. Submit your volunteer application
here
.
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"Voices" Information Sessions Now Online
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Learn more about CASA at one of our Virtual Information Sessions
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Want to learn more about the
role of a CASA Volunteer?
Join 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.
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Our 1-hour information sessions have been moved online!
We now host Zoom video conference meetings to make sure you are able to safely attend, and still get all of your questions answered!
Just pick a time that works for you and use the links below to join us!
Meeting times:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Host: Joyce
9 - 10 a.m.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Host: Nick
3 - 4 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Host: Eloise
10 - 11 a.m.
If these times don't work for you, just
contact Eloise Hudson
and she can do a 1-1 with you at your convenience!
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Champions fore Charity
Champions fore Charity is moving into high gear after the unfortunate cancellation of the 2020 Valero Texas Open. Valero remains committed to matching 7% of all donations made to CASA from now until April 17th. Not only will CASA receive every dollar of your donation, but Valero will add to your donation!
Together, we have a 107% better chance of ensuring children’s safety at a time when abuse against children is on the rise. As circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve, parents are experiencing increasingly stressful situations apart from the support of their community.
The result is an expected increase in the number of child abuse cases and an ever-growing need for CASA Volunteers. Champion children’s rights for a safe home, by supporting CASA through Champions fore Charity here-
https://bit.ly/33DmOw2
Flash news! Through the federal CARES Act signed into law just last Friday, individual taxpayers are eligible for a $300 above-the-line charitable donation in 2020. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make a gift and ensure stability for CASA's ongoing work!
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The Big Give - Emergency Relief
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In response to the public health crisis, the Nonprofit Council is working in concert with the City of San Antonio and surrounding counties to provide the Big Give Emergency Relief platform to assist in raising critical funds for nonprofits during this time of exceptional need.
Help children know they’re not alone in the unknown. Feeling nervous about the uncertainty of the future is a familiar predicament for many children. Many children in State Care have had no choice but to acclimate to a life without assurance of what tomorrow will hold, before we all were faced with this reality ourselves due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With your support, CASA will be able to take steps to ensure the most vulnerable in our community don’t experience further social and emotional isolation and retraumatization. By giving to CASA of Central Texas through Big Give Relief, you’ll help CASA Volunteers connect with children who don’t have anyone else to consistently check in on them and support them through this perplexing time. Support children here now-
https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/casacentex
Flash news! Through the federal CARES Act signed into law just last Friday, individual taxpayers are eligible for a $300 above-the-line charitable donation in 2020. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make a gift and ensure stability for CASA's ongoing work!
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How I Changed A Child's Story
Sharon Dornak Miller
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Training and Support Center Update
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The walls are painted and the ceiling gridwork is installed inside the Training & Support Center. Outside, the parking lot is graded for paving and curbs are set. We look forward to the place being ready for us by late May!
You can support CASA's Capital Campaign by check or online
here
. As we near the finish line of completing this long-envisioned facility, our primary needs include furniture (tables, desks, chairs, shelving), landscaping (trees, plants, irrigation), a projector and a projection screen. Every dollar helps!
Check out the updates in the video to the right. See more pictures of construction progress
here.
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Thank you to our project partners
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CASA of Central Texas' Annual Dinner & Auction
Join us at
CAMP CASA
-every child deserves to be a happy camper-
Honorees:
Caldwell County - Leonard Germer
Comal County - Belinda and Ron Frisk
Guadalupe County - Linda Douglass
Hays County - Laura Dupont
New Date:
Friday August 28 2020
6:30 pm
Chandelier of Gruene
1924 Bretzke Lane, New Braunfels, TX
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Thank You to our Sponsors
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Bill and Betty Thomas
Greater Texas Credit Union
Jeff and Michelle Hargis
Harper Hill Ranch
Guadalupe Family Health PA
New Braunfels Pediatric Associates
Prosperity Bank
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Becky & Kern Huff
Becky and Gene Lake
Bimbo Bakeries USA
Becky and Gene Lake
Broadway Bank
Children's Dental Ark
Colette Wollenberg, Realtor, Keller Williams
J&R Gymnastics
Judge David Junkin
Texas Lehigh Cement Co.
The Kyle Law Firm
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Dripping Springs Distilling
Great American Products
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Get your raffle ticket for a chance to take home this
diamond necklace
donated by
Americus Diamond
.
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Reserved table for eight to see
Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes on April 24th
donated by
Krause's Biergarten.
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Three-night stay in this beautiful,
Hill Country Airbnb in Fredericksburg
donated by
Kate Woolsey
.
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Two State of Texas
Rocking Chairs
donated by
State Representative John Kuempel
.
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Fender FA-125
signed by George Strait
donated by
New Braunfels Music
.
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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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