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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- Congrats Grads
- Welcome New CASA Volunteers
- Training Dates
- Information Sessions
- CASA Classic Golf Tournament
- Welcome Brandi
- Continuing Education
- We Will Miss You Cathy
- CASA Superhero Run
- Help Us Pave the Way
- Good Luck Martin
- Events Benefiting CASA
- Cars for CASA
- Community Support
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Letter from the Executive Director
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When youth remain in foster care through their teenage years, the CASA volunteer serves a unique and important role by helping prepare these young people to become self-sufficient members of the community.
Providing a stable voice of encouragement, giving guidance to prepare for the future, offering emotional encouragement and connecting youth to skills-building resources that will increase the chances for a positive future - this is how our CASA Volunteers make a difference.
Earning a diploma is an achievement for all youth and we are delighted to celebrate with them. National statistics show that about half of youth in foster care do not earn their high school diploma.
I sincerely thank our advocates who work with these older youth. I truly believe that as our volunteers are providing critically needed support, they are in turn bettering our community.
We are very proud of our three CASA youth,
Alexis, Amanda and Jesse
, who successfully completed their high school education this Spring.
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
CASA of Central Texas
Executive Director
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers
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Ten new volunteers were sworn in on May 10th. Each volunteer completed 5 weeks of training, background checks, courtroom observation and is now ready to advocate for children in court. CASA is now enrolling for June training courses. See dates below.
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Pictured l-r: CASA Board Member Susie Russell, CASA Executive Director Norma Blackwell,
Elizabeth Medellin
of Comal County,
Marisa Gras
of Guadalupe
County,
W
endy Kruse
of Guadalupe
County,
Carmina Fusco
of Guadalupe
County,
Gregory Cunningham
of Comal
County,
John Klepper
of Comal
County,
Judge Melissa McClenahan,
Trish Weeks
of Comal
County,
Elizabeth Barham
of Hays
County,
Gregory Schnell
of Comal
County,
Pamela Andasola
of Guadalupe and CASA Training Coordinator
Brandi Raschke.
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Upcoming Training Dates
Monday - San Marcos
June 17 - July 15
4:30 - 8:30
Tuesdays - New Braunfels
June 18 - July 16
1 - 5 p.m.
Saturdays - Lockhart
July 13th - July 27th
9 - 3 p.m.
Wednesdays - San Marcos
July 31 - August 28
1 - 5 p.m.
Thursdays - New Braunfels
August 1 - August 29
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
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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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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
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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.
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.
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Upcoming Information Sessions
Seguin
Monday, June 10th, noon
Seguin Public Library
San Marcos
Wednesday, June 19th, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
Schertz
Monday, July 1st, 6:30 pm
Schertz Public Library
Lockhart
Tuesday, July 2nd 6:00 p.m.
Lockhart Public Library
New Braunfels
Wednesday, July 3rd, noon
CASA office
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CASA Classic
October 29, 2019
San Marcos
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It’s time to tee up for CASA! We are honored to partner again with Corridor Title for the 3
rd
Annual CASA Classic Golf Tournament. More than a round of golf, participants and sponsors play an instrumental role so that CASA can train and support more advocates for children.
We also welcome our new partner and venue host Kissing Tree Golf Club - San Marcos’ newest and best course! Swing for an amazing cause and register today as a team, individual, or sponsor
here
.
Due to expected high demand, we recommend that you sign up soon. Otherwise you may miss out on a hole lot of fun!
Sponsorships Available:
Ace $5,000 – 2 teams included
Front Nine $3,000 – 2 teams included
Back Nine $3,000 – 2 teams included
Eagle $2,000 – 1 team included
Birdie $1,500 – 1 team included
Hole - $400
Team Registration (4) – $600
Individual Registration – $200
Space limited to 36 Teams/144 Players
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Thank You to our Sponsors!
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Hole Sponsors:
Jim Flynn Photography
Karl and Beth Hittle
Taste of New Braunfels
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Brandi Raschke joined the CASA team in February as our new Training Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating prospective and current volunteers and leads all advocate training classes across the four counties we serve.
Brandi worked with multiple non-profits in her previous role at The University of Texas at San Antonio as the Program Manager for Volunteer Services for the past two years. She served on the Executive Board of San Antonio Volunteer Administrators organization as their Social Coordinator and served as a planning committee member for the National IMPACT Conference for two years.
Prior to working in higher education, Brandi taught ESL classes in Seguin through Alamo Colleges I-Best program and served as a part-time youth director for MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio. Brandi received her Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Texas Lutheran University, followed by her Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education and Administration from Texas State University.
If you, or someone you know, would like to be more involved with CASA, please email Brandi at
braschke@casacentex.org
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Continuing Education for Volunteers
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Trial Preparation and CASA Testimony
On May 20, Comal ADA Jessica Devaney and Attorney Phiang Aldrich provided insight into the trial preparation process and expectations for CASA as Guardian ad Litem. As Ms. Devaney represents the Department of Family and Protective Services, she noted that CPS has different constraints as a result of policies and requirements that foster a “one size fits all” approach to our children in care. This is where CASA is especially useful. Both attorneys highlighted the need to know the Holley Factors and the duties of Guardian ad Litem per the Texas Family Code. It’s essential that CASAs not limit themselves to complete a task just once – they are to be done multiple times throughout the case (interviewing child, parents, service providers, etc.). When a hearing is approaching, CASAs should get a recent statement from their verbal children regarding their desires.
Other tips provided were for volunteers to do their own research and not rely solely on CPS information, to include positive observations regarding the children and parents (lends credibility), to keep detailed notes and a timeline, to follow the guidance of the CASA Supervisor, and to utilize the power of the internet! CASAs should not only present their recommendations to the Court, but should also articulate specific reasons why. Ms. Devaney stated that “CASA’s consistency makes a difference and you are a making a difference to a child.” And, isn’t that the most important thing of all?
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We said goodbye to Finance Director Cathy Vrba last month.
Cathy worked for CASA for seven years and has retired to the Texas coast to pursuing her favorite hobbies of fishing and painting.
Thank you, Cathy, for your steadfast love for CASA, our staff, our volunteers and our children!
Cathy (pictured right) was presented with a Big Voices For little Children commemorative license plate as a thank you!
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September 15, 2019
Broadmoor Campus
Austin, TX
Were you as pumped as this mini-Captain America was for Avengers: Endgame?! We were stoked to finally find out how the Avengers were going to save the day!
After wrapping up a year of movie cliffhanger anticipation with the release of Endgame, plan to don your favorite superhero costume on September 15th for the 10th annual CASA Superhero Run.
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Register today
Don’t be a hero just for one day. Set up your own fundraiser for CASA or start your own fundraising team now! Learn more
here
.
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CASA of Central Texas invites you to be a part of a very special, yet limited, commemorative opportunity. The new Training & Support Center will increase CASA’s facility space and give CASA its first permanent home in Hays County after 30 years. This is an investment in the future of our children and community.
Engraved brick pavers will be installed along the entranceway of the new facility. Personalized pavers are a great way to honor a friend, volunteer, staff member or group; memorialize a loved one; encourage your favorite CASA volunteer; or show your family’s appreciation for CASA and our children, while leaving a lasting tribute in your name.
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We hope each and every CASA supporter will buy in to this unique opportunity and pave the way for impact!
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Congratulations to
Martin Gutierrez
who has been CASA's event volunteer extraordinaire for the last two years. Always offering a helping hand, he unabashedly gets the job done, even in the fastest-paced and most hectic environments. We wish him all the best as he graduates from Texas State University and heads out into the world of construction management. Well done, MG!
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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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CASA Movie Hero Run
Saturday, June 8
Stars and Stripes Drive-in Theater
New Braunfels
5K and Kids Run
Presented by Athlete Guild
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Geezerfest
June 6-8
The Villa at Gruene
Gruene
An annual celebration of Geezerness and great Texas Music
An A Major Funding production
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Willie's Spirit Night
Tuesday, June 11
4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
2966 Coldsprings Drive
New Braunels
Mention CASA and Willie’s will donate 15% of your check!
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Cars for CASA
Have an old car taking up space in your driveway? Donate it to CASA of Central Texas! CASA partners with CARS on a vehicle donation program. We accept most cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RV's, motorcycles, off road vehicles, heavy equipment and other motorized vehicles.
Making a donation is EASY
! It's as easy as filling out an online donation form
here
or picking up a phone and speaking to a live operator at 855-500-7433 seven days a week.
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Why donate your vehicle to CASA?
* Avoid the hassles of selling a car * No need to pay hefty repair bills * Free up space in your garage * 100% tax deductible *
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Orange Theory New Braunfels
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Capital Area Housing Finance Corporation
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