Mental Health During COVID-19: Signs Your Child Might Need More Support

The ongoing stress, fear, grief, and uncertainty created by COVID-19 pandemic has weighed heavily on children and teens. Many are having a tough time coping emotionally.
More than 140,000 children in the United States have experienced the death of a parent or grandparent caregiver from COVID, for example. Children of racial and ethnic minority families have been hit especially hard. Research shows they've had up to 4.5 times the risk of losing a caregiver to COVID, compared to other kids.


142 CASA volunteers served 288 children in January and helped find safe, permanent homes for 22 of those children.
92 children are still waiting for someone to be their voice.

Recruiter's Corner

It only takes 30 minutes to learn about the difference a CASA can make in a child's life.

Register for a virtual CASA 101 information session here.

Our next CASA training will begin on March 17, 2022.


"When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible."
Dr. Karen Purvis
Child.tcu.edu
CASA Effective Advocacy Plans
The last three month’s Advocate Refreshers have discussed the roles of CASA Volunteers. We have covered the roles of Information Gathering, Facilitating, and Advocating. Next month we will review the monitoring role.  This month we are going to take a break from the series and review some tips that our most effective CASA Volunteers have shared with us.
Remember to keep your CASA Volunteer file up-to-date with your current
auto insurance card, driver's license, and contact information. 
And remember to visit your CASA child face-to-face at least once a month.
In January, the Children's Advocacy Center provided advocacy and forensic interviews to 64 children.

In the River Region, 13 children and families were provided 28 hours of counseling.


Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy, and Security
When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using social apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world. Here are 5 tips to keep your children safe:

1. Discuss personal vs. private info.
Talk about the difference between what's OK to share online (favorite color) and what's not (home address).
2. Use privacy settings.
Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Make sure your children understand who is safe and not safe to talk to online. Don't add people you don't know and if someone is messaging you anything that is uncomfortable, tell a trusted adult.
3. Avoid location tracking.
Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.
4. Power up passwords.
Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.
5. Skip quizzes.
Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.

Want more info? Visit: www.commonsense.org
Sources: Article from www.commonsense.org
February Webinars
*CASA Volunteers are required to receive 12 Continuing Education hours per year. Only 4 can be articles, newsletters, and films.


February 24: Strengthening Families

March 8-31: (varying dates): TBRI Fridays




Brave children tell their stories. Courageous adults help these children through their trauma and assist them in finding a safe future. Buttons of Bravery represent the journey of one child for a year under the care of Child Advocacy Services. 

Want to Join Our Team?
We're Hiring!

We are looking for caring individuals who want to join our team of passionate adults that work to bring Voice, Healing, and Security to our community's children. Please send a resume with cover letter to lpenn@childadv.net.
In 2021, Child Advocacy Services CASA Program served 446 children with 188 volunteers dedicating over 6,890 hours. The CAC Program provided 707 forensic interviews and 536 counseling sessions to children and families.

YOU can help us do more by investing in services for children!
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