JUNE 2023

Watch our website, social media and e-newsletter for Michigan CASA news & updates.

The Michigan CASA network is

E X P A N D I N G!

By summer’s end children in the

Van Buren County foster care system will have access to a Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA is appointed by a family court judge to be the voice of that child in court. CASA volunteers go through specialized training and are constantly supported by a professional team. CASA Manager Lauren Miller states, “when Michigan CASA approached Executive Director Lori Ankoviak and I about expanding into Van Buren County, without hesitation we said yes. We look forward to providing a voice to children in Van Buren County”.  

A CASA is a person who is a positive influence, a consistent caring adult, a witness of the facts, a specially trained and sworn in representative, a friend with a large heart, and most importantly a person who can change an abused or neglected child’s life. CASA volunteers can wear many hats to be the advocate of a child in the family court system. CASA volunteers build a relationship with the child to understand and advocate for the best interest of the child, whether it is recommending services for them or their family, expressing the child’s unique situation in court, or explaining what is happening to the child. 

Van Buren County CASA will join

Allegan County CASA under the new name

CASA of the Harbor.

CASA of the Harbor is housed under the Child Advocacy Center

Safe Harbor Advocacy Center in Allegan, Michigan.

A group from the Michigan CASA network travelled

to St. Louis Missouri to attend the

National CASA/GAL Association 2023 Annual Conference

The annual conference brings together the entire

National CASA network for learning, professional development,

in-person networking and collaboration.

June is National Reunification

Month

National Reunification Month is celebrated in June of each year to recognize the people and efforts around the country that help families stay together. It is also a time to celebrate the families who have overcome obstacles to providing a safe and loving home for their children and are able to reunify after their child was placed in the child welfare system.

According to the Children’s Bureau with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the majority of children exiting foster care are reunited with their families. In fact, over the past few years, the percentage of reunifications that occurred in less than 12 months from the time of entry into foster care was between 65.5 - 67 percent.

Reunified families that restore children and youth to their family of origin are an inspiration, because they have overcome difficulties and are equipped with tools to address future challenges. 

National CASA/GAL Standards for Local Programs states:

• It is in a child’s best interests to remain with their family of origin when safely possible.

• The program acknowledges children experience trauma when separated from their family of origin.

• If a child is removed from their family of origin, it is in the child’s best interests to be reunified with their family of origin as soon as safely possible. 

A warm Michigan CASA welcome to Emily Katz

Emily is the new CASA Director for Branch County CASA. Emily graduated from Trine University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. She worked for the State of Michigan for almost two years as a Foster Care Case Worker and was a foster parent in Hillsdale County for five years.



Emily says she looks forward to building the CASA program for Branch County,

"CASA is an amazing organization and my hope is to spread more awareness throughout the community."

Interested in more information about Branch County CASA?

Contact Emily at 517-279-4316 or ekatz@countyofbranch.com

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June is PRIDE Month

To any LGBTQ+ foster/adoptive parents or CASA youth,

we want to reassure you that you are valued and safe

with Michigan CASA. 

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Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are everyday people who are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children living within the foster care system. A CASA volunteer advocates for one child's case until he/she is placed into a safe, permanent and loving home.