"Foster Youth's Bill of Rights."

The bill emphasizes the importance of including foster youth in discussions about their future and demands that they be given the opportunity to voice their “needs, concerns and desires about foster care.” It makes clear that foster youth have a right to attend all court hearings and participate in all case planning meetings regarding their care.

Former foster youth Aliyah Zeien, Jarvis Spearman, and Tiffany Cruz (left to right) pose with Gov. John Bel Edwards after he signed legislation they crafted establishing a "Foster Youth's Bill of Rights."
136 CASA volunteers served 283 children in July and helped find safe, permanent homes for 16 of those children.
114 children are still waiting for someone to be their voice.
It takes 30 minutes to learn about the difference a CASA can make in a child's life.

Register for a virtual information session so you can join us for the next training starting on July 26, 2021.
Recruiter's
Corner
This month, we are happy to share why advocate Iryna Fournet said yes to becoming a voice for a child! Click the hashtag below to hear Iryna's reason for saying yes.
"When you connect to the heart of a child everything is possible."
Dr. Karen Purvis
Child.tcu.edu
Advocate Refresher – Court Etiquette
Court has certainly been a bit different since March of 2020! Some of our courts are still operating via Zoom while others are back fully in person. We thought that some reminders about courtroom etiquette might come in handy for all; especially in the judicial districts that are transitioning from Zoom to in-person.
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 July, the Children's Advocacy Center provided advocacy and forensic interviews to 53 children.

In the River Region, 23 children and families were provided 61 hours of counseling.
Back to School!
As crazy as it sounds, it’s almost time to go BACK TO SCHOOL for families in our service areas. With many schools starting within the first few weeks of August, now may be the best time for you and your family to become readjusted to a schedule. Like your children, you may have also used the summer as a break from your typical family habits. You may have allowed relaxed bedtimes, unregulated eating habits, and possibly unmonitored and unlimited screen time (computers, tablets, video games, etc.). While this type of “freedom” can be healthy (in doses) for a child to decompress from a previous school year, it may also cause them to forget what is required when August comes around. As their start date gets closer, you may want to begin preparing your children for what rules and behaviors you expect during the new school year.
We have created a list of ideas and tips to help your family become regulated and prepared for the next nine months. We hope that you can utilize these tools and/or adjust them to fit your family’s needs. Here’s to a SUCCESSFUL and HEALTHY 2021-2022 school year! Click here to see tips for transition!

Stewards of Children Training
Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program believes and teaches that child safety is an adult's job. 

This training is offered using a virtual platform at $10 per participant. Your $10 includes a workbook, personal resources for better protecting children, CEU Certificate for 2.0 hours, and sustains this training for others to be trained. 
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. 
In 2020, Child Advocacy Services CASA Program served 516 children with 198 volunteers dedicating over 7,564 hours. The CAC Program provided 614 forensic interviews and 457 hours of counseling to children and families.

YOU can help us do more by investing in services for children!
CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES | CHILDADV.NET