Monthly Contacts Matter
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As a caring and competent voice for children, quality contacts with children, parents, and resource partners are important. Quality contacts ensure children are safe, support permanency planning, and promotes family well-being. Quality contacts between children, caseworkers, and families provide improved trusting relationships, shared understanding towards progress goals, and joint development in case plan services. Quality contacts start with preparation and planning when you are planning your monthly visits and contact. Find out more about the impact quality contacts, and how to ensure you are planning accordingly.
152 CASA volunteers served 299 children in June and helped find safe, permanent homes for 13 of those children.
157 children are still waiting for someone to be their voice.

Recruiter's Corner

It takes 10 minutes to learn about the difference a CASA can make in a child's life.

Speak with a recruiter today
1-800-798-1575.

Our next CASA training will begin September 5, 2023.

"When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible."
Dr. Karen Purvis
Child.tcu.edu
Court Report Writing: Part 2 – The Assessment and Recommendations
CASA Court Reports are a significant part of our advocacy for children. Over the last few months, this section of our newsletter has focused on building skills specifically related to gathering relevant information and on the writing mechanics of the important duty of court report writing. We also did a deep dive into evaluating permanency for our CASA children. Please take a few minutes to review our February, March, and June newsletters if you missed those articles or want to refresh your memory on using the Rhetorical Triangle and on specific tips for the Current Situation section of our court reports. Previous newsletters are available on our website: www.childadv.net.

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 June, the Children's Advocacy Center provided advocacy and forensic interviews to 59 children.

In the River Region, 31 children and families were provided 50 hours of counseling.


Something Extra: The Tale of a Dog’s Collaboration

In June of 2012, the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association (LDAA) held a meeting in Baton Rouge with an unusual agenda item listed as “Courthouse Dogs”, to be presented by a retired senior deputy prosecuting attorney, Ellen O’Neill-Stephens, and a veterinarian, Dr. Celeste Walsen. Both ladies were from Edmonds, Washington. The presentation was to introduce attendees of the LDAA meeting to the idea of utilizing courthouse facility/service dogs that are professionally trained and working in prosecutor’s offices, child advocacy centers, and family courts. The goal was to primarily provide a calming influence for children who are victims of abuse during the often stressful forensic interview process and the following proceedings.

Written by: Eileen Fourroux, DCFS, Retired
Upcoming Webinars and Conferences
*CASA Volunteers are required to receive 12 Continuing Education hours per year. Only 4 can be articles, newsletters, and films.


Ongoing: 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. 
In 2022, Child Advocacy Services CASA Program served 479 children with 179 volunteers dedicating over 6,485 hours. The CAC Program provided 758 forensic interviews and 540 counseling sessions to children and families.

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