A message from our Executive Director, Norma Castilla-Blackwell
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
OFFICE CLOSURE EXTENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Dear Friends,
Our world has somehow simultaneously changed at lightning fast speed while slowing to almost a screeching halt. Like many, our CASA offices are closed to the public and many of our staff are working remotely. We postponed our biggest annual fundraising event until August (hopefully) and smaller fundraising events are postponed, too. We are not accepting donations in person. This week, for the first time, our training room was empty. And, sadly, CASA volunteers are not able to visit their children in person like they used to because of school closures and calls for social distancing.
We worry about maintaining contact with all of our kids. Especially the youngest ones and those who’ve experienced past trauma. They can’t put things in context to understand they haven’t done anything wrong. More trauma, more disruption. They can’t go to school or see their friends. They can’t visit their brothers or sisters who live in different foster homes. We’re also worried about the long term effects of stressors on families – reduced work and income, increased domestic violence and abuse, increased use of drugs and alcohol, mental illness impacts, kids not in school…
But, we hold fast to hope and patience, resiliency and creativity…and LOVE. Our CASA volunteers and casework staff are finding new ways to connect with their kids. Much more Skype and FaceTime. Thank you, technology! Our trainers have discovered the convenience (and fun!) of holding classes with new volunteers through flex learning and videoconferencing. Thank you, Zoom! And, donors have found that giving through our online portals is always open and easy!
As Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky recently said, “Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”
CASA of Central Texas will continue to monitor our role in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, responding to the direction of our judiciary and government officials, and staying in touch with each of you.
Stay safe and well,
~Norma
When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe, a judge may appoint a committed volunteer to help. That volunteer is called a Court Appointed Special Advocate®, or CASA. CASA volunteers are screened, highly trained and then appointed by judges to represent and advocate for a child’s best interests in the child protection system.
CASA volunteers are each assigned to help one child or set of siblings at a time, so they can focus on giving that child or sibling group the individualized advocacy and attention they need. CASA volunteers save taxpayers’ money and children’s futures by helping children find a safe, permanent homes as soon as possible.
CASA of Central Texas, Inc. provides valuable volunteer advocacy for abused child from Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties. CASA volunteers serve as the “eyes and ears” for the judges in child welfare cases. This includes researching each child’s situation and making objective recommendations to help them reclaim their childhoods from abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers are frequently the only stable presence in these children’s lives.CASA volunteers bring three critical qualities to their work: they focus on one case at a time; they bring a unique perspective to the court case; and their sole objective is representing the best interests of the child.
Give them a voice
CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child’s best interests in court. You are not a foster parent, you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child’s life.
upcoming events
From Voice Tours around the community to volunteer trainings, we have lots of upcoming opportunities for you to connect with us! Check out our month to month calendar to see what’s happening near you!
What is a CASA?
By becoming a CASA volunteer, you provide a voice for children who have been abused or neglected. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details on CASA and what it means to be a CASA volunteer.
Volunteer