CASA Integrity MAY 2018

CASA Of Bell & Coryell Counties

112 N. Main Street Belton, TX 76513 (254) 774-1881

Website: www.casabellcoryell.org/

https://www.facebook.co

m/bellcoryellcasa/

https://twitter.com/casab

ellcoryell

https://smile.amazon.com

/ch/47-1771665

REMINDER: Advocate

timesheets are due on the 5th of the month!

Hello to all CASA Volunteers and Supporters of CASA! Can you believe it’s May 2018? We are one month off the halfway point for our fiscal year! We held multiple fundraisers as well as 2 training sessions, adding 21 new CASA volunteers. At the same time, we have provided assistance to 93 new children. Our grand total for all new children last year was 87! I want to thank all CASA volunteers (seasoned and new) for volunteering with our organization. You are the foundation; it is your actions that provide the care of our children and place a face on the CASA organization. Keep spreading the word in the communities we serve and we may just serve every child in foster care with a CASA volunteer. To those CASA volunteers, outreach volunteers, and board members who so graciously gave their time and assisted in our fundraising planning activities, we could not have been successful without you. Just in the last 3 events alone (the St. Patrick’s Day 5K, CASA by the Pool, and CASA on Main), we have raised over $8,500. Outreach resulted in great coverage from Lamar billboards, time donated by the Don Ringler family on their digital board, coverage from Ann Harker at Central Texas Living Channel 25 KXXV, Killeen Harker Heights Herald, and the Belton Journal! For all fundraisers thus far, over $18,700.00 has been raised. Keep it up, CASA! To our continuous CASA Champion Supporters who give so graciously and without hesitation, you are sustaining our growth. It is through your financial contributions that CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties has the ability to train CASA Volunteers to serve our children in foster care and provide them a voice for their right to a safe placement, permanency in family life, and a loving home. This is a newsletter of “Thanks-sharing” to each of you. It is a privilege to our staff to be a part of the CASA journey with our children in foster care.

Kelly Hardy, Executive Director

New CASA Volunteer Training

Thursday, July 12, 2018

5:30pm – 7:30pm CASA Office

A CONTINOUS CHAMPION SUPPORTER

THANK YOU!

The one thing more important to Kwik Chek than becoming a part of the community is their strong and gracious desire to give back!

Court Appointed Special Advocates are on that community list and they have included our CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties as a

program they support.

Kwik Chek, we thank you for helping our CASA grow in service to abused and neglected children in Bell and Coryell Counties. Your

help is a blessing and allows us to reach out and grow for the

children in our community.

WHO CAN

BE A CASA?

If you or

someone you know has heart, strength, and

compassion to speak up for

children, let them know!

Court Appointed Special Advocates

are volunteers who pledge to

give their time to help children

journey through the foster care system. They

speak on behalf of a child at court

hearings and use their voice to put the best interests of the child first.

If you have or know someone

that has the qualities to give children another

chance, please email Karli

Barger:

Kbarger.bccasa @outlook.com

C A S A

Strengthening

the voices of children

WONDERING

WHO SOME OF OUR

SUPPORTERS ARE?

Central Texas & Greater Fort Hood

BELL COUNTY Comm. Court

CORYELL CO.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR UNITED WAY

INCLUDES CASA OF BELL AND CORYELL

We are blessed, believed in, and given great support by United Way Central Texas and United Way Greater Fort Hood Area. Once again, both

agencies have provided for our organization in their foundation giving. The United Way ensures our ability to train Court Appointed Special

Advocates to be of service to our children in foster care.

Thank You United Way! We at CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties are grateful to have both UNITED WAY CENTRAL TEXAS AND UNITED WAY OF

GREATER FORTH HOOD ON OUR TEAM as a support.

What can we do to give back? You can give to CASA of Bell and Coryell

through United Way’s capital campaigns. When giving to United Way, you would designate your contribution of funds to CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties. We have the forms and encourage you to give UNITED

when giving to CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties.

Without hesitation, the Subhani Foundation has been a great supporter of children in need, including the Boys and Girls Club. As a CASA Champion

Supporter, The Subhani Foundation continues to assist CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties growth and expansion into Bell and Coryell to benefit our

children in foster care through the impact of a CASA volunteer voice. This foundation understands the need to support hope and change in the young lives of children.

Thank you Subhani Foundation for your actions and confidence in the mission of CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties and recognizing the impact

CASA volunteers can make in our communities, one child at a time.

Comm. Court

THE SWALM Foundation

The Subhani Foundation

Frank and

Sue Mayborn Foundation

MISSED OUR APRIL EVENTS?

NO WORRIES, WE HAVE PICS! CASA on Main: FOOD TRUCKS 4 CASA FAMILY EVENT

April 14, 2018

KZ FRAZIER PRODUCTION

“BEHIND CLOSED DOORS”

APRIL 28, 2018

WE COULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT YOUR HELP!!!

A special “Thank You” to the board members who assisted in planning events: Bette Robinson, Tina Capito, Kerry Ann Frazier and Lee Ann Deal.

Another special “Thank You” to the CASA volunteers who assisted in the planning of these events: Nicole Slaughter (instrumental in the Fun Run), Whitney King (instrumental in CASA by the Pool and CASA Food Trucks), Holly Puckett and the whole Puckett Family,

Channel Respers, Imelda Egan, Rolana Frank and Scott Baxter.

A BIG WELCOME TO CASA'S NEW VOLUNTEERS!

We are thrilled to welcome 9 new volunteers to our

fantastic CASA team in Bell and Coryell Counties!

From left to right: Ellen Wright, Michelle Wininger, Lindsey Beaton (new CASA Supervisor), Traci White, Domenica

Fernandez, Eberge Maximilien, Trezure McJimson, Judge Van Orden, and Lin McBee.

MAY 2018 OUTREACH:

May 19: Safe Kids Day 2018 Annual Bike Rodeo

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR OUTREACH

DON’T BE SHY!

CASA needs your help! We are growing in events and are spread

thin. If you would like to tend an outreach table or speak at an

upcoming event, PLEASE SIGN UP! Contact Karli Barger by phone at

(254) 488-8529 or by email at kbarger.bccasa@outlook.com.

WELCOME KARLI BARGER NEW RECRUITER & TRAINER

We know, there has been a rough patch; however, a new day has

dawned! We are really excited to welcome Karli Barger to our team as the new Recruiting and Training Coordinator of CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties. Karli earned a B.A. in Political Science with three years of focus

in public secondary education. Karli also served as a program assistant for the H-LSAMP Scholars Program, helping traditionally

underrepresented college students in STEM fields prepare for the workforce through ongoing professional development opportunities throughout their college careers. As an AmeriCorps VISTA alum, Karli has

experience developing and facilitating a statewide college and career readiness training program for Arizona educators through the Arizona

Department of Education and the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. In her new role, Karli brings with her experience in recruiting, interviewing, training, marketing, conducting community outreach, providing technical

support, and procedural guidance. She is thrilled to be entering her new role and joining the team of CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties. Feel free

to contact her at any time or come by and introduce yourself!

Karli’s contact information:

Email: kbarger.bccasa@outlook.com

Cell: (254) 488-8529

GOT In-Service Training?

Get your in-service training by reviewing the below information and sign

up! We have new instructors who have volunteered to teach skills to help us cultivate your abilities for the children we serve. Texas CASA requires

your in-service to stay current to handle cases.

DON’T WANT TO LEAVE HOME?

EASY OPTIONS TO COMPLETE 12 HOURS OF

IN-SERVICE TRAINING

Know, we scheduled in-service trainings and are in the process of developing and scheduling more in-service training opportunities for our

fantastic volunteers. We want to remind all current CASA volunteers that there are several other options available to complete your 12 hours of in-

service training other than attending our office in-service trainings:

1. Stop by at our office and check out one or more of the many books,

movies, and training videos available to you. 2. If you attend a workshop, conference, forum, training, etc. related

to foster care or want to attend a training you believe is relevant to

your work as a CASA, bring it in. 3. Texas CASA has multiple webinars, all worth a look and learn for

credits. 4. Brown Bags with Judge Van Orden and Lunch with the Judge with

Judge Mundkowsky always count! They field new and different

questions every month and every session counts towards your 12 hours of in-service!

In order to receive credit for any in-service training you perform on your own without signing in as a group, you will need to provide a one-page summary of the material covered. These summaries should include what

you learned and how you believe it will benefit you in serving abused and neglected children in foster care.

Be reflective and insightful!

NEWS FROM TEXAS & TEXAS CASA

Texas CASA Blogs: Explore THE CASA VOICE and stay up-to-date on Texas CASA and the 71 local CASA programs across our beautiful state. If you

are looking for the latest tips, announcements, and training opportunities, take a look at INSIDE CASA.

TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WANTS YOU TO KNOW MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

One out of five children have a diagnosable mental health need. Unfortunately, not every child receives mental health services. Whether

this is due to a lack of knowledge about services or difficulties accessing services, children and families need to know it’s OK and important to seek help.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Postpartum Depression

Awareness Month. Like chronic diseases, mental health requires ongoing treatment with medications and therapy, which can help people improve and recover. Local efforts aim to reduce the impact of mental illness on

Texas communities by raising awareness about the importance of children’s mental health so that children receive help for mental health

disorders with the same urgency as other health conditions.

9TH ANNUAL EDUCATION REACH FOR TEXANS CONFERENCE ON JUNE 1-2 IN DENTON

CASA program staff, volunteers and others who are interested in learning

more about supporting foster youth and alumni in attending college or preparing for post-secondary educational opportunities should consider

registering for Education Reach for Texans’ upcoming conference.

The 9th Annual Education Reach for Texans Conference will be hosted by North Central Texas Community College (NCTC), Texas Woman’s University (TWU), and the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton,

Texas. The conference dates are Friday and Saturday, June 1-2, 2018, and the event will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton

Convention Center.

LICENSE PLATE FUND – Texas CASA

DID YOU KNOW THERE WAS ONE? Yes, there is and your purchase of license plates results in funding. Once on your car, you are a rolling advertisement for the worthiest of causes. So, do not hesitate.

Get a CASA license plate today! Go to https://texascasa.org/learning-center/resources/licens-plate-fund/

Through the CASA License Plate Fund (LSP), local CASA programs are

awarded an amount each year according to the number of CASA license plates registered in their service area. These funds can be claimed by a one-time LSP Request for Reimbursement (RFR) before the end of the

grant period.

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

New Volunteer Training

Thursday, July 12, 2018| 5:30PM – 8:00PM | CASA Office

Do you or someone you know want to make difference for a child in the

foster care system? Please plan to join us on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at our office. This round of training will include 30 hours of in-class and at-home learning, along with 3 hours of court

observation prior to being sworn in as an official Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Visit our website to submit an application.

APPLY TO BECOME A CASA AT: www.casabellcoryell.org/volunteer/training/

If you know someone that has the passion and qualities to be a CASA,

nominate them!

You may also contact Karli Barger directly if you would like to sign up.

Email: kbarger.bccasa@outlook.com

Phone: (254) 488-8529

CLICK HERE to view the current pre-service training schedule.

Advocate Timesheets Due by 5th of Each Month

Please turn in your timesheets no later than the 5th of the month – this allows

CASA to receive funding dollars for your hard work! For questions about your timesheets, please contact your Advocate Supervisor or admin by calling (254) 774-1881 or emailing casa.bccasa@outlook.com.

Please remember to not use names – only the title of the person, (i.e. teacher,

doctor, CPS worker, supervisor, child, mom, dad, foster mom, foster dad, etc.).

112 N. Main Street Belton Texas 76513

254.774.1881

www.casabellcoryell.org

www.facebook.com/bellcoryellcasa/

www.smile.amazon.com/ch/47-1771665

Our team of volunteers, board, and staff are grateful to all of our supporters – and you, our individual donors and CASA Volunteers who

continue to stand up for and support CASA OF BELL AND CORYELL

COUNTIES.