In Tough Times, Foundations Still Give Back

Contributed by: Donna Huntsman, Executive Director

Friends of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was awarded several generous grants and contributions that will help it promote its mission of helping abused and neglected children in Washtenaw County.

The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Clauw Family Fund donated $10,000 to the organization in hopes of providing every child in Washtenaw County a safe, permanent home. The grant is unrestricted and will be used to further the Friends of CASA mission.

The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor donated $2,000 toward CASA’s Cinderella Fund. The fund allows CASA volunteers to request modest sums to support the special needs of the children not met by standard Department of Human Services stipends. Examples of Cinderella Fund purchases in 2008 included:

• A warm winter coat for a little boy
• Undergarments for a teenage girl
• Boots for three children fostered by a relative
• Beds which allowed a relative to foster two nieces

The continuing generosity of our funders in today’s economy is a clear sign that our community values the incredibly important work we do. We are very grateful for the support of the Clauw Family Fund and the Kiwanis Club. Funders like them help bring us closer toward our goal of providing a CASA volunteer for every abused and neglected child in foster care in Washtenaw County.

Other noteworthy grantors include the Junior League of Ann Arbor with a $500 donation and the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor with a $400 donation. These two grants will go toward community outreach efforts to recruitment additional volunteer CASAs.

A CASA is a volunteer assigned to a child who regularly visits with the child and speaks with foster parents, biological parents, teachers, therapists, lawyers and caseworkers. The CASA attends court proceedings and recommends to the judge how to best help the child – they are the voice of the child.

Our advocates serve as a consistent, caring adult in a child’s life. They go to court with them; they take them to the park; they help them move from one foster home to another; they follow their progress at school, and they provide the court with a better understanding of who the child is and what he/she needs.

The Washtenaw CASA program serves as a model of government and nonprofit collaboration, and draws from the strengths of each sector to support the children who are in very unfortunate circumstances. CASA of Washtenaw County is a partnership between government, Washtenaw County Juvenile Court, and the nonprofit, Friends of CASA, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Since its founding in 1999, Friends of CASA has made a difference in the lives of abused or neglected children. For more information or to donate, please visit http://www.casawashtenaw.org/.

Logo source: corresponding organization's website

A Look Forward

Contributed by: Nancy Kelley, 2009 Board Chair

This is my first post on the CASA blog as Board Chair for Friends of CASA - an organization I am fully committed to because of it's mission to help abused and neglected children right here in Washtenaw County. That commitment to our local kids, the kids living right here in my community, attending my neighborhood schools etc. - the same kids sitting in our county family court system wishing for someone to tell their story, plead their case or simply to "know" what they think...that's why I chose this organization many years ago and am thrilled to be in the position I am for 2009, Board Chair.

When I look forward into 2009, I see more of the wonderful progress we've made in the last two years under the helm of Marianne Clauw. Thank you Marianne for your outstanding service to Friends of CASA.

Our 2009 board of directors is strongly committed to our mission and in addition, we are diverse enough to strongly represent those we are striving to serve. Our number of volunteers, our financial supporters and our public awareness is growing each year and I feel confident that these trends will continue in 2009. In growing these areas, our ability to serve more children (our ultimate goal) becomes more attainable. Every step counts, small or big.

I'm confident that the biggest impact on our progress in 2009 will be the hiring of Donna Huntsman as our Executive Director, starting February 3rd. Donna brings with her the experience and commitment we need to grow an organization of our size. Her enthusiasm, positive attitude and her simple "Cheers" at the end of her emails contributes to an energetic and upbeat office atmosphere. We are thrilled to have her on the Friends of CASA team.

In my heart and in my head, I feel that 2009 will be a fantastic year for the CASA program. I say that knowing that we are surrounded by big challenges in our economy, in our communities and even in our own homes and offices. Still, when I am reminded of the challenges these children have faced on a daily basis, often for most of their lives, I am given the perspective I need to face the challenges in my own life. I only hope that I have a portion of the resiliency and strength I see in these children. They deserve our support. I'm committed to giving it to them. I hope you join me in continuing to serve them and give them the "voice" they deserve.

CASA Year in Review: 2008

By: Marianne Clauw (2008 Friends of CASA Board Chair)

2008 was a year of commitment and growth for the CASA Washtenaw program. 40 CASA volunteers were advocates for 87 children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. These volunteers demonstrated that commitment, persistence, and caring make an enormous difference in the lives of these children. 15 new volunteers were trained and sworn in as CASAs in 2008, continuing the growth of the Washtenaw CASA program.

The Washtenaw County Trial Court-Juvenile Division and the Friends of CASA demonstrated commitment to our government/nonprofit partnership in 2008. The two year Expansion Grant received from the National CASA organization in 2006 expired as planned in June, 2008. The Court and the Friends of CASA are pleased to report that the community outreach and fundraising efforts of the Friends of CASA have resulted in a smooth transition to local funding of the program. The Court demonstrated confidence and commitment to the partnership by including the entire program in the 2008/2009 court budget, including the continued salary grants from the Friends of CASA. This is a very significant step, as the salary grants can now be matched by the State of Michigan Child Care Fund, because CASA is a fully budgeted program.

The Friends of CASA took a major step forward in the hiring of our first permanent staff for the nonprofit. With the addition of an executive director and the continued efforts of the board of trustees, revenues increased from $32,000 in 2007 to $89,000 in 2008. Funding from local foundations and corporations increased, and the individual donor pool was doubled.

Growth in community outreach was a focus of the Court and the Friends of CASA in 2008. The community learned about the issue of child abuse and the CASA program via monthly presentations to civic groups, a University of Michigan campus outreach program, enhancement of electronic outreach through website, blogs, and videos, and the highly successful Rockin’ the CASA dinner dance and auction in November.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to helping the children we serve through the CASA program. It is the support of the community that allows the CASA volunteers to do their vital work.