CASA Community Member of the Week

Name: Emily M.
Role: CASA AmeriCorps Associate

What interested you about the CASA program?

The opportunity to make a difference!

Tell us a little bit about your previous Work and/or Volunteer Experience and/or Education:

I am pleased and excited to be working in the non-profit sector for the first time.

Hobbies/Fun Fact(s) about Yourself:

I enjoy thrift stores, fixing and sprucing up run down old furniture, collaging, walking, photography and good company.

What is your favorite quote of all time?

"Throughout the ages man has but little heeded the advice of the wise men. He has been - fatefully, if not willfully - less virtuous, less constant, less rational, less peaceful than he knows how to be, than he is fully capable of being. He has been led astray from the ways of peace and brotherhood by his addiction to concepts and attitudes of narrow nationalism, racial and religious bigotry, greed and lust for power. Despite this, despite the almost continuous state of war to which bad human relations have condemned him, he has made steady progress. In his scientific genius, man has wrought material miracles and has transformed his world. He has harnessed nature and has developed great civilizations. But he has never learned very well how to live with himself. The values he has created have been predominantly materialistic; his spiritual values have lagged far behind. He has demonstrated little spiritual genius and has made little progress toward the realization of human brotherhood. In the contemporary atomic age, this could prove man's fatal weakness. Alfred Nobel, a half-century ago, foresaw with prophetic vision that if the complacent mankind of his day could, with equanimity, contemplate war, the day would soon inevitably come when man would be confronted with the fateful alternative of peace or reversion to the Dark Ages. Man may well ponder whether he has not now reached that stage. Man's inventive genius has so far outreached his reason - not his capacity to reason but his willingness to apply reason - that the peoples of the world find themselves precariously on the brink of total disaster."

--Ralph Bunche, Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1950

How did you hear about the CASA Program?

AmeriCorps.

Local CASA Volunteer's Success Story

Contributed by: Fran G.

I was given my first case in February of this year a family of three children: A 13-year-old boy with mild autism, a 9-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old, all living with a Great Grandmother (74 years old).

The children have lived with their great grandmother for 4 years. There were so many questions that needed to be answered and I found that I had the time to find those answers. The lawyers, and social workers all cared for the family but lacked the time to get to know the family as well as I could.

I found, for example, that the 13-year-old boy had missed 54 days of school and had been late for his first hour class 34 times. There were several reasons, and all were easy to fix.

He needed an alarm clock, needed to stop spending the night at his favorite Aunt's house, and needed to take responsibility. I told him he was not allowed to be late or miss school anymore. I was able to check daily via a computer how his grades were and his attendance, and so was he.

From that day on, he has not missed a day of school and is on time. His Great Grandmother needed some help also with her insurance and finding the programs that would help the children and her. I had the time to help her. The little sister needed to be in an outside activity, and with Ava's (CASA supervisor) help, she is now playing baseball; she loves it and they are winning every game! The little sister will also be going to a two-week YMCA summer camp and is so eager to go.

All this family needed was someone that had some time to help with a few issues. With CASA, the possibilities are endless. I had the support of their social workers, lawyer, and Ava. I also had the training that prepared me and the on-going seminars and meetings that support me.

It has been my privilege to be in this family's life and to be a CASA volunteer.

Alarm clock source, baseball picture source

2009 National CASA Conference

Contributed by: Donna Huntsman, Friends of CASA Executive Director

The room was a buzz. You could feel the excitement, the anticipation. Something big was about to take place…

Imagine being in a room with 1,400 devoted CASA supporters. Some are board members, some are volunteers, some are staff…but everyone is a child advocate. Those in attendance are from all over…Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Alaska, and Arkansas. Forty-eight states are represented. You look around the room and you can see a unique blend of people sharing their diverse backgrounds, accents and experiences.

Suddenly, everyone jumps to their feet and begin to applaud and holler as Dr. Phil and his wife Robin walk into the banquet hall.

This was my experience at the 2009 National CASA Conference – Taking advocacy to a higher level. The conference was held over four days, April 25-28th, in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Phil McGraw, the host of the very successful syndicated daytime talk show DR. PHIL, and his wife Robin McGraw, were invited to give the key note address. They spoke to the need of getting every child in foster care a CASA volunteer. They thanked everyone for their commitment and challenged us to recruit 100,000 additional volunteers.

But, most importantly, they spoke of their commitment and desire to help CASA attain the goal of giving every child an advocate, a voice.

…everyone in the banquet hall was standing and applauding as Robin and Dr. Phil stepped off the stage. It was an invigorating experience to surround oneself with passionate people sharing the same belief and cause as you.

Dr. Phil Talks About the National CASA Program in his Show

Dr. Phil and Robin Thank CASA Volunteers

Spring 2009 Swearing In Ceremony

Contributed by: Ava Adler

Please welcome our new CASA volunteers:
Susan S., Kathleen O., Linda L., Jean P., Bruce J., Dean D., Renee S., Dorcas P., and Joyce T.

On April 7^th, Molly Schikora, Juvenile Court Referee, swore in 9 new CASA volunteers to serve as advocates for children in foster care in Washtenaw County. This is the biggest training class we’ve had in a couple years, and it includes two men, two foster parents and two adoptive parents. It also represents a wide range of interests and occupations including several engineers, an attorney, a phonics teacher, a volunteer church counselor, and an entrepreneur.

Bruce J., Kathleen O., Dean D., Dorcas P., Jean P., Susan S., Linda L., Joyce T. and Renee S. have joined our ranks and are in the process of being oriented to cases. We welcome them to our CASA family, which is growing!!

Please check out the Spring 2009 Swearing In Ceremony photo album below:

CASA Community Member of the Week

Name: Priya G.

Role: Volunteer

What interested you about the CASA program?

CASA’s role as both a social service entity with a social justice bent that was also institutionalized. This would allow me to make a noticeable and marked difference in the life of young children who are our future.

Also, CASA provided a diverse set of opportunities, from practicing networking skills to crisis management skills as well as of course making the difference in the life of young children.

Tell us a little bit about your previous Work and/or Volunteer Experience and/or Education:

I am a student at Berkeley Law School, I worked at CASA while finishing my final year at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Hobbies/Fun Fact(s) about Yourself:

Reading, writing, and Indian folk dance.

What is your favorite quote of all time?

“There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.”—Franklin D. Roosevelt

How did you hear about the CASA Program?

Non-profit career fair.

2009 CASA Earth Day Event

Written by: Donna Huntsman

CASA Earth Day's hostesses, Kim Kronick (left) and Betsy McCallister (right) celebrate a successful friendraising event with Friends of CASA Board Chair, Nancy Kelley (middle)

Earth Day, intended to inspire awareness and appreciation, was the back drop for a brilliant CASA event. Hostesses Betsy McCallister and Kim Kronick decided to call attention to the wonderful work our advocates do on behalf of abused and neglected children here in our own community. Betsy opened her beautiful home to forty people whom were invited to learn more about Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Nancy Kelley, our board president, spoke of the powerful impact one-on-one advocacy and mentorship can have on the life of a child. She spoke of her own experience as an advocate in San Jose, CA and her current work serving on the board of CASA of Washtenaw.

“To give a child a CASA is to give them a voice. To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world.” -Pamela Butler, a former foster child

A special thank you to Betsy and Kim for coordinating such a lovely and successful event. We are pleased to report:

• An increase in community awareness
• Donated money to support Friends of CASA and our work with foster children
• Nine new committee members for our Rockin' the CASA event
• Three new CASA volunteer advocates
• One new fundraising committee member
• One new potential board member
• An invite to host another Coffee Talk

Our foster kids were the ultimate benefactors this Earth Day. They brought a whole new meaning to the old adage of “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
Please check out our event pictures and video snippets below.

2009 CASA Earth Day Photo Album

2009 CASA Earth Day Event Video Snippets

For more CASA videos, please go to our CASAWashtenaw YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CASAWashtenaw

CASA in the News - Article in the Huffington Post

Standing Up for Abused and Neglected Children Takes on a New Meaning

Written by: Brad Hunt

Source: Huffington Post

One night, about 10 years ago, I went to bed with a sore back, and woke up in severe pain, not able to move from the waist down. I had suffered a spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed. After a few months of medical treatment there was no real improvement; doctors told me the problem was permanent and I might never walk again. I was 48 years old.

My vigorous life came to a standstill. I went through all the stages most people experience when they're suddenly disabled: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance. After four months of intense rehab and much to my health caregivers' surprise, I could maneuver myself around in an upright position using arm crutches. I could, on my own terms, walk.

Prior to the injury, as a "Type A" personality, I had been extremely physically active. I continue to serve with American Red Cross as a volunteer Health and Safety Instructor going on 40 years now. Our family took advantage of New Hampshire's outdoor scene by camping in all seasons, although I particularly enjoyed winter camping - maybe because of my other hobby as a dogsled musher. My profession as an ultrasound engineer also provided me with the opportunity to travel coast-to-coast.

The dogs and dogsled racing had been a very important part of my family's life. I built a hand-lashed racing sled out of white ash. We built a kennel in our backyard -- a big fenced-in area so the Huskies could run and I could wrestle and play with them. That changed after my injury. The dogs sensed something was different and they never jumped on me. Those magnificent animals played a key role in my rehab. After being paralyzed, I literally had to crawl out to the kennel to feed the pack. But I wanted -- needed -- to do that. Eventually, I was able to get back on the dogsled. I strapped myself on with a harness and took my wife for a ride. The dogs seemed to know what my wife and I were going through and we valued their support.
But, in other areas of my life, after two years of not doing much, I realized I needed something else to keep me busy and make me feel needed. I told the big guy upstairs, "I'm ready for something."

Toward the end of 2000, my wife and I attended a Christmas party at a friend's house. I sat down on a couch next to a gentleman who also depended on crutches to get around. He told me he had M.S. (multiple sclerosis). I asked, "What are you doing to keep yourself from going mental?" He said he was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children. We talked all night. Monday morning I called the local program office, CASA of New Hampshire, to find out more. After an initial, comprehensive, screening interview I signed up for the training.

The 40 hours of CASA training were hard for me because I had to sit all day long -- a painful endeavor. But it captivated me. One morning the instructor showed us a film of children who had been involved in abuse and neglect cases. They spoke of what had happened to them and how their CASAs helped keep them safe and brought change to their lives. The voices of those children were incredibly powerful. That was the moment. I realized this isn't fun and games, and I knew I had to do this work. It was important that I become an advocate for these children and that I do the job well.

When a case of abuse and/or neglect comes into the New Hampshire family court system, judges usually appoint a CASA to serve as a guardian ad litem (GAL), for the life of the case with all the rights and privileges of a principal in the case. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate, I think of myself as the eyes and ears for the judge. I work with teams that often include the Division of Children, Youth and Families, school staff, mental health professionals, foster care and health care providers, family service professionals and others. I attend court review sessions and speak to what I deem to be in the best interest of the children. I write a detailed report prior to each court hearing telling the judge what has happened in the case while keeping the focus on the children. I promise to see each of the children on my cases at least once a month and I commit to remain the CASA until each case closes (some cases can stay open for multiple years). If the mitigating situation has been rectified, the children might safely reunite with their biological family; if not, they might be freed for adoption.

CASA has probably done more for me than I have done for the agency in that it has allowed me to feel productive. When I walk into a home where kids five years and older still wear diapers, older kids still sleep in cribs, Mom and Dad use drugs in front of the kids, or where kids encounter domestic violence all around them and perhaps to them, I say to myself, "I can help change this situation." Then I'm thankful I've been given the opportunity to make a difference in a child's life.

I've changed since the day I took my first case eight years ago. I'm probably more tolerant than I was because I recognize everyone has a right to live their lives as they want. I can't impose my cultural values on others. My job is to ensure that the children end up in a safe, permanent home.

Two years ago my wife, Sue, and I took a Jeep ride across the United States. Yes, the country and its history impressed and thrilled me, but what struck me even more was the people -- the great diversity of people and their unbelievable helpfulness when given the chance. I realized we're all capable of being volunteers even if only in some small way. Think of what we could accomplish in this country if we all gave a bit of our time to give back to others some of the good we've received.

The National CASA Association has more than 950 local programs across the country. If you are interested in more information or possibly becoming a volunteer, please visit http://www.casaforchildren.org/. Donating your time to become a CASA may change your life and the life of an abused or neglected child.

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.