June 26th Garden Party

Contributed by: Ferlie Yruma

CASA of Washtenaw County extends a big THANK-YOU to Jan L., Anne S., and Knut S., who hosted a garden party at Jan’s home in Dexter. Jan donated a party to an American Red Cross auction, Anne and Knut bought it, and they turned it into a CASA fundraiser.

The garden was gorgeous and the friends were fabulous! Thanks for helping two local nonprofits!

For pictures of the event, please check out the June 2008 Garden Party photo album (right column of this blog)!

CASA in the News - Dr. Phil

Contributed by: Ferlie Yruma

Earlier this year, National CASA CEO Michael Piraino was interviewed on Dr. Phil. To watch the video, please click here.

Psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, the host of the very successful syndicated daytime talk show DR. PHIL, and his wife Robin McGraw, bestselling author and frequent contributor to DR. PHIL, were named official spokespersons for the National CASA Forgotten Children campaign in May, 2008. For more information, please click here.

Image sources: Piraino, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw

CASA Community Member of the Week

Name: Marianne C.

Role: Friends of CASA Board Chair & CASA Volunteer

Picture: Marianne C. with husband, Dan


What interested you about the CASA program?

That it was for children in the county in a vulnerable situation. It seems there is always an awful story in the news about foster children being further abused, and the CASA program is a way to directly help these children.


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

20 years as a consultant, managing large systems integration projects. Switched to the nonprofit sector in 2005 when I joined Nonprofit Enterprise at Work. Currently work as a NEW board advisor for nonprofits. I have volunteered primarily in my children’s schools and for church organizations. I’m currently a youth counselor at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor.

Hobbies/Fun Fact(s) about Yourself:

I love to read and garden. I’m perfectly happy digging weeds for hours at a time.

What is your favorite quote of all time?

“The distance is nothing. It is only the first step that is difficult.”
- Madame du Deffand, French intellectual and writer, 16^th century.

How did you hear about the CASA Program?

I had an assistant who was a graduate student at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, and she had an internship at the Toledo CASA program. I also read about the Washtenaw CASA program in an Ann Arbor News profile of Ashwin Patel.

Certificate of Tribute Awarded by State of Michigan Governor

Contributed by: Ferlie Yruma

We were honored to receive Governor Granholm’s Certificate of Tribute recently, recognizing the CASA program as an effective way of ensuring that courts have access to thorough and reliable information on the circumstances of abused and neglected children. Click here to see exactly what the certificate says!

Legislation Passes U.S. House

Important legislation supporting foster youth beyond age 18 and relative guardianship has recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is looking for support in the Senate.

The issue of foster youth, especially those “aging out” of the system, has gained increased media attention of late and the bill’s passage is a giant step toward providing federal funding to states that opt to support youth in care beyond age 18.

The bill also provides federal support for relatives caring for foster children, extends IV-E support to Native American tribes and includes $50 million/year for a new Family Connection grant program. It also requires reasonable efforts be made for sibling placement and notification to relatives within 30 days of a child’s placement.

Primary funding for the Fostering Connections to Success Act would be tax dollars recovered from individuals who fraudulently collected unemployment benefits and improved cash management by the U.S. Treasury.

The provision for relative guardianship is expected to result in a cost savings by reducing caseworker oversight requirements. Please contact your legislators with “thanks” and “support.”

Detroit Google 101 Event

Contributed by: Ferlie Yruma

On June 4, 2008, CASA of Washtenaw County and NEW's npServ co-hosted an event to present live demonstrations of a range of Google applications offered free for nonprofits. CASA of Washtenaw County case studies were used to show how Google tools specifically benefit nonprofits' needs, whether it is enhanced outreach, higher productivity, or simply doing more with less. Topics such as online advertising, website enhancement and hosting, word processing and office applications, donations processing, shared calendars event ticket sales and processing, and collaborative document management were discussed during the event.

The Detroit Google training brought together 50 nonprofit representatives at Techtown, representatives who recognize the value of using free technology to improve operations of nonprofits. This is the second event hosted by CASA of Washtenaw County and NEW's npServ, an event that was also made possible by our event partners: Hannan House and NEW Detroit. The first one was held in Ann Arbor in March, 2008.

According to the audience feedback, the event was a huge success! It was evident that the techphiles and techphobes alike simply got it.

For pictures of the event, please check out the photo album below.

June 7-10 2008 National CASA Conference

Contributed by:

Ferlie Yruma

The National CASA Conference provides a unique opportunity for members of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) programs across the U.S. to socialize, listen, and learn from each other.

The theme of the 2008 Conference is "How are the Children?" Attendees of the 2008 National CASA Conference will gain a greater understanding of their role in improving the condition of abused and neglected children and obtain tools to further advocate for permanence to stop the cycle of abuse.

For more information about the 2008 National CASA Conference, please click here.

In 2007, two members of our Washtenaw County CASA Program, Virginia H. and Ava A., attended the National CASA Conference at Orlando, Florida. The following excerpt talks about Virginia H.'s experience at the conference:
___________________________________________________________

2007 National CASA Conference

By: Virginia H.

The National Conference in 2007 was attended by representatives from several CASA programs in Michigan – about 20 persons in all. Ava A. and Gini H. attended from the Washtenaw CASA program.

The conference was held in beautiful and sunny Orlando, Florida. Of course the location offered many attractions and pleasant distractions – but the conference agenda itself offered hefty competition to the distractions.

A pre-conference day offered an in-depth focus on issues of poverty and understanding and intervening within the culture of poverty as well as community-based strategies to break the cycle of poverty – from an individual as well as a system-level perspective.

There were great workshops offered in several different tracts, designed to meet the needs and perspectives of Board Members, volunteers, staff and, in many instances, all of these perspectives. Several topics involved program issues and challenges; while others informed and challenged participants to become involved on emerging issues as well as current ‘hot topics’.

There were leadership development opportunities; tutorials on the “new” training curriculum; technical assistance available for data base applications, media and marketing strategies; and recruitment and retention.

There were also very informative sessions on heavy-weight issues such as:

• Over representation of African American youth in the Child Welfare system;
• Understanding the cycle of sexual abuse (focusing on both victims as well as perpetrators); when it is appropriate to – and why/ how-to pursue the termination of parental rights.
• Cultural competence - making your program culturally responsive;
  
• Reaching out to dads - developing programs of positive male role models; and
  
• Sessions led by persons formerly in the welfare system that had the experience of a CASA having significant impact on their lives.

In addition to workshops and sessions, there were Luncheons with speakers of national importance and supportive of CASA:

• Susan Taylor of Essence Magazine,
  
• William C. Bell of the Casey Foundation;
  
• Jonathan Kozol, author, educator and activist;
  
• Michael Piraino, CEO of Nat’l CASA) and
  
• Some VERY impressive and inspirational former CASA youth.

Dinners and luncheons also featured dancers and other performers from the local area. Vendors abounded with delightful and informational wares. At the end of most days, it was all one could do to make it to the pool and a pool-side repast!!

The 2008 Conference promises to offer equivalent delights unique to the Nation’s capital – as only the Capital can offer.

Photo Source

CASA Success Story

Biological brothers, who were split up, were able to keep in touch because their CASA volunteer was willing to drive between Detroit and Marshall for them to have contact with each other.

The CASA volunteer would bring the younger boy, who was in foster care in Marshall, down to Detroit for his orthodontist appointments (which had begun when he was in residential placement there). They would then pick up the older brother, who lived in Wyandotte, and go to dinner, the park, etc.

CASA Community Member of the Week

Name: Christy W.

Role: CASA Volunteer


Why did you choose to be involved with this organization?

I have been looking for a while to find a volunteer position that gave me a chance to have hands-on experience with a neglected or abused child. When I heard about CASA in a college course, I was intrigued, and looking into it further only assured me that I had made the right choice.

Work Experience/Volunteer Experience/Education

Currently, I am a full time student at Eastern Michigan University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Women's Studies. I am hoping to continue my studies and eventually branch out into the non-profit world. I also spend some of my time volunteering with the Safehouse Center.

Hobbies/Fun Fact(s) about Yourself

I am very interested in women and child advocacy. I am an alumnus of Delta Zeta. I am currently Hospitality Chair of National Association of Career Women. I am also involved in the Ann Arbor Coalition Against Rape.

How did you hear about the CASA Program?

I first heard about CASA in a Psychology course mentioned by a Child Advocacy Center Speaker.

CASA Success Story

A two year old was reunited with her biological father after the CASA volunteer was able to give the judge some perspective and feedback on exaggerated allegations of neglect that her foster mother was making about the care she got during visits with her Dad.

The child had been living with her foster mom since birth and the foster mom was having separation issues.

Photo courtesy of Calgary Counselling Centre.