CASA Community Member of the Week

Name: Wendy S.

Role: Co-Chair for Rockin’ the CASA 2011

Picture: (left to right) Kyle, Jason, Wendy, and Samantha

What interested you about the CASA program?

I love that there is an organization that gives a voice to children who cannot advocate for themselves. Children are so innocent and it is our duty to protect them.

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

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science. I worked for UofM as a non-profit recruitment coordinator until the birth of my daughter. After my first child was born, I became a full-time stay-at home mom. Now, I spend my time volunteering for various organizations that benefit foster children, I’m the Treasurer/Secretary of the PTO at my children’s school, and I volunteer in their classrooms.

Hobbies/Fun Fact(s) about Yourself:

My husband Jason and I have a 7 year old daughter named Samantha and a 5 year old son named Kyle. I love yoga, reading, and history.

What is your favorite quote of all time?

"He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help." Abraham Lincoln

How did you hear about the CASA Program?

I actually first heard of the program on the Dr. Phil show!

Local CASA Success Story

I am a recently licensed foster mother in Washtenaw County and have had the great pleasure of working with Kathy P. who is the CASA for my new foster son. I wanted to reach out to all of you because I think it’s important for leaders to know about successes as much as they are notified when problems arise.

As I learned more about the CASA program and worked with Kathy, it became clear to me that she was modeling the CASA core values each and every moment. She has been and remains a vital team member in my child’s case.

I will not digress into the details of this particular case, but I can assure you that I am convinced that without Kathy, things would not have worked out and gone as smoothly as they have. She is truly only interested in the child’s highest good and has kept fiercely to that path and been a voice for him in times of great turmoil. She has developed key relationships and I’ve seen various other team members stop and take note of her voice, which then resulted in a key change in direction or a return to the path.

The CASA program is a fine example of a public/private partnership and Kathy P. is one of your shining stars.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Julie Palmer

Congratulations, Maria!

Contributed by: Ava Adler

Maria, with her husband Eric L. and daughter Olivia Grace L.

In June, 2010, Maria R., a Washtenaw County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), married Eric L. at his mother's home in Gladwin, Michigan. Maria has been a CASA volunteer since November, 2007. She has worked on 3 cases while working on her undergraduate degree in psychology at Eastern Michigan University.

Congratulations to Maria and her family!

Maria, with her husband Eric L. and daughter Olivia Grace L.

Thank You, Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor!

CASA of Washtenaw County received $2,000 from the Kiwanis Club, on behalf of the Children and Youth Services Committee. The award supports our Cinderella Fund, a fund established to provide for the special needs of the children assigned to CASA volunteers.

Thank you, Kiwanis Club!

Newest Addition to the Lunder family!

Please welcome Reagan Gabrielle L.!

Linda L., one of our Washtenaw County CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocate), gave birth to Reagan on January 11, 2010 at 11:46 PM. She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20-1/4" long.

Congratulations to Linda and her family!

National CASA Grant

Congratulations to CASA of Washtenaw County for receiving a 2010 National CASA Association Capacity Building grant in the amount of $20,000.

Thank you, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor

Earlier this month, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor awarded CASA of Washtenaw County $3,000 as one of the recipients of the 2010 - 2011 Community Service Grant.

Thank you, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor!

Patselas Photographs for CASA

Contributed by: Emily Mills

This week, long-time CASA supporter and former Board Member Jennifer Patselas photographed six of our CASA advocates for our upcoming screening of "The Blind Side" in recognition of May as National Foster Care Month.

Jennifer was able to capture the true essence of a CASA advocate in the setting where it all happens - the courtroom. Her portraits will be displayed in the lobby of the Michigan Theater on May 20th during our event and benefit screening.

We are very grateful to Jennifer for coming forward with the idea to donate portraits to CASA. In the next month, she will also be photographing some of our high school youth who may not be able to afford senior pictures. She has offered to donate a generous packet of photos to each senior as well as a 90-minute photographing session. What a gift to our kids! We can't thank you enough, Jennifer--for your time, your artistry, your generosity and your care.

Please be sure to get your tickets for the event and come see Jennifer's stunning portraits of our CASAs.

Remembering Nancy Abinojar (1957-2010)

Contributed by: Ava Adler

We have some sad news to report. Nancy Abinojar, a CASA volunteer since 2005, died on January 18th, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was a life-long resident of Ann Arbor and brought to our program her knowledge of, and history with, our community.

She graduated from and was employed by the University of Michigan, initially in the Department of Women's Studies. Eventually, she became the office manager at the new National Center for Institutional Diversity.

She grew up as one of the only Filipino American families living in Ann Arbor in the 1950s and 1960s. Her father, born in 1908, was also a U of M grad and they were both highlighted in the Filipino American History Project of Michigan.

Nancy worked on two cases with our CASA program, taking a leave of absence when she first became ill, but returning to her advocacy work when her health improved.

She will be missed.

Child Maltreatment 2008 Report

Contributed by: Donna Huntsman

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS's) Administration for Children and Families has published a report: Child Maltreatment 2008.

The report, the latest in an annual series issued each April in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, indicates that 2008 saw the lowest child victimization rate in five years. An estimated 772,000 children were victims of child abuse and neglect, a rate of 10.3 per 1,000 children, with almost a third of the victims less than four years old.