Meet Board Member Andrew Norman

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Why CASA? My wife introduced me to CASA through her relationship with the Theta fraternity and her efforts in leading the Fall Breakaway at TCU. I was introduced to their mission and extremely impressed with the dedication of its volunteers and their commitment to helping the most vulnerable members of our society. 

What first caused you to get involved with CASA? My law partner asked me to assist in planning committee for the First Annual Pull For Kids clay shoot. I was honored to be asked and ended up learning a ton about the organization as well as be a part of getting a special event off the ground to support a cause I truly believe in. 

What would you say to a potential supporter? I would say that there is no more honorable organization you could support. Unfortunately our county’s children do not have the resources to advocate for themselves, and our dedicated volunteers and amazing staff do an incredible job of stewarding your sponsorship to ensure that the children are the ones who truly benefit. 

Why do you think it’s important for your local community to support CASA and what they do? The dark reality is that not every child goes home to two loving parents and a stable home. The support from the local community assists in advancing the mission of CASA to assist in advocating for the best interests of the child. As those children’s best interests are met, society as a whole benefits. Additionally, the men and women volunteering as CASA advocates are shining examples of the good that can come from local community support, it is truly an investment in the community for the community. 

Do you want to share some encouraging words to our volunteers? I appreciate everything you are doing and your commitment to advocating for children. These are uncertain times, and your dedication and efforts to assist are incredibly inspirational. Thank you.

What “Yes” Can You Give to Others in 2021? 

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Written by CASA of Tarrant County Community Engagement Specialist Lauren Pavlasek

What a crazy year 2020 was! I am sure most of us are hoping for more opportunities in the new year. We are hoping for positive changes and some sort of consistency after what felt like the most chaotic year ever.  

It is no secret that this past year came with hardships for many of us - some lost jobs, others lost their lives.  Events were canceled, trips were postponed, and we spent a lot of time waiting and hoping for things to look up while also wishing that everything would slow down.

We had to learn how to roll with the punches and live our lives in flux - constantly adapting to change. For children in foster care in Tarrant County, this is their normal, regardless of the year.

With the new year comes new resolutions and a time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. What would it look like for you to give more of yourself to the betterment of your community this year? What would it look like for you to advocate for the vulnerable population around you? It feels like a task too great for one person, but change starts with one. It takes a group of people joining together with one small “yes” to make a big change in our community.  

CASA volunteers act as a consistent adult presence in a child’s life while they go through the foster care system. They help re-establish healthy family connections and advocate for the best interest of the child/children on their case. As a CASA volunteer, you have the opportunity to speak up for a child in your community to ensure their voice is heard. A CASA volunteer collaborates with the child and their family to make sure that the child’s physical & emotional needs are being met in a trauma-informed approach.

The first “yes” to caring for your community is to learn more about the child welfare system and volunteering with CASA by attending a one-hour information session. During this session, you will learn about the need for CASA volunteers in our community, the positive change that CASA volunteers are making, and finally, how to become one. This is a wonderful chance to ask questions, learn, and listen.  

If you would like to move forward and become a CASA volunteer after attending this session, you will apply online and attend a short interview with a CASA staff member. All of our CASA volunteers then go through training to ensure they are able to care for the children & their families involved with a trauma-informed approach. During training you will learn about foster care, how to care for children who have been through trauma, and what it looks like to advocate for a child in foster care in Tarrant County. After training, you will be sworn in by a Tarrant County judge and begin your journey of advocacy.  

CASA volunteers are of, and for, the communities that we serve. May the coming year bring more resolutions to safeguard the well-being of others. Together, let us shift our gaze this year. May we focus more on what we can do for others who need their voice to be heard. Change can take place when we all come together with one small “yes”. What “yes” can you give to others in 2021? 

Destiny Studio Supports CASA Through Benefit Concert and Free Music Lessons

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Destiny Studio's second annual benefit concert for CASA of Tarrant County "No Place Like Home" took place Friday, December 4th at Creekwood Church.

It was a night of Christmas fun featuring dynamic musical performances from Destiny Studio staff and students, a special presentation from CASA, and a safe + socially distant Santa experience!

We are so grateful to Destiny Studio, who raised over $5,000 for CASA of Tarrant County!

A parent of performer said: “…Let’s just talk about CASA! I have been wanting to get involved FOR YEARS. But I come up with every excuse in the book why I am not enough. I wouldn’t be qualified for something so significant and important! Then last night..my husband looked at me and said, “how do we get involved? Let’s do this.”

Destiny Studio, located in Mansfield, also provides ongoing voice and music lessons to the children in foster care that CASA serves. Studio owner Sarah Darby said, “CASA lessons have been impactful in so many ways. One of our instructors Ruben Melendez said that while teaching one of his CASA students said, "You’re the first person that’s ever complimented my voice” and another CASA student mentioned to Shelby (studio manager and instructor), “This place literally feels and smells like sunshine - I’m so happy to be here”.

Destiny Studio’s core values are:

  • Everyone has a purpose and everyone is here for a purpose

  • Because people matter the God, they matter to me.

  • We sponsor moments that matter for a lifetime.

Sarah goes on to say, “With our core values, and what we believe for and about people, it just makes sense to partner with CASA in this way. We are so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what comes of it.”

Meet CASA Volunteer Lynda Wilkins

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What made you decide to become a CASA? I moved to the DFW area in late February of this year, my kids are grown and I was looking for a way to contribute to the community. When I was a young child, my parents had several foster children and I have always been interested in fostering but not able to make that level of commitment, so this seemed like a good alternative.

What is your professional/ volunteer background?  I am a Project Manager in the IT field, providing services for the federal govt.  I have done a lot of volunteering at animal shelters and have led some youth groups through church.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?  Ensure that you have dedicated time in your schedule for the required activities and enjoy meeting some really great people!

What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?  The current COVID situation has been a challenge, as we are unable to connect in person.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?  Seeing how many different people and organizations are working to ensure the safety and well-being of the kids.

Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case?  About a month ago, the collaborative team of caseworkers and advocates was able to meet with the biological parent and set up a plan for permanently getting my CASA back in the home, which was a really good feeling since the foster has been in other treatment facilities or foster homes for several years and very much wants to return home.

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?  I am just very thankful that organizations such as this, with such dedicated staff and volunteers are able to make an impact and help in some way to make the kids lives better during such difficult times. 

How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?  As my CASA is a bit older, we speak regularly on the phone.  I am regularly in contact with his foster parent and caseworker, via phone and email, as well speaking with the biological parent via phone.  I have been trying to help ensure that my child has all the resources he needs for virtual schooling, such as getting a loaner laptop for him to use so that he had a dedicated computer to attend classes and do homework.  The COVID situation has definitely been a challenge for the child, as it has limited his ability to socialize with peers and has impacted his family visits on a few occasions as well. 

Child Advocacy Specialist, Chelsey Statham said, “Lynda became an advocate in June and has not missed a beat. She was assigned an almost 2 year old case with a teen boy and has been able to maintain regular (almost weekly) contact with him in the midst of not being able to meet face to face. He spent about a week in a psychiatric hospital and she called to check in with him daily. Lynda has also developed a relationship with his mom and is working alongside the caseworker to set her up for success. The part I’ve been most impressed with is that this child is struggling with his sexual identity and she went out on her own and found a book for him. She got it approved by mom, worker, ad litem, and foster father, to send to the child to help him through his feelings. She goes above and beyond the minimum expectations!”

Meet Board Member Giana Ortiz

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Why CASA? Many foster children in Tarrant County will transition from foster home to foster home, and from school district to school district; spending only a few days or a few weeks with a support system before they are forced to integrate into a new one.  For these children, the CASA volunteer may be the only adult who, throughout the transitions and disruptions in their lives, remains constant.  Every child deserves to have an adult who knows where they are and speaks up for their needs.  CASA provides that caring volunteer advocate to children who may have none.

What first caused you to get involved with CASA? Learning more about the struggles of foster children made it easy to understand the important role of CASA’s volunteer advocates. In addition, CASA’s staff exemplifies dedication to CASA’s mission and service. I wish that there were no child removals, and that every kid in Tarrant County had a safe home to live in. But when a child is removed from an unsafe environment, the CASA volunteer serves as an essential part of the process for that child.

What keeps you coming back every month in helping CASA? I believe in CASA’s mission and the tireless work of its staff.

Do you want to share some encouraging words to our volunteers? Thank you for your work. Without your generous gift of time, CASA could not accomplish its mission for Tarrant County foster children.


CASA Volunteer/Book Fairy Gets Creative With Virtual Visits

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We have all been challenged to adapt and get a little more creative in 2020. This is especially true for CASA volunteer Carol Birdwell, who has created fun virtual visits with the children she serves.

The children on her case get books and special treats delivered to their door from the “book fairy”. As a former teacher, Carol helped to encourage the girls to read over the summer by grabbing their interest in a book series. The book fairy leaves the books on the front-door step, with treats, and other evidence of the visit behind (like fairy dust). The Book Fairy said it's gotten trickier to leave the items on the step before the girls get clued in by the family dog, often forcing the book fairy to run away from the girls encouraging them to social distance (and to get a good laugh).

On her second case, Carol advocates for a teenage boy. She leaves pizzas and home baked cookies as enticement for a copy of a report card or progress report. Despite social distancing, Carol has built a connection and trusting relationship with this boy, when he would not (and does not) trust anyone.

Thank you for your creativity in your advocacy, Carol!

National Philanthropy Day: Kappa Alpha Theta

In honor of National Philanthropy Day, CASA of Tarrant County invited TCU Kappa Alpha Theta’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief External Affairs Officer to contribute a blog post about what CASA means to them!

Written by Erin Buckley and Blake Vilven


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To Kappa Alpha Theta, CASA means service without seeking reward. Theta has the opportunity of putting on two philanthropy events throughout the year. I had the privilege of planning our spring event, CASA Cook-off! Essentially, this event is a cook-off battle between fraternities to see who can cook the best burger. I had an absolute blast planning and executing this event, but what made it even better is that I knew the positive impact this event would have on children all throughout Tarrant County. Additionally, we have our Theta 5K supporting CASA coming up this fall! Between these two events, Theta has raised over $80,000 for CASA in the past year.

By sponsoring CASA advocates, we get to love on these kiddos the best that we can without looking for any reward. It is service without praise and is there no better feeling than a sacrificial love like this. I may be biased, but I wouldn’t want our money to go anywhere else. To Kappa Alpha Theta, CASA of Tarrant County means service without seeking reward.

—Blake Vilven, 2020 Chief Executive Officer
Kappa Alpha Theta
Texas Christian University


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CASA of Tarrant County to me means having the chance to be involved with something bigger than just our sorority or experience at Texas Christian University (TCU). It means being able to help raise money and provide resources to support kids with the chance to have someone care for them unconditionally and help them to create a better life and future for themselves.

Being able to intern with CASA and partner with them in our philanthropy event this year, I have learned more about the countless ways CASA impacts foster children and how they provide hope to kids who’ve felt hopeless. I have seen firsthand how much hard-work and dedication goes into working at CASA of Tarrant County, and am inspired by their passion every day.  I love seeing our chapter of girls come together to support CASA in any way they can. Numerous times I see the selflessness and ability to go above and beyond what is expected of each of us, simply because we care deeply about CASA, their mission, and the kids they serve.

I’ve seen multiple members of our chapter so incredibly inspired that after college and their sorority days, they become CASA advocates themselves. The impact CASA has made to each and every girl is priceless. I am proud to see that CASA means more to us than just raising money, it has changed all of our hearts, going beyond our college experience. It has made me realize how lucky we are to have a philanthropy that is so special and makes such a huge impact on children – those that need it the most.

 —Erin Buckley, 2020 Chief External Affairs Officer
Kappa Alpha Theta
Texas Christian University

Meet CASA Volunteers Brenda Brooks and Hank Williams

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Brenda Brooks

What made you decide to become a CASA?
I first heard about CASA while serving on the allocation committee for a United Way organization.   I was so impressed by the work that the CASA organization was doing.  I decided that once I retired, I would become a CASA volunteer.

What is your professional/volunteer background?
Prior to retirement, I was the Director of Corporate Communication for a multi-national company based in the U.K.  Prior to that, I was the Director of Community Affairs for URENCO USA.  I have served on a number of boards including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of SE New Mexico; United Way of Lea County; The College of the Southwest and the Office of African-American Affairs for the State of New Mexico. 

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
JUST DO IT!  It is such a rewarding experience.

What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
Going to court and seeing those piles of folders stacked on the judge’s desk and knowing that each folder represents a child in foster care.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
Knowing you are making a difference in the life of a child. 

Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case?
The day my CASA child trusted me enough to want to share his feelings with me.

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?
All it takes to be a great CASA volunteer is a few hours per month, and a desire to advocate for what that child needs.

How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?
I conduct Zoom calls with my CASA Child.  I maintain contact with the other parties through email/text/phone calls.  His court hearing was also conducted via Zoom.  Unfortunately, my CASA Child did contract COVID-19 as well as his foster parent. 

CAS Tracy Williams said, “Brenda Brooks is deserving of this honor because she gives every ounce of herself when interacting with her CASA child. This child does not have to wonder if Brenda will be there because he knows she always will. She never forgets his birthday or his accomplishments and she makes sure that anyone involved in his life knows how important he is to her. Brenda is an amazing Advocate and I can’t imagine her not being in this child’s life let alone mine.”

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Hank Williams

What made you decide to become a CASA?
I wanted to give back after I retired, and my wife's coworker was a Dallas CASA. She told my wife that I would make a good CASA, so I looked into it and the rest is history.

What is your professional/ volunteer background?
I spent 30 years as an Aerospace Engineer at Bell Helicopter in Ft. Worth. I have volunteered all my life. I was President of Texas Alliance for Engineers (Promoted STEM to school age kids before it was hip), former Hurst Parks and Recreation Board member, Big Brother Big Sisters and several other volunteer activities.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
If you have a heart for our most vulnerable kids, please sign up because you will get more out of it than you give the kids.

What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
COVID-19!

What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
We almost had my kid placed with his Aunt and sister. To see his face light up was priceless, but unfortunately it did not work out.

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?
I really enjoy it so far and I am glad I chose to commit to this cause.

How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?
We have connected by phone or Zoom. It has been hard because I have never personally met my kid, so that has been tough. I have not met the foster parents, teachers and so on.

CAS Zed Blackshire said, “Hank is always trying to find a way to impact a child's life and is not intimidated by challenges that may arise. He searches and seeks solutions and he advocates and expresses what is needed in the best interest of the child.”

Meet Board Member Charlotte Kauffman

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Why CASA? Because children are the future and too many children in our community/our world are neglected and abused and if CASA can help even just one child - that’s tremendous.

What first caused you to get involved with CASA? My sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, has as it’s philanthropy CASA so I have known about it for years. Several of my friends were on the CASA board who are Theta’s and it was a cause I have had in my heart for years so I said yes to being on the board.

What keeps you coming back every month in helping CASA? My life has been full of blessings, I grew up in a wonderful home with wonderful parents and every month in our board meetings I am astounded at the number of children in our community that don’t have that safe, loving and secure home to grow up in like I did. 

What would you say to a potential supporter? The children are our future and it is up to all of us to help the children we live with in our community that are abused and neglected – CASA is the kind of non-profit that allows for so many ways to help these children. Through volunteering to be an Advocate, be a board member, donate money so that we have the staff to support our Advocates. The list goes on and on.

What do you think it’s important for your local community to support CASA and what they do? If we don't, who will? No child should have to endure pain, suffering, neglect and Tarrant county has over 500 children that need someone to be their voice, to look after them when no one else can or will, so it is up to us as the adults to advocate for those children.

Do you want to share some encouraging words to our volunteers? Right now everyone is clapping for our healthcare workers and their support system, our delivery people, grocery store workers and everyone working to keep our citizens healthy and supported. BUT you our Advocates need a big hand of applause for being there for the children who so desperately need someone just for them and that’s you! Our heroes during this scary uncertain time! Thank you all.


Heroes in The Making

Heroes in The Making

Written by Child Advocacy Specialist Zed Blackshire

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Every Hero has an origin story.  Whether it is Spiderman, Superman, Batman or your favorite athlete, tv star, teachers, local workers and even your friendly neighborhood CASA worker.  What creates and builds a hero is their life’s Journey.  The Journey to becoming a hero starts as soon as a child opens their eyes.  Every situation and every new thing that they learn is the blueprint for the hero that they will become. The people they interact with and the community that they involve themselves with all plays a part in how a hero finds their voice.   But all that starts with a key piece that is always essential to anyone’s growth, and our heroes at CASA work hard everyday to ensure that children in care have that essential piece.

Family has always been important to the growth and safety of a child.  When one thinks of family, one usually envisions the typical two parent home, maybe a dog, and it extends to others like grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  Now CASA volunteers, their Specialists, and others who are heavily involved with the child welfare system know that families have no limits to how they could look.  The quote “it takes a village” holds true to raising a child.  In our case, that village involves not only parents, but foster parents, fictive kin, adoptive families, caseworkers, CASA volunteers, and more.  I like to think of our kids in foster care as heroes.  They go through many trials and tribulations, and many of them overcome barriers and challenges in their lives with the help of the village.  Ironically, many of your favorite fictional superheroes have a not so traditional family and many of them have similar stories to our children in care. 

At CASA we can’t stress enough the importance of connecting and finding families for children in care.  Sometimes when parents aren’t able to care for children or are unavailable, family steps in and raises them as if they were their own.  For instance, a young kid is often left in care of his aunt and uncle due to his parents being away.   Eventually his parents are no longer around and can’t be found.  He is raised by his aunt and uncle who love him and instill values and knowledge into him.  He was able to live a normal life, thanks to the sacrifices his family made.  It is also thanks to his uncle’s greatest advice that when his life met an unexpected change, he became one of our greatest and most relatable heroes. 

“With great power, comes great responsibility.” Peter Parker became the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man not only because of a random radioactive spider bite, but because of the morals instilled in him from his loved ones.  How about a kid who unfortunately loses his mother and father is in prison?  Luckily, a friend of the family agreed to be this child’s guardian, treating him as one of his own.  This kid gave his guardian trouble at first, often disrupting the household, but he learned to trust him because his guardian never gave up on him becoming a father figure.  This kid grew up to be a forensic scientist in the same place as his guardian, where the accident turned him into the fastest man alive.  CW’s version of the Flash benefited from having a family that looked after him when he lost his family to tragedy.  He often longs for close bonds as well as other father figures and he takes it seriously when it comes to protecting them.  How many our kids can identify with wanting a father figure, or protecting the love ones that they do have, in fear of losing someone else?  The great news for some of our kids is that family members and fictive kin often become a hero to our kids, raising them and providing safety. 

Some of our kids unfortunately lack family in the position to step up to the plate, but sometimes others commit fully to raising that child.  A baby was born, and immediately was abandoned by their parents.  Let’s say a stranger or foster parent couple takes responsibility for this child and essentially treats them or adopts them as their own?  They try to shelter and protect this child, teaching them the way of life and instilling morals and value in this child as he grows into a teen.  As a teen, they start to realize that they are different, and that maybe they don’t belong, which could steer someone many ways.  His adoptive dad died, which is who he learned most from, while his biological family he never met.  He is clueless about his roots and culture.  Well this teen took to heart what his adoptive parents taught him, set his own roots in the things he grew up with and became one of the most powerful and famous superheroes of all time.  Yes Clark Kent, otherwise known as Superman, also needed the guidance of his nontraditional family in order to grow.   He too felt disconnected, but with the help of his family, and his now adoptive planet earth, he used that as a coping mechanism to grow and become something Great.  

Our Hero’s in comics being an orphan is a bit cliché, but many of them have different journeys and beliefs depending on how they were raised.  Bruce Wayne lost his parents to violence, and we see how he turned out.  His personality is quite the opposite of Superman because he knew his parents and lost them.  Bruce was mostly raised by his butler Alfred, which in some iterations, social services disagreed on allowing fictive kin to raise him.  Many of our kids lose their parents for many reasons, and that trauma follows them as they age.  Everything Bruce did was motivated by what happened to his family and as Batman he vowed to preserve justice his way.  Even if he never admits it, it also fueled his desire to create his own family.  He ends up taking in people like Dick Grayson or Tim Drake, who would become his sidekicks Robin and Red Robin.  Dick Grayson also lost his family members right before his eyes and Bruce Wayne adopts him and raise him as his own, even if they disagree sometimes.  When family can’t be around, and others step up to the plate. Adoptive parents are heroes in their own right, giving hope and family to children who may have lost theirs.   Our adoptive parents have their own origin stories as well.

Here we have another kid who loses his family at a young age.  This kid becomes cold and cruel to most people around him, having a non-trusting attitude towards everyone.  He becomes selfish and is moved from foster home to foster home due to behavior problems.  He was eventually placed in a home of a married couple who were foster children themselves as well as five other children.  He again refused to connect with them until one day he defended them from bullies.  Slowly but surely, he began to cherish his foster siblings.  After getting in major trouble and expecting to be sent away, he was shocked to find out that his foster parents were not going to give up on him.  The bonds Billy Batson created in his foster home would motivate him to save his siblings once again as the hero Shazam, as he shared some of his power with them to defeat their enemies as the Shazam Family. 

Or how about teens and children who are different and discriminated against due to their differences?  Some of them ran away from their homes and became delinquent, some were kicked out of their home, and some just don’t have a place to go.  Everyday they live in a world where the system doesn’t understand them, and many policies negatively affect them.  One man decides to use his property as a home, welcoming them in and accepting them for who they are.  He teaches them how to accept their differences and use them for good.  He attempts to address their mental and physical health and sees to their education.  They become his family and together, Charles Xavier and his family intervene in situations, often saving others as the X-Men. 

Sometimes, it takes an outside party or person to see and foster a child’s potential.  While not ideal, we see this in residential treatment centers and group centers.  We also see this in Professional Home-Based Care placements and foster homes who are committed to caring for children for prolonged periods.  By not giving up on a child, it often results in them not giving up on themselves.

Every child in care has an origin story, whether it’s a child raised by their fictive kin, a child who returned home to one or both parents, or children who are adopted or live in foster care or a residential treatment.  These children have the potential to become future heroes, with assistance from family, OCOK workers, a CASA volunteer, foster parents, and many more.  Every great hero had someone that believed in them and someone who helped them navigate life to help them understand the person that they are and the person they could become.  That’s why it’s important that we try to collaboratively engage with families when possible, and support those who take the responsibility of caring for our future heroes.  Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.  But we have the responsibility to help our kids find their great power!

Your Friendly Neighborhood CASA-Man
Zed Blackshire

Witnessing Domestic Violence and the Impact on Children, By Board Member Nichole Masters-Henry

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Sounds and smells can sometimes take you back to a single memory - sometimes to a loving and wonderful place, other times scary and traumatic.

As I shopped at my neighborhood grocery one day, I bopped down aisles enjoying the 90’s tunes that floated through the store’s sound system. Then that song played. It made me pause as I transported back to my 8th grade summer camp. I could vividly see the faces of my camp besties; hear the camp counselors trying to corral groups of rowdy thirteen-year olds to move to their next activity. I could smell the stench of chlorine from the pool fighting, and the various aromas from the Great Hall.  Memories of carefree fun flooded over me - faces that were long forgotten and moments that were hidden under years of living.

Just as the whiff of a familiar perfume can remind you of that favorite auntie that always had a special treat for you in her purse, or the quiet chorus of Silent Night overwhelms you with memories from a favorite Christmas; certain sounds, scents, and events can trigger powerful memories of traumatic experiences from your childhood.  Although we think we’ve forgotten those memories that once were part of who we were, the truth is, whether good or bad, those events are still with us - impacting who we are and how we function as adults.

Witnessing abuse in childhood can have a lasting impact on children. Children are often the hidden, silent victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). These children that witness IPV are more likely to experience neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse themselves. According to The Journal of Injury and Violence, they reported children who experience the trauma of witnessing domestic violence exhibit higher rates of cognitive, psychological, and emotional challenges. Witnessing violence impacted these children short-term by being affected with: anxiety, increased aggression, sleeplessness, nightmares, poor performance in school, low self-esteem, and trouble making friends. Similarly, long-term impacts that carry into adulthood include: increased risk for depression, anxiety, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, low self-esteem, PTSD, and other problems.

Perhaps the most significant result of witnessing abuse is the increase risk of continuing the cycle of abuse into their own relationships. According to a study conducted by UNICEF, growing up in a home where there is domestic violence is the single best predicator of whether a child will become either a perpetrator or a victim of domestic violence later in life.  Hard evidence establishes that boys who witness abuse in the home are ten times more likely to abuse their female partners as an adult. Oppositely, girls are more than six times likely to be sexually assaulted and abused as adults.

There is hope. There is healing. While it is difficult to hear how abuse can impact the lives of children during their youth, and even more difficult to know how it can continue to negatively affect their lives well into adulthood - there is hope! Although they may never forget the pain they went through, they can learn coping mechanisms and new ways of managing their emotions that will aide them through adulthood. Interventions in childhood and adolescence can counter those traumatic experiences and reduce the negative effects of witnessing abuse. These interventions, such as individual and group therapy, can help children process their emotions and learn positive skills to manage their feelings, deal with stressors, and resolve conflict.  Trusted friends, like a CASA volunteer, provide a safe place and opportunities for them to be themselves, build confidence, and assist in their social development. Also necessary, is a solid circle of adults they can trust to help them rebuild confidence in themselves. These adults should understandably provide a safe place for them to express their feelings and support them while they navigate the normal woes of adolescence. These positive experiences and safe places provide joy-filled moments and plant seeds of hope that create lasting memories and opportunities. 

CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate) provides safe, stable adults to advocate for the best interest of children in foster care. When children have been removed because of IPV, CASA’s first concern is their physical safety. Once assured they are in a safe foster or relative home, a CASA then shifts to their mental health, addressing the traumas they endured before they came into care. The CASA can also provide support for the parents and identify resources for them to continue their journey toward safety and healing as well. While witnessing violence at an early age is traumatic, a CASA will recommend children receive trauma-informed counseling to process and cope with those memories.

Hopefully, in their future, their memories of hope and healing will outweigh their traumas and lead them on a path that breaks the cycle of family violence.

Nichole Masters-Henry is a board member of CASA of Tarrant County and is the Chief Services Officer at SafeHaven. In this role, she oversees the entire agency’s victim services – from shelter to counseling and long-term housing, to hotline and assessment.

If you’d like to be an advocate for abused and neglected children, sign up for an Information Session at https://www.speakupforachild.org/become-an-advocate.

Meet CASA Volunteers Veronica Garza and Jannet Alarcon

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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are spotlighting two special advocates this month who were instrumental in leading a volunteer information session in August to recruit more Hispanic and bilingual advocates!

VERONICA GARZA

What made you decide to become a CASA?
I had heard about and seen so many heartbreaking stories about children in the foster care system, and many times I felt frustrated at not knowing how I could help or make a change. I wanted to make a real difference in a child’s life, so when I learned about CASA and the type of work they do, I knew I had to be involved. 

What is your professional/ volunteer background?
I am an attorney and my practice is focused on immigration law. It is through my practice and working with children that I saw how many immigrant children end up in the foster care system. I hope that my experience and knowledge in immigration law will be beneficial to the cases I am assigned to.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
Attend an information session, ask questions, and learn as much as you can about the type of commitment you will be making. Then get involved, whether as a CASA, a donor, or a volunteer, there is always something you can do to help the cause. 

What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
As a CASA you are the point of contact for all parties involved with the case. It can be overwhelming at times to get different information from every person involved or feel like you are being pulled in all directions. However, in the end you have to remember that your goal is to be the voice for your child or children, and their well-being is the most important part of your work. Keeping that in mind will help you focus and keep doing what needs to be done.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
Knowing that you are doing life changing work, even when it may not seem like it at the moment.

Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case. One of my kids told me that I was like a mother to her, and that she was grateful for everything I was doing for her. That filled my heart with more joy than I ever expected to feel through this type of work. You may not get that type of statement every time with every single case, but it sure felt good!

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?
I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to do this type of work. Some of my friends have asked me why I don’t just do ad litem work through my practice, and my response is, that does not give me the in depth access into the case that I have as a volunteer who has no interest in the case but the well-being of the child. As a CASA, I have contact with the child, the attorneys, the families, and anyone that has an impact on the child’s case and life. I feel being a CASA is the best way to make a difference.

How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?
I thankfully have been able to communicate with my kid through phone calls, zoom, facetime, text messages. Nothing much has really changed, other than not having that face to face time as often as I’d like. Attending a hearing through zoom was also interesting, but everyone is getting used to it. Things are getting done, and that’s what counts.


JANNET ALARCON

What made you decide to become a CASA?
I was so inspired by the presentation by Child Advocacy Supervisor, Jaime Hernandez at a fellow CASA volunteer’s home, Veronica Garza. Then, I decided the same day to get register because I thought that I could do something to help these kids even it was little. The other reason I became a casa is because when I was a kid, 12 years old, my parents left my sister and I under the care of my grandma, they never went back to retrieve us. My gradma did everything for us and I am so grateful she was there for us, if not, for sure we would end in a foster home. Kids did not deserve to be abandoned or neglect by their parents. 

What is your professional/ volunteer background?
I was volunteering in Catholic Charities and Immigrant Project during 2016. I helped them with Immigration Services for our community. I was also a volunteer in Crowley ISD Food Banks along with son, at Texas Wesleyan, my alma matter, during some events. I did some volunteer hours at TAPS (Texas Advance Paralegal Seminar 2018-State Bar of Texas) at the event registration and TAMU as a notary public. 

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a CASA?
I can say that we are in this world to serve others and not just to be served. So, if you can do something for someone else who is in need or not, just do it!

What has been the most challenging part of being a CASA?
Gaining people's trust. Moreover, the children's trust. These kids were going through a lot, so there is not easy for them to believe that someone cares about them. However, actions are better than words, so this is what they need to see. 

What has been the most rewarding part of being a CASA?
Happy faces, smiles, and getting a "Thank you" for these children. Seeing these kids improving themselves in many ways such as becoming bilingual and getting good grades at the school. 

Please share a special moment with us about your advocacy work with your CASA kid or on your case.
When one of my kids was getting through a situation that involved hurting herself, I was able to talk to her and shared my experiences as a kid. We cried together and I gave her a hug and told her that I was there for her at any time and for anything. I encouraged her to fight and never give up even the obstacles in her life. I reassured that she would be a great woman and professional in a couple of years, but she must make some efforts to achieve that. I saw hope in her eyes that day and felt so lucky of having the opportunity to influence this kid in a positive way. 

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or the CASA experience?
Donating my time has been the best investment of my life. This is a challenge that most of us would take in pro of the future of these children. In that way, we were able to show the next generation that kindness and caring for others can make our world better than today. 

How have you been able to connect with your CASA kids during this time of quarantine? How are you advocating for them during this time? How has it impacted the children on your case?
Quarantine has changed everybody's lives. Communication with my CASA kids has been reduced at once a month through FaceTime. However, I am sending cards to them so they can know I am thinking and caring about them. I am also in communication with the parties of the case advocating for these kids to have visits with their mom and monitoring their health passport & counseling reports. 

During my virtual visits with my children, they let me know that they would wish to return to the school in person. I'm sure they need to interact with some friends and come back to their normal life. Also, they disclosed to me their desire to come back home with their mom. I am praying for them to get the best decision over their case. 

CAS Lui Sanchez says, “Veronica and Jannet have not only been a pleasure to work with during my time at CASA, but a HUGE asset to the Latinx community here in Tarrant County. Their diligence to the Hispanic children on their cases have made sure that they have not slipped through the cracks during the Covid-19 Pandemic. They have also stepped up by hosting a special Hispanic/Latinx community information session earlier this summer, in order to help CASA recruit more bilingual volunteers for the Hispanic children currently in foster care. I consider myself very privileged to have two wonderful, hardworking Latina volunteers on my team. They are truly an inspiration to me and I appreciate their own personal and professional experience they bring to the table.”

Meet Board Member Molly Davidson

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Why CASA? Child welfare has been my passion both professionally and personally for the past 15 years. CASA allows me to support frontline staff and volunteers who are doing the incredibly hard work of supporting the children of Tarrant County – who otherwise can easily be overlooked. 

What first caused you to get involved with CASA? As a previous CPS worker, I worked hand-in-hand with CASA and have always been grateful for the service they provide to our kids in care. Since then I have the opportunity to move away from direct care and serving on CASA’s board enables me to remain in touch with the needs of our kids and community.

What keeps you coming back every month in helping CASA? Seeing how the amazing staff and volunteers meet the needs of the children/families/parents they serve.

Why do you think it’s important for your local community to support CASA and what they do? Not everyone is called to a foster or adoptive parent, but everyone is called to do their part in supporting the children in their community – especially the children whose birth communites have been taken from them. I saw this proverb and I think it sums up beautiful the need that CASA fulfills:  “The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth”

Do you want to share some encouraging words to our volunteers? Child welfare workers, volunteers, advocates are often overlooked when “Heroes” of a crisis are identified. Please know that we see the amazing work you are doing, and we are humbled and eternally grateful. Standing in the gap for Tarrant County’s most vulnerable has never been more crucial, and you are  ensuring that those children are seen and heard in the midst of uncertainty. THANK YOU!

Corporate Sponsor TPG Shares Why They Support CASA

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Corporate Sponsor TPG Shares Why They Support CASA, both as volunteers and event sponsors!

“I have been actively involved with CASA for the past 25+ years.  Through all of that time, I have witnessed countless success stories associated with the simple act of having a trained individual focus on the needs of a child and represent the interests of a child.  The power that comes for such a simple concept is frequently a life changing, positive event for that child.  I have never seen a charity organization get so much impact out of the financial contributions received.”

  • Ken Murphy, Partner and Co-COO, TPG, CASA Board Member

 

“My support of Tarrant County CASA has been to me an opportunity to get outside of myself and my comfort zone to advocate for children involved in a DPS case.  While each case has varied nuances and each child has varied needs, they most often just need an advocate to walk with them through an often confusing and intimidating system.  The lessons for me in empathy and humility are intangible and exponential.”

  • Laura McQuillar, TPG

 

“It means supporting our most vulnerable population, potentially providing the support or insight that changes the trajectory of their lives.  Personally, from my past, I know there are moments in life where one person being an advocate changes everything.  Supporting CASA for me means making that possibility real for someone else.”

  • Michelle Roebuck, TPG

 

“In my mind, there is no greater cause than supporting the most vulnerable children and Tarrant County CASA meets that need with a special strength and tenderness.  CASA has a special place in my heart to ensure that we are doing everything we can to be there for these kids.  If we can do even the smallest task, then we have captured one of my favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis on the CASA website: “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.”

  • Patrick Bewley, TPG

Meet Board Member Dr. Magdalena Battles

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How did you decide to pursue your career? Since I was a teen I have worked with children. Over 20 years working with children has evolved into being an expert in the field of child development. I am passionate about helping parents and early childhood development professionals, so they can best care for young children. I do this through conference speaking as a registered child development professional trainer for the state of Texas, top writer for LifeHack.org, and author. I have authored two books and a third to come in 2021. The two published books are “Let Them Play: The Importance of Play and 100 Child Development Activities” and “6 Hidden Behaviors that Destroy Families: Strategies for Healthier and More Loving Families.”

When and why did you become passionate about CASA of Tarrant County? A fellow board member, Elle Oberdick, told me about CASA over lunch one day and from that very day I knew I wanted to get involved and help. Supporting CASA is one of the best ways to help local foster children because it pairs these children with caring advocates who monitor their case, attend court, visit them at their foster homes, and ensure that they are getting the care that they need while being in state care and beyond.

What makes you stand out in your field? I have a PhD in academic and clinical psychology with over 20 years of real-life experience working with children including roles as domestic violence counselor, sexual assault counselor, early childhood development professional, and foster mom. I pull from this experience, as well as my life experience as a mom to three kids ages 6, 6, and 8 to write and teach others about child development and family relationships. What or who inspires you in your career? Bob Goff. I believe his message of loving and serving others is what God has called us all to do in life.

What keeps you going? Doing what God has called me to do. It is not about financial incentives. Writers and authors (like me) do not make a great deal of money. However, my satisfaction and motivation come from knowing that I am helping others, as God has called me to do. It is about making an impact in the hearts and minds of people to positively influence their lives. I also serve CASA and volunteer in other areas within the community because it is about serving others.

What’s the best business advice you have ever received? “Do what you love to do, otherwise you will not have passion behind your work.”

How do you pay it forward? Serving and volunteering in the community. Currently I serve with CASA, the parks and rec board for the city of Southlake, and as a cheer coach for Dragon Youth Cheer.

Anything else you’d like to say about your involvement with CASA of Tarrant County and what their impact is in our community? Our local foster children need our support. People don’t realize that we have many children in foster care right here in Tarrant County. If you can’t serve as a foster parent, then supporting CASA of Tarrant County as a volunteer or supporting them financially is the next best way to help our local foster children. We have a duty to help these children who did not chose their life situation.

Podemos Hacer Más (We Can Do More) - In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

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CASA Latinx Advocates are Needed!

Written by CASA of Tarrant County Child Advocacy Specialist Luisana D. Sanchez

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Growing up as a first generation Mexican American, there were a few obstacles that my family and I had to navigate through over the years. There was a language barrier in the beginning to figuring out the college system when it came time for me to choose a university. Thankfully, my family was supportive and patient when difficult situations arose. I truly believe I would not be were I am if it were not for the kind teachers and mentors I met along the way that helped me succeed. One mentor always has stood out to me, not only because of their help but their resemblance to me and my culture. She was a young Latina woman who also came from an immigrant family. She and her family faced the same barriers my family and I were going through and succeeded. She was able to give back to her community in advocating for my family and I’s best interest.

Representation matters in Advocacy here at CASA of Tarrant County. As a Latina Child Advocacy Specialist, I have seen firsthand how important it is for a child to have an Advocate they can relate to and confide in their first language, Spanish. Children going through the foster care system are already traumatized being separated from their family, it can make it more difficult when there is a language barrier and strangers who do not resemble their own culture. Being a Latinx Advocate can bring comfort to a child while helping them understand their new situation. While advocating for the child’s best interest, the role of the Advocate plays an important part for the parents involved. Latinx Advocates have assisted parents in navigating the foster care system to succeed in what is needed to reunite families. CASA Latinx Advocates are needed to help speak up for the 42 percent of Hispanic children in the Texas child welfare system. Stepping up and being a bilingual voice for a Hispanic family can be crucial for their success during a traumatic, difficult time. During this Hispanic Heritage Month, please consider being a CASA Volunteer.


Hispanic/Latinx Community Info Session Recap

Written by CASA of Tarrant County Child Advocacy Supervisor Jaime Hernandez

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On Thursday, August 13th, CASA of Tarrant County conducted a very special information session focused specifically on reaching the Hispanic/Latinx community in our area. Through well-planned and targeted media advertising, and through reaching out to many partners in our networks, we were able to host a number of members of the Hispanic/Latinx community to learn more about CASA.  CASA staff members, as well as some current volunteer advocates, worked together to enthusiastically share the mission of CASA with those members of the Hispanic community who attended virtually. Attendees heard from CASA staff about the need our community has for volunteers to be a voice for children who are in foster care. More specifically, they heard about the need for advocates for children to identify and connect with their common Hispanic heritage and even their language.

Today more than 40% of children in the Texas foster care system are of Hispanic/Latinx background, but less than 6% of volunteer advocates identify as Hispanic/Latinx. To make matters worse, due to the lack of sufficient foster homes in our area, children of Hispanic decent that enter the foster care system are often placed in homes that do not match the child’s cultural heritage. Considering this, having CASAs that match the child’s ethnic and cultural background becomes even more critical.

During the information session, CASA Volunteer, Veronica Garza, shared her experience and the significance of being able to connect culturally with her CASA child. She said that being able to talk with her child in Spanish has been crucial to advocating for her best interest. Staff members, Luisana Sanchez and Mayra Guzman, explained to attendees that CASA’s goal is to provide every child in foster care the kind of advocate that can enhance the child’s opportunities to succeed once they return to their family, are adopted or age out of the system. Additionally, CASA Volunteer, Jannet Alarcon, shared her experience with the children on her case. Jannet highlighted that being able to effectively discern the children’s needs by understanding and identifying with their cultural context has made a difference in her ability to advocate for them. One important aspect of this particular information session was the emphasis on the need for bilingual advocates who could communicate with the child as well as the family. Children that enter foster care who primarily speak Spanish can be put at a disadvantage. Having an advocate that can bridge that gap in communication surely makes a significant difference in the life of the child and the family.

At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees heard from staff members who shared the specifics of what it takes to become a CASA and several individuals promptly expressed their willingness to join the CASA ranks! “¡Podemos hacer más!” is a phrase in Spanish that means “We can do more!” Certainly, we witnessed that there are many people in our Hispanic community that resonate with this phrase and are willing to be part of doing more to help children in foster care.

Meet CASA Volunteer Maryann Alexander

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My background is very diverse. I worked in many different jobs but I started having kids I decided to stay home. So my life became raising and volunteering in the school system.

Doing this I saw kids with troubled childhoods. When I became an empty nester I really wanted to volunteer in a way that I could directly see the impact of my work. So a friend suggested I look into CASA. When I went through the training I realized I wanted to work with kids in PMC. The child in my first case aged out of foster care but we still keep in touch. I am so glad that the child trusts me enough to continue our relationship. I am currently working on my second case. In the year and a half that I have been with this case I have seen a change in behavior and attitude.

It has been so rewarding to see the kids realize that they have someone who really cares and is really on their side. I facetime with my child on a weekly basis. One of the things we have done is cooking session via facetime. I showed my child how to make my homemade macaroni and cheese.

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Our next cooking session my child will show me how to make his sweet rice. I always end our sessions making sure the child knows how proud I am of them. I really want these kids to feel good about themselves. I have talked to some of my friends about becoming a CASA. What I have told them is that it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Maryann’s Child Advocacy Specialist, Kara Franklin, said, “Maryann has been a CASA volunteer for three years, and she is currently working her second case involving a teenager. The child on Maryann’s previous case (who is now 19) still maintains contact with her and refers to Maryann as her “God-mommy.” Maryann has established a wonderful connection with this child since first meeting him in January 2019, and he particularly loves talking to Maryann about food and football. Since the onset of COVID-19, Maryann never misses her weekly FaceTime call with him, and sometimes they talk for nearly an hour. Not only does Maryann demonstrate her dedication to advocating for children in and out of court, she truly has a gift for developing meaningful relationships with all of her kids and their caregivers, both past and present. Maryann is a joy to work with, and she is such a great asset to our agency.”

A Day in the Life of CASA Volunteer Amber

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CASA volunteer Amber discusses what a day in the life of a CASA volunteer might look like!

I am a people person. Always have been. I love to be around people. I especially love working with children. I have worked in childcare for 18 years now and I love my job. But I felt like there was more I could do. More children to help.

So, I decided to join CASA. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I joined in August of 2019 and graduated in September of 2019; my daughter went away to college, so I missed a few classes. I received my first case in October 2019. The case had been a part of CASA for many years. My case has a pair of siblings in a foster home. My first visit was to the home along with my Specialist as well as the CPS worker assigned to the case. I have a backpack I set up with things for my visits.

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In it are crayons and markers, coloring books and blank paper, books, card games, my calendar and notebook, as well as my laptop. This helps me be prepared for just about anything. It is always a good idea to find out what the child/children on the case like and then tailor your go bags to them. It makes them feel special and shows that you care about them. We are one of the few constants these children have.

My first visit and the following two were in person due to being prior to COVID-19. I arrived at the foster mom’s home and met the CPS worker. She filled me in on some new information, and we went to the house. The first one I met was an 11-year-old child. He was very shy at first but finally started to open up. The 3-year-old was happy to talk and show me her room. We sat, colored and talked about school and what they liked. My visits usually last about an hour.

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My kids were then moved to an adoption-motivated home in January. It is about an hour away from me, so I schedule my visits for Sunday afternoons. My first visit there was to meet the new foster parents and find out how the children were settling in. They showed me their rooms and had such a different demeanor from the last time I had seen them. They told me they liked their new home and were happy there. My visits there usually consist of playing UNO with the whole family. It’s so amazing to see the family as a unit and doing things together.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 our visits are now through Skype. We still talk and have fun. I read books to the younger child and have silly conversations with the older one. I call them at least twice a month, and I text with the foster mom on a regular basis. Communication is key to let them know you are there and thinking of them. This small detail means so much.

In April I was notified of another family case and happily accepted it as well, so now I have two cases. This one consists of 5 children ranging from infant to a teenager. I have not been able to have an in-person visit with them yet, but we have been visiting through Zoom. It is difficult at times because the infants cannot talk and the connection isn’t always the best. But we keep on trying.

Being a CASA volunteer is such an important job. WE are the voice of the children we work with. I am always on the lookout for resources and activities to pass on to the children. I buy books to read to them that are relatable to their situation. I read books and articles to help familiarize myself with the struggles they may face. You can never research enough.

CASA Volunteer and Teen in Foster Care Bond Over Their Love of Food!

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15-year-old Sebastian desperately needed a CASA volunteer after being in foster care for three years. CASA Maryann made sure he didn't have to face foster care alone when she met him in January 2019. Over the last year and a half, Maryann and Sebastian have developed a wonderful relationship and have bonded over Sebastian's love for football.

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Once COVID-19 arrived in Texas, CASA Maryann was actually able to see Sebastian more: instead of a monthly visit to his foster home, CASA Maryann called Sebastian over FaceTime every week to check on him and make sure he was doing okay. During one of their FaceTime calls, Sebastian showed CASA Maryann his creative problem solving skills: Sebastian filled jugs with water and used them as weights to begin football conditioning. Sebastian told CASA Maryann about how he was keeping busy during the pandemic by running and riding his bike, participating in community service at church, and cooking for his foster mother and foster siblings. In addition to football, Sebastian shared with CASA Maryann his love for cooking: every morning Sebastian cooks his own breakfast sandwich, and he recently made a Chinese buffet dinner for his family. Sebastian and CASA Maryann began bonding over their shared love of food!

CASA Maryann told Sebastian she had a out-of-this-world macaroni and cheese recipe. Sebastian's foster mother got all the ingredients, and Sebastian and CASA Maryann made Maryann's macaroni and cheese recipe over FaceTime last month. From the picture, it looks like it was a success! Sebastian and CASA Maryann are already talking about their next "cooking class" where Sebastian will teach CASA Maryann how to make sweet rice. We can't wait to see the finished result!

National Book Lovers Day: What We're Reading

It’s National Book Lovers Day! Here is a collection of summaries (written by CASA of Tarrant County staff) on some excellent anti-racist books:

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Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

Through in-depth historical accounts from colonial times to the twenty-first century, Dr. Kendi details the inception and perpetuation of racist ideas in America. This book covers everything our history books glossed over – from colonization, slavery, and racial segregation to modern-day civil and human rights issues like the War on Drugs, mass incarceration, and police brutality. This is a must read for those of us wanting to deepen our understanding of the history of racism in our country and to take action to promote equity and racial justice. In addition, this book is currently selected for the National CASA book club. It’s not too late to sign up for the book club – click here if you want to join!

—Melanie Navarro, CFE Coordinator


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Antiracist Baby Board Book by Ibram X. Kendi began when the author thought about how he wanted to discuss racism with his four-year-old daughter- what language he should and shouldn’t use and what words he could use to simplify such a heavy concept for a child to grasp.  Children pick up racist ideas by age 2 and this book gives the opportunity to acknowledge the way white privilege exists in our society on a very basic level.  Some words are too big for young children, but that gives more opportunity to open discussion and teach outside of the basic premise of the book.  This book challenges adults just as much as it challenges children.  It brings a chance for growth and discussions many aren’t having because it’s assumed children aren’t picking up on the racism that exists within the world.  We know from research that isn’t true and Ibram X. Kendi opens the door to bold conversations to raise up a generation of antiracists. 

 —Natalie Alfandre, Admissions Specialist


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Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad is a fantastic resource for white people who want to do the work of dismantling white supremacy. As the book lays out, we have to start from within. This book makes the process very accessible and clear, although that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It is broken down into weeks and days but doesn’t require you to participate on any set timeline. It is self-paced to allow for maximum absorption of and engagement with the material. Reflective journaling prompts are included at the end of each day. It requires deep engagement and vulnerability, but if you are honest and introspective, in the end you may find you’ve made progress towards dismantling white supremacy that lives in and around you. I have found the process so far to be very humbling and enlightening, and I hope you will consider joining me.

—Kennedy Morrison, Child Advocacy Specialist