CASA comes to Azle

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Court Appointed Special Advocates hope to make it known in Azle.

CASA of Tarrant County connects trained volunteers with abused children to help represent and support them through the legal system. Each year, CASA and partnering organizations place blue pinwheel installations around the county to raise awareness of child abuse prevention. There will be four pinwheel locations this year in the city of Azle: Reata West Apartments, The Azle Lion’s Club, Tator Club Daycare and Servolution Headquarters.

Fort Worth Magazine Feature: Be the Change: Empower a Child's Future with CASA of Tarrant County

Featured in Fort Worth Magazine E-Newsletter

BE THE VOICE, BE THE HERO, BE THE CHANGE

Charles Lauersdorf, City of Fort Worth, District 4 City Councilmember

As a dedicated member of the military, I stand up for what’s right on behalf of others. So when a friend told me about CASA’s mission of advocating for children in the foster care system and needing more men to volunteer, I knew I had found another calling. Every child deserves a stable and supportive environment and I’m proud to be a part of making that possible.


When you volunteer with CASA, it is YOUR life that is changed. Through my work as a volunteer, I've seen firsthand the difference that a dedicated advocate can make in a child's life, ensuring they have a voice in their life and most importantly, for someone to not just listen, but hear them. It's about helping to build a brighter future for our most vulnerable children. 


What my CASA kid has done for me is far more than I could ever do for him.  I remember walking through the door of my CASA kid at his group home for other at-risk teenage boys, and as I walked in, the child came singing through the living room declaring to EVERYONE, "Oh my CASA is here!" I knew in my heart I was just as excited to see him, but knowing that he was so proud to announce it to a room full of teenagers made my heart melt. I knew that day, and forever, I was making a difference in another person’s life. 


Giving to an organization like CASA, whether it's your money or your time, is crucial. By investing in CASA, you’re investing in the future of our community. These children are tomorrow’s leaders, and with our support, they can break the cycle of adversity and create a brighter future for themselves, others, and you. 


Home IS where the heart is and my heart is with CASA. 

Fort Worth Magazine Feature: Mary Katherine Tetirick

Be the Voice, Be the Hero, Be the Change: Mary Katherine Tetirick

Volunteerism has always been a key part of my life - from my time in college as a Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sister, giving time at my children’s school as they were growing up, and now as an advocate for foster children following my time as a longtime board member with CASA of Tarrant County. 


While I’ve loved my time in all of these roles, my time as an advocate has been so rewarding because I’m able to be there for a child when they don’t have the luxury of having a constant presence in shaping their life. Thankfully with all the training and resources provided by CASA of Tarrant County to advocates like myself, I am equipped to do my best for the children we support to better their lives…thus bettering mine. 

In life we all need help at one time or another, no matter our life’s circumstances AND likewise we all have the capacity to help others in some way. Volunteering, no matter how much you’re able to give, also acts as a compass - giving a true perspective about your own life and reminding you that there is always a way to find time to impact the trajectory of another person’s life.  To be honest, my experience has always shown me that I always get more out of the volunteer experience than I’ve ever been able to give.


Home IS where the heart is and my heart is with CASA. 
Have a place in your heart for CASA?