Program Director Denee Borchardt Honored with Liberty Bell Award 2023 by Tarrant County Bar Association

(FORT WORTH, Texas - May 3, 2023) - CASA of Tarrant County is excited to announce Denee Borchardt, Program Director for CASA of Tarrant County, has been named as the recipient of the prestigious Liberty Bell Award 2023 by the Tarrant County Bar Association.  She was recognized at the Tarrant County Law Day 2023 “Cornerstones of Democracy”  luncheon on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the Hilton Fort Worth. Past recipients of this award include Opal Lee,  “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” American retired teacher and activist, in 2022, and Pamela Young, Lead Criminal Justice Organizer for United Fort Worth, in 2021. 

The Liberty Bell Award is presented to an individual who is a non-lawyer significantly engaged in community service that promotes a better understanding of government, especially the Bill of Rights. The awardee must encourage greater respect for the law and the courts, while stimulating a deeper sense of individual responsibility so that citizens recognize their duties and their rights. This individual also contributes to the effective functioning of our institutions of government and instills a better understanding and appreciation of the law.

Borchardt joined CASA of Tarrant County in 2016 after spending 13 years with Child Protective Services, investigating and supervising child abuse and neglect cases. As its Program Director, Borchardt works closely with many different local stakeholders including Our Community Our Kids, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the judicial system. Ultimately, she works tirelessly to ensure families and children receive the most appropriate support during the most difficult time in their lives.  

“I can honestly say that she is one of the hardest-working and most supportive members of the child welfare system in North Texas,” said Dwayne Smith, CASA of Tarrant County, Board Member.  “As the program director for CASA, we’ve grown over 100% in terms of revenue in less than five years, seen to it that our advocates were able to provide their services to children in the foster care system through the COVID pandemic, and continues to work steadily towards achieving our goal of providing a CASA to every child in need in Tarrant County,” Smith continued. 

To learn more about CASA of Tarrant County, the services provided by CASA, or volunteering for CASA (volunteer child welfare advocate),visit SpeakUpForAChild.org.

Cristi Lantano Speaks at Fielder Church: Domingo de Cuidado Temporal

Our Child Advocacy Specialist Cristi was honored to be able to speak at the Fielder Church Spanish service for their event: Domingo de Cuidado Temporal. In the service, Cristi said, "The need that we have is huge. We have a tremendous number of children in foster care who do not have an advocate, and we have children who are placed in different parts of the state and even in different states. The work that CASAs do is being there for the child they are assigned to, making sure that they are safe. We have multiple children who go from foster home to foster home to different RTCs, the role of the CASA volunteer is to be the person that follows them wherever they go to provide consistency." Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/HUNkZUb1z6s?feature=share&t=1681

Via City of Arlington TX: CASA OF TARRANT COUNTY INVITES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS DURING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Via City of Arlington TX: CASA OF TARRANT COUNTY INVITES PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS DURING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Did you know that Tarrant County has the 3rd highest confirmed number of cases of abuse and neglect in Texas

However, we can all make a difference, no matter how big or small, during Child Abuse Prevention Month with CASA of Tarrant County. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Tarrant County is an organization of volunteer advocates who stand up on behalf of abused and neglected children because they want them to have a brighter future, more hopeful than their past. The organization is hosting multiple programs this month to increase awareness and raise money to continue the support of abused and neglected children.