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Author Archives: sharphue

Oh, the Places They’ll Go!

Ograduation_quote1nly 58% of teens in foster care will graduate high school by age 19*. When peers outside of the system graduate at a rate of 87%, it certainly seems the odds are stacked against a child in care.

We are proud to report that many of our local CASA teens have beat the odds! Of the seven foster teens graduating with a diploma or GED this year, six have the support of a CASA advocate. The other regularly attends ILP (Independent Living Program) classes hosted by CASA at our Springdale facility.

Each of these young people has a story to tell. That story includes how many hundreds of days he has been in foster care.  It includes the months of abuse she endured.  It includes the location of every placement and shelter he lived in.

 

But, those are not the interesting parts of the story to us at CASA.  What is interesting is how these young people have persevered.  It is how they have not just survived but thrived amid difficult circumstances.

 

“Abandoned at an early age and alone, my child has been in DHS custody for eight years. Sometimes in the past she refused to get up for school or even to eat before dinner time. She has made an almost miraculous turnaround. I believe the difference was in feeling people care about her- the staff in the home where she lives, the DHS case workers and CASA. In her graduation speech, she thanked all the people who lifted her up and did not give up on her. I had tears in my eyes, just as I did when my daughter graduated from high school.”

-Janet, CASA volunteer since 2005

“Despite ten different placements (and subsequently, ten different schools) during her three and a half years of high school, my child was able to graduate high school a semester early, earn a 29 on her ACTs, and enroll in community college. Her perseverance serves as a lesson for us all.”

-Morgan, CASA volunteer since 2014

The adjective “foster” describes a child, but it doesn’t define her.  These children prove that for us all. Congratulations 2016 graduates.

 

*Courtney, M.E., and Dworsky, A. (2005). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 19. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall Center for Children.

In Good Company Platinum Sponsor: Paramount Pictures

Dedication and passion.

In their Statement of Business Conduct, Paramount and its parent company Viacom list dedication and passion as two of the attributes they value most from individuals in their work environment. As Paramount celebrated 100 years of business in 2012, clearly dedication and passion have played a role in their success.Paramount_AViacomCo_SML_CMYK_1 copy

While CASA of NWA is only approaching our 20th anniversary in 2017, we agree these characteristics are what enable our volunteers to make the impact they do every day. Our advocates bring their hearts to every child visit and their voices to every court hearing. Our volunteers show their CASA kids they are committed to their well-being and will do whatever it takes to make sure these children are heard.

CASA of NWA is so grateful for Paramount’s investment in our life-changing advocacy. Robert Oram, Vice President of Paramount Home Entertainment, shares, “Paramount is so honored and privileged to be a strong supporter of CASA.”

Shared values = great partners. Thank you, Paramount.

Volunteer Spotlight: Becky Richards

IMG_8650According to Becky Richards, she has always been advocating for children. She may not have always been heard, but she was constantly fighting for those who didn’t have a voice. With a career in preschool and special education, Becky knew her advocacy wouldn’t end when she left the public school system and heard of CASA through a colleague who had adopted twins. When she retired, Becky knew just what was next.

That leads us to the infamous CASA interview mentioned earlier. Hurrying from an afternoon working with special needs teenagers, Becky arrived to the CASA office in sweats. She had NO idea she would be seated at a table with what seemed liked ten professionals staring at her. They grilled her to make sure her intentions were genuine, and her commitment was real. She laughs about how nervous she was but knows that the screening is absolutely necessary. Foster children have already been through so much. Their advocates can’t be flippant.

In her three years serving as a CASA volunteer, Becky has worked five cases. The most memorable was her first. The toddler in the case had been so badly beaten she was transported via helicopter to Children’s Hospital. The young, biological mother was not the abuser and was herself a product of foster care. Becky worked a very complicated case to find a solution that would allow the child to be out of harm’s way but still have contact with her biological mother. The solution wasn’t easy, but Becky was committed to speaking up for the best interest of the child.

Becky works multiple cases as a seasoned advocate. She hasn’t taken every case that has come her way, but she believes this work is very rewarding and that she absolutely makes a difference. Becoming an advocate isn’t for everyone. But when asked why she continues to volunteer, her response is simple, “It’s what I’m supposed to do.” We agree, Becky. Thank you for impacting so many lives.

KUAF Community Spotlight

IMG_1705 (2)To help paint the picture of the foster care system and the unique needs of the brave children we serve, we reached out to our community partners, clients, and advocates for interviews. There will be 20 unique episodes (each 3 minutes in length) that will be aired 6 times a weekday during NPR’s Morning Edition, KUAF’s Ozarks at Large, and NPR’s All Things Considered. If you miss an episode, you can catch up by visiting the archive.

 

A special thanks to all of our radio guests, KUAF, and the incredible Pete Hartman for championing our cause and giving CASA a voice!

Fashion with a Focus

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Angela Terrazas, of Ink & Thread Creations, wanted to do more. Having been a donor of CASA of Northwest Arkansas for years, she asked her husband what else they could do to support the abused and neglected children of our community. A few months later, Angela and her company are now selling “I am for the child” t-shirts!

 

 

Available at her storefront Bellis Boutique in Springdale, the shirts retail for $24 plus tax. For each shirt, a $10 donation will be made back to CASA of Northwest Arkansas. In addition to being a great fundraiser for CASA, each shirt provides an excellent opportunity to educate our community about CASA’s mission and our need for more advocates.

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  Thank you to Angela and her husband Cesar for providing this wonderful opportunity to CASA!  To make your statement, visit Bellis Boutique in-person at 1800 Wagon Wheel Road in Springdale.  Or check out the boutique on Facebook.

CASA of NWA Pilots New Training Program

IMG_6334If you are an advocate or have considered becoming one, you have crossed paths with Ms. Arbor Buchanan. Arbor, our in-house Training Specialist, has been a member of the CASA of NWA family since 2004. Given her long history with CASA and extensive training experience, Arbor was selected to serve on the National Curriculum Development Committee. Formed by the National CASA Association, the committee brings nationwide experts together to redesign the in-person, new advocate training program. The last time it had been revised was 2007.

 

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After two years and hundreds of hours of committee service, National CASA finally released a pilot of the new training program. Due to her valuable contributions on the committee, Arbor and our CASA chapter were selected as one of 10 pilot sites around the country. In March, the training launched locally for four new advocates. After each of the 3 hour sessions, all of the participants are asked to complete evaluations that will assist the committee in fine tuning the modules. To strengthen the feedback, we invited a few seasoned advocates to train alongside the rookies.

 

When asked how the new training compares to her first training experience with CASA, current advocate Monica van Oudheusden shared, Both training programs offer an abundance of information. Arbor does an incredible job getting volunteers ready to serve the children in our communities. A notable positive difference in the pilot training program is that she covers CASA report writing sooner. Another positive aspect to this pilot program is there’s not much homework; we are instead working through the information together in our classes and with Arbor. I’m enjoying this much better as I prefer the instant feedback/answering of questions versus having to wait until the next class meeting to discuss and question.”

 

If all goes well, this updated, in-person training program will become a part of nearly 1,000 CASA chapters across the country in fall 2016. Congratulations to Arbor and the rest of the CDC for their incredible efforts which will improve advocate training experiences for thousands of volunteers every year.

In Good Company Title Sponsor: General Mills

GM Light of Hope AdCommitted to nourishing lives and communities, General Mills embraces philanthropy throughout their business model. There are few lives in Northwest Arkansas that haven’t been touched by the generosity and hard work of the General Mills team. For CASA of Northwest Arkansas specifically, we have been blessed to have their support since 2007 when General Mills first came on-board to sponsor our Playhouse Palooza event. Now, nearly a decade later, they provide financial support, volunteers, in-kind donations, and media opportunities to further CASA’s vision to serve every foster child in need by 2020.

Regarding our partnership, Director of Sales Mary Zettle stated “General Mills is thrilled to support CASA of Northwest Arkansas. CASA’s mission of supporting abused and neglected children fits well with our company’s pursuits of Treat the World with Care and Put People First. We are also proud of our colleagues who have invested personal time as trained CASA advocates through our partnership. We look forward to continuing to support the team at CASA and the advocates as they strive to make a difference in our local community.”

Like we said, commitment.  Thank you so much, General Mills, for being for the child!

Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Cudney

Linda Cudney

When you meet CASA advocate Linda Cudney, it is hard not to be inspired. She describes herself as a wife and mother, but her list of vocations, experience, and education goes on and on. Linda first heard of CASA from the Dr. Phil show while she was still working as a teacher. When she retired, she knew she would do something with children and tried out a few volunteer opportunities. After attending CASA’s Light of Hope luncheon, she knew her time to serve as an advocate had finally come.

On April 2, 2014, Linda took her first case. With five children in the family, it’s a fairly unusual case for a rookie advocate. To be fair, she started the case with a partner and based on preliminary information, it looked like the case would close quickly. But, more than 1,000 hours of service later, her work is far from over.

The challenges to this case are many, and the days have been long. But, when she’s disappointed with an outcome or court decision, she schedules a home visit to see her CASA kids. Once she sees their smiles and gets their hugs, she can refocus on what needs to be done and why she’s there. She embraces their joy and fun-loving personalities right along with their frustrations and anger.

The thing that surprised Linda about serving as an advocate was how quickly the children turn from feelings of despair to feelings of joy and hope when they have the opportunity to be connected with a team of compassionate adults that consistently show they care. She is proud to be a part of that team and serves collaboratively with CASA staff, DHS caseworkers, foster parents/custodians, and various medical and educational teams.

Given the complexity of the case, it would easy for anyone to get overwhelmed. When we asked Linda why she stays, it was an easy answer for her, “the great children I serve deserve a better future.” Between the five children, they have had 60 different placements over the last two years. When she calls new foster parents and introduces herself, Linda is no longer surprised that they are expecting her call. It turns out, when the kids land in a new home or facility, they ask their new guardian when Ms. Linda is coming.  And, if the guardian doesn’t know, the children answer, “Soon.  She’ll be here in a couple of days”.  In a world of uncertainty, these children can always count on Ms. Linda. What a legacy to leave in the hearts of these children.

Older Youth – Worth the Investment

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CASA of Northwest Arkansas has been serving foster teens since its inception in 1997. In 2013, we created the Older Youth program to specifically address the unique needs of this community. We believe these young people need us now more than ever. The Jim Casey Initiative agrees and published a business case for investing in youth aging out of foster care. Please take a moment to read the Cost Avoidance Issue Brief.

7th Annual CASA of Northwest Arkansas “Light of Hope” Breakfast and Lunch Events

CASA Light of Hope

CASA Light of Hope

On November 18th, 770 guests came together for the Light of Hope breakfast in Rogers and 280 for the luncheon in Springdale to hear about the mission of CASA of Northwest Arkansas. “Light of Hope” is a national movement to light a symbol of hope for abused and neglected children who are under the jurisdiction of the nation’s family court systems. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit which promotes and supports quality volunteer representation with the goal of providing each child a safe, permanent and nurturing home.

Net proceeds for both the breakfast and the lunch were tallied at over $240,000. These funds will support the recruitment and training of community volunteers to serve children of abuse and neglect in Northwest Arkansas.  There also was an outpouring of interest from attendees to train and become advocates for these children. The goal of CASA of Northwest Arkansas is to provide an advocate for every child in the foster care system. This past year there were more than 900 children who came into foster care and CASA served on cases for 527 of them.

Emcee for the morning was Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, EVP and Treasurer, Walmart.  Babineaux-Fontenot opened the morning by thanking the many sponsors of the event and introducing  Honorary Chair Rosalind Brewer, CEO Sam’s Club, who’s remarks cited the important work CASA is doing in Northwest Arkansas.

Mike and Susan Duke took the stage to present the “Duke Outstanding Service Award” to Claire Babineaux- Fontenot in recognition of her life-long support of foster children, her service to National CASA as a board member, and her commitment to the CASA mission.

The outstanding keynote speaker for the breakfast was Jack Sinclair, EVP, Walmart US Grocery Division.  “Sadly, there are too many abused and neglected children in our community. CASA of Northwest Arkansas makes a difference in the lives of those children,” Sinclair said. “I encourage all of you to support CASA in their outstanding work. We should stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”

The luncheon keynote speaker, Dennis Leatherby, CFO of Tyson Foods, gave a heart-felt message, “Our children are our future– they’re everything, and when they are in need, we should step up and be their voice. CASA is an organization that speaks on behalf of children time and time again. I couldn’t be more proud to support CASA’s incredible efforts to help abused and neglected children in Northwest Arkansas.”

The inspirational speaker for both the breakfast and the lunch was Elizabeth Lyon, a young mother who told of her personal journey of drug abuse,  losing custody of her small children, and how her faith and her children’s CASA, Jan Halgrim, helped turn her life around and regain custody of her daughters.

Contact information:

Julie Lolley, CASA Director of Development & Marketing

Julie@nwacasa.org

479-725-2213 

www.nwacasa.org