CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Northwest Arkansas is pleased to be the recipient of a grant from The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $3,000 in support of the CASA mission of serving every abused and neglected child in NWA by 2020.

Each year, hundreds of children in Northwest Arkansas are abused or neglected. CASA of NWA trains and supports community volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the foster care system, with the goal of moving each child to a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.

CASA was presented a check on May 22nd at the Springdale Bank of America Banking Center. “Bank of America is lending, investing and giving in local communities like Northwest Arkansas in order to advance local economies and create positive change,” said Judy Butterweck, Bank of America Banking Center Manager at the Sunset West Banking Center. “Providing support to organizations like CASA of Northwest Arkansas Inc. is just one of the ways Bank of America is helping to improve the quality of life in our community.”

Contact Information:

Julie Lolley, Director of Development & Marketing CASA of Northwest Arkansas, 3825 Cawood Lane, Springdale AR 72762 Julie@nwacasa.org www.nwacasa.org

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Northwest Arkansas held it’s annual Celebration of Success Thursday, May 9th at St. Anthony’s on the Creek in Lowell. This celebration was to honor CASA’s outstanding volunteer advocates who speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. The mission of CASA advocates is to find each child a safe, permanent, and nurturing home. CASA Advocate Supervisor Vicki Robinson presented the Outstanding Service Award stating, “It is always so difficult to choose one advocate or a team of advocates to receive special awards when there are so many worthy of recognition. For me it is particularly difficult since I have the privilege of working along side such wonderfully dedicated and devoted volunteers.” Robinson presented CASA’s Outstanding Service Award to Keely Meyer. “Tonight I want to honor one volunteer that spoke up for her child during the final court hearing which embodied the spirit CASA’s mission. She literally sat tall on the witness stand, endured a brutal cross examination by the parent’s counsel and then confidently was allowed to deliver her a prepared statement written to give this child a voice in court concerning her recommendation for this child’s future placement. I was humbled by her strength, inspired by her words and continue to have the honor of working along side her as she continues to boldly advocate for other children.” Awards were also given for years of service to each of the volunteers, and the following were special award recipients:

2013 CASA Volunteer of the Year – Janet Steencken 2013 Heart of CASA – Sidney Hewgley 2013 Board Member of the Year – Sylvia Norris 2013 Foster Parents of the Year – James & Belinda Root 2013 DCFS Friend of CASA – Ryan Blue 2013 Dynamic Duo – Jim & Jerre Carter 2013 Dynamic Duo – Dale Ensinger and Geri Festul

Springdale, AR – CASA of Northwest Arkansas is honored to recognize Susan Duke as a dedicated CASA volunteer advocate for the past ten years. Susan is a well respected member of our community and is instrumental in increasing awareness of CASA in our area. She plays a major role in recruiting volunteers and securing donations for our annual Christmas for a Child party for children in foster care. As a former foster parent herself, Susan understands how the system works and the vitality of CASA’s mission.

Susan has served a number of foster children in Benton County, but one case that truly stands out is one to which she has been assigned since November 2001. Throughout this nine year case, Susan has played a vital role in the development of the child. Through regular visits and uncovering lost family members, Susan has created a close relationship and will forever be seen as a role model in this foster child’s eyes.

When asked, “Why be a CASA?” Susan responds, “When a child is not receiving the care and security they need and deserve, a CASA stands in the gap and advocates for that child and their needs. It is a privilege to act on behalf of a child!”

Crystal Vickmark, Executive Director, describes Susan’s involvement by saying, “Susan has played an instrumental role in the growth of our program over the last ten years. She is a passionate advocate for children and has recruited several new volunteers who have mirrored her passion as well. What I find amazing is that Susan has remained the advocate for one of her CASA children for nearly nine years. The goal of our program is to advocate for a child until they are placed in a safe, permanent home. Since Susan’s CASA child is still in foster care, Susan remains her advocate. When the system and her family failed this child, Susan remains.”

CASA of NWA, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization located in Springdale and is committed to recruiting and maintaining diverse volunteers, staff, and board of directors. CASA volunteers are trained, court-appointed special advocates whose sole responsibility is to make contact with everyone involved in the child’s life and gather the facts. The advocate reports the facts to the judge and recommend what they believe to be in the best interests of the child. In most cases the CASA is the bridge between all parties, and they become a constant presence in a child’s life; a child who may have been introduced to multiple case workers and foster homes. For more information please contact CASA of NWA, Inc. at 479-725-2213 or online at www.nwacasa.org

As CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Northwest Arkansas marks its 13th year serving abused and neglected children in foster care, we look to recognize volunteer child advocates who have been with the organization almost since our doors opened. One such advocate is Janet Poole, who has been with CASA for ten plus years, advocating for more than 20 children during that time.

Janet, with two adopted children of her own, was always grateful that her children were blessed with happy, secure and safe childhoods. She knew that not all children were so blessed, and wanted to help some of those children have the same opportunities. Janet looked to CASA as a way to fulfill that mission.

Janet’s first case involved three children under the age of four, who eventually were successfully reunited with their mother. This mother had been a drug addict for ten years, and was in prison for a good deal of the time that her case was open. Janet worked with the parole office to help develop a parole plan that would help and encourage the mother to stay off drugs and leave her “old” life behind, to the benefit of her children. Janet found a facility that accepted mothers and children who were in similar circumstances, and was instrumental in arranging for the mother to stay there. Janet continued to work to help this mother become stable. She encouraged the woman to get back in touch with her mother, which she did, and re-established that bond.

A CASA works in the best interests of the child, or children, on a case, but also works to encourage and support parents if they are making an honest effort to correct the reasons their children came into foster care. Sometimes this can be accomplished, and that, as Janet will attest, is always a welcome outcome.

Janet says “I’ve had a lot of frustrations along the way, but I always remind myself I’m doing this for the children, that I’m there for that goal. Children in foster care situations are something the public does not really know about, or realize the enormity of the problem of abuse and neglect. Casa is one ray of sunshine, and makes a big difference in these cases.”

To learn more about CASA of Northwest Arkansas, and how you can help, please visit our Website at www.nwacasa.org or call the office at (479) 725-2213