Annual DCFS Report Card

Each year, the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services produces an annual report card. The document provides a statewide report on child maltreatment, foster care, and adoption. This report card is available to the public (click here for the link). We strongly advise all parties who are passionate about child abuse to learn more about what is happening in our state and communities.

While there have been improvements in foster care during this reporting period (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017), we were most disappointed to see an increase in the number of children in care in our region (Area 1) compared to last year. With 1,001 children in care, our area reported a 9% increase in children in care for the year. That makes our job at CASA that much harder to grow to meet the needs of our community. Our staff and board continue to make adjustments to our plan to serve every child in need by 2020. With your continued support, we know we will get there.

Christmas for a Child 2017

Each year, CASA of Northwest Arkansas works hard to bring holiday cheer to our children in care.

With the help of Fast Lane Entertainment, local foster children and their families and group homes are treated to a remarkable day of bowling, pizza, laser tag, and more! Thanks to our friends at Unilever, Santa makes a special appearance and provides wonderful conversation and a special stocking to every child.

Beyond the holiday party, CASA also coordinates the sponsorship of holiday wish lists for children in foster care in Northwest Arkansas. This year, we gathered wish lists for 515 children in care from our region. We then coordinate donors to sponsor each wish list – shopping for the gifts and returning them to CASA. Can you imagine?  It takes hundreds of individuals, civic organizations, companies, and churches to sponsor all of these wish lists. Volunteers then bag, organize, and distribute the gifts.

This is the CASA garage with gifts for 515 children and again after all of those gifts have been distributed. This undertaking simply would not be possible without the generous support of our entire community.

The foster parents caring for these special children were stunned by the generosity. Here are just a few comments we heard from them:

“This is our first year to be foster parents and participate in the CASA Christmas, and we were completely humbled by the generosity!”

“The holiday gifts are beyond our wildest imagination again this year.” 

“SUCH a tremendous blessing you all are!!! Thank you to the many generous donors!”

We want to thank all who played a role in putting smiles on these children’s faces when they woke up Christmas morning. Because of you all, for just a moment, those children could forget that they are a child in foster care.

If you would like to sponsor a child for Christmas next year, please contact Shelley Hart (shelley@nwacasa.org). For planning purposes, please anticipate that it will cost ~$150 to fulfill one wish list.

Volunteer Spotlight: Kemetric Bailey

Kemetric Bailey joined our corps of nearly 300 volunteers in April 2017. When she moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2010, she began looking for a way to use her passion for children and individuals in crisis to make an impact. After hearing about CASA from a presentation at the Walmart home office, she felt the calling.  As a victim of childhood abuse, Kemetric knew she had the understanding and compassion these children needed to begin to heal.

Kathy and Kemetric, quite a CASA pair!

Most rookies take “an easier case” – one with a single child or rather straightforward circumstances. Interestingly, her supervisor knew Kemetric wasn’t like most rookies and presented her with a rather unusual request. If they paired her up with a seasoned advocate, would Kemetric consider a case with 7 siblings? While it sounded daunting, Kemetric understood that if she didn’t agree to take the case, there was no telling how long these children would be on the waitlist for a CASA. And just like that, Kemetric was paired with a wonderful advocate, Kathy Redding. They work together beautifully, sharing the good times and the bad, to advocate for the best interests of these children.

Working full-time and having her own family, how is it that Kemetric finds the time to serve? By pairing with another advocate, Kemetric says it is absolutely doable, “There are twenty-four hours in a day. We don’t use them all, and five minutes on social media can easily turn into an hour or two. Instead, why not use that time toward a cause where you can really make a difference?”

Kemetric finds her CASA work extremely rewarding, but admits it’s not always easy to serve. Beyond the time commitment, how do you answer a 12 year-old who asks if they will ever be adopted?  Or if he will see his younger siblings again?  While emotionally taxing, that’s where you can really leave your mark.  “I tell ‘Peter’ every time I see him that regardless of his current circumstances, he can become much more than that,” shares Kemetric. “It’s incredibly rewarding and humbling to help these children see the positive in their challenging lives.”

To learn if you might be a good fit as an advocate, click here.

Light of Hope 2017

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 of Northwest Arkansas hosted its 10th annual Light of Hope presented by General Mills on November 9, 2017. With reservations for 780 guests at the Rogers breakfast and 550 for the Springdale luncheon, we shared our mission with a record-breaking crowd.

Ashley Buchanan, Sam’s Club

Both events began with a 20th anniversary tribute recognizing our founding board members and their commitment to bringing child advocacy to Northwest Arkansas. Breakfast continued with a keynote address from Sam’s Club’s Chief Merchandising Officer, Ashley Buchanan, while lunch featured Sally Grimes, Group President of Tyson Foods.

 

Sally Grimes, Tyson Foods

Our emcees, Geno Bell, Sr. Director for Walmart, and Dr. Charles Robinson, Vice Chancellor at the University of Arkansas, then introduced our testimonial speakers, Dylan and Shaneace Gard. The Gards, who adopted their four boys out of foster care, shared firsthand how their boys’ CASA volunteers, Diana and Andi, played a critical role in securing their children’s safety and long-term success.

The Gard Family

Net proceeds for the entire event tallied more than $300,000! This was record-breaking for our organization. These funds will sponsor advocates for 252 abused and neglected children for an entire year. There was also an outpouring of interest from attendees – 105 individuals – to train and become advocates for these children.

There are many individuals and companies to thank for making this event such a success. First of all, we thank our sponsors who allow our event, and this impact, to take place. Next, we appreciate our 12 person committee and 125 table captains who worked countless hours to ensure our tables were filled with compassionate hearts and giving hands. And, lastly, we appreciate all of our guests who took time out of their schedules to learn how they could make a difference in the life of a child.

  • Presenting sponsor: General Mills
  • Benefactor sponsors: The Clorox Company, Coca-Cola, Sam’s Club, and Tyson
  • Advocate sponsors: Mercy, Rockfish, and Truity Credit Union
  • Patron sponsors: Arvest, Bedford Camera & Video, Cargill, Charles Schwab, Cherokee Casino & Hotel, EY, Jim and Melissa Cole, J.B. Hunt Transport Employee Contributions, Lucke Dental, Matthews Campbell Roads McClure & Thompson P.A., Mitchell Communications, Mitchell Williams, Northwest Orthodontics, Paschal, and Unilever.

2017 Light of Hope Committee:  Britt Clem, Susan Duke, Ted Fox, Treva Hamilton, Wayne Hamilton, James Keenan, Kim Lane, Lisa Mayer, Ed Parrish, Guanica Parrish, Mike Schmandt, and Laura Underwood.

The CASA Family is Growing

To reach our lofty goal of serving every child in need by 2020, we knew we needed to expand our incredible team this summer. We couldn’t be more excited about and grateful for our additions.

                            

Kim Kearbey                                    Dick Levin                                     David Wurm

Joining the Board of Directors are Kim Kearbey, S. Richard “Dick” Levin, and David Wurm. Kim Kearbey is the Vice President of US Total Rewards at Walmart. With her years of human resources experience, Kim brings a valuable perspective to our organization. Dick Levin is an attorney and shareholder at the law firm of Hall Estill in Fayetteville. Having served on the United Way and Smile for a Lifetime boards, Dick has committed years of his life to improving the lives of children in Northwest Arkansas. Finally, Dave Wurm is the Vice President of Sales – Walmart for General Mills. As a 28 year veteran of General Mills, Dave offers a strategic and action-based focus to our team. Together, these three individuals bring decades of experience and insight to our Board of Directors.

Abra Morgan is the newest addition to the CASA of Northwest Arkansas staff. Abra comes to us after ten years at the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County where she worked as a child advocate and forensic interviewer. We are thrilled by the knowledge, experience, and passion she brings to her role as Advocate Supervisor.

“It has only been a month since I started, and I’ve heard stories that bring tears to my eyes because of the difference a CASA made in the case. I’m honored to be part of this amazing organization!” says Abra. A special thanks to the United Way, and its thousands of contributors, whose Children Living in Poverty grant make Abra’s position possible!

Volunteer Spotlight: Nene Weaver

To most, Nene Weaver appears as a loving wife and dedicated mother to two children.  That she is. But, to her friends at CASA, she’s much, much more.

When Nene and her family first moved to Northwest Arkansas from California in 2014, Nene immersed herself in the community by volunteering with the Gives Back Program in Bentonville schools and starting in 2015 with the Junior Auxiliary of Rogers/Bentonville. As a volunteer with these programs, Nene discovered the large number of foster children in need in our area. After hearing of CASA, she was immediately interested in getting involved. But, because CASA volunteers advocate for children in court, Nene assumed a law degree would be required. Fortunately, a friend cleared up that misconception (a common one), and Nene completed CASA training in January 2016.

Nene in training

Her CASA supervisor, Chris Collins, describes Nene as a quiet, unstoppable force. Nene isn’t a big fan of the limelight. She works diligently behind the scenes to solve problems and find resources. When a door shuts, she is relentless to find another avenue. Her humility and compassion attracts people to her and in turn, the kids she serves get what they need – be it medical care, DHS referrals, etc. Nene says her role as a CASA advocate all comes down to respect, understanding, and communication.

To illustrate the kind of advocate Nene is, we return to a day in court many months ago. While waiting for her case to be heard, Nene heard a case of two children whose CASA advocate had passed away. The CASA had become a very important part in the children’s lives. While the siblings were closing in on a long journey in foster care, Nene insisted on taking the case and seeing it through to the end. Nene wanted to honor the advocate and her “CASA kids” and be there, with donuts, to celebrate on adoption day.

When Nene talks to others about being a CASA volunteer, a quote from Colin Powell often comes to mind: “If you want to save the world, start by saving one child.” While Nene may never admit it, we can vouch for her . . . she’s saved many more than one.

CASA License Plates

Since launching in 2015, the CASA license plates have generated enough revenue to provide a CASA volunteer to a foster child in NWA for a year and a half. That’s no small thing. If your car is already sporting a CASA plate, thank you! Not only does CASA of NWA receive $25 from each set of plates annually, the plates also support our efforts to spread the word about CASA around town.

If you would like to get them, CASA plates cost an extra $35 per year and can be purchased at the Revenue Offices in Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. Show your support for CASA and help us be the voice for all foster children in need by 2020!

Sponsor Support

The nonprofit world relies heavily on our for profit partners. Not just for corporate sponsorships – albeit those are important – but also for talent, employee engagement, and connections. This month, we want to thank our Silver level, In Good Company sponsors, Rockfish Interactive, Truity Credit Union, and Mercy, for their extensive and widely varied contributions.

Our oldest sponsor of the three, Rockfish Interactive, first supported CASA back in 2013. Through the years, their staff have been strong advocates of our Light of Hope event and provided volunteer support around the CASA office. Most recently, their CFO, Cyndi Dye, joined our board and is lending her financial acumen to strengthen CASA’s financial position.

Truity Credit Union came on-board as a sponsor in 2014. Whenever we talk to our Truity partners, we appreciate their focus on business development and relationships. As they understand our need to grow and diversify our advocate base, Truity has connected us with multiple colleagues and agencies who bring us steps closer to our goal to serve every child by 2020.

Our newest supporter is Mercy which joined as an In Good Company sponsor in 2016. When we think Mercy, we think CASA volunteers! Currently, 7 of our 281 advocates are employees of the Mercy health system. These employees are compassionate and knowledgeable and are strongly encouraged by their employer to use their many talents to help children in need.

We are so grateful to these important partners for being allies in the fight to protect and defend the children we serve.

Volunteer Spotlight: Marius & Elise de Waal

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“I help abused and neglected children in my spare time, what do you do?” A bumper sticker with those very words made a big impression on Elise de Waal back in 2010. It was a question she carried with her for many years, across an ocean and back. When she and her then fiancé, Marius, returned to the United States from South Africa in 2012, she knew she had to answer that call for help. Lucky for us, she sold Marius on the idea as well.

When Elise and Marius began training to become CASA advocates, Marius began to wonder if he had made a mistake. He was not a “kid person”, he was intimidated by the stories he heard, and frankly, he wanted out. Elise understood as she was scared too. But, she kept asking the question, “If we don’t do it, who will?” Knowing they would be working together as partners, with the support of a CASA supervisor, relieved a lot of their fears. And, after taking their first case that involved three teenage boys, it was easy for Marius to see how important it was for these young men to have a positive, male role model in the their lives.

Nearly five years later, this power couple has worked four cases and made a real difference in the lives of 10 children. They’ve done everything from retrieve a child’s old clothes from a former foster home to fight for new treatment for an overmedicated child to reunite three brothers after months of separation.

As they work full-time (Elise, Financial Controller of Field Agent, and Marius, Senior Account Executive for Team Unilever Shopper), serving as partners means they can share the burden in time commitment and court appearances. By sharing the emotional burden as well, they were surprised at how easy it was for them to serve.

Elise and Marius are willing to share their story as they realize there are people out there who might be asking themselves the same questions they did back in 2012. Could I really make a difference? Do you really need men to serve? What if I mess up? Do I have enough time?

In response, they’d simply ask you, “If you don’t do it, who will?”

National CASA Conference

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In March, six members of the CASA of Northwest Arkansas staff joined approximately 1,200 people from across the nation for the annual National CASA Conference. This year’s conference was held in Seattle, the birthplace of the CASA movement forty years ago. The theme, Building Brighter Futures for America’s Abused and Neglected Children, encouraged a reflection on the network’s strong foundation while emphasizing the need to prepare our teams for challenges in the future.

The three-day conference featured traditional break-out sessions in areas of program development, volunteer recruitment, marketing/fundraising, as well as critical issues impacting child welfare. Beyond informing, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to be inspired. The highlight of the conference was hearing directly from retired Judge David Soukup, the founder of the very first CASA program in 1977. The Judge shared his goals for the CASA network. First and foremost, he believed that every child in the system should have a CASA volunteer. You can imagine how delighted our staff was to hear that his goal echoed our local vision to serve every child in need by 2020.

The plenary sessions also featured the author of Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance, who reminded CASA supporters to approach these children and their families, often struck by the plague of poverty, with humility. Another memorable speaker was former foster child, Giovan Bazan, who showed how adversity and hardship can provide meaning and purpose in one’s life. He referred to his scars as proof he survived something that was meant to destroy him. You can imagine the impact he left on the audience.

In closing, the conference was an excellent opportunity for our staff to learn and network. But, more importantly, we left with the tools and inspiration to make a more significant impact on the children we serve.