Network News

Relationship Building Yields Feature Story, Increased Awareness

For 18 years, CASA Program Director Carol Martin courted the attention of the Toledo Blade editors. Her determination—plus the connections of a board member—paid off in July, when Martin and the CASA program were featured on the front page of the Living section. The long article has led to an increase in volunteer inquiries and, according to Martin, "opened the eyes of the community" to the existence of the program. Read the article.

Kili Is My CASA: CASA Supporter Raises Funds, Awareness with Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb

John MacKenzie had never heard of CASA when his local programs—Omaha, Council Bluffs and Sarpy County—asked him to hold a Dine to Donate event at his restaurant. But the more he learned about the organization's work for children, the more interested he became. When he started to make plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in June 2010, in celebration of his 50th birthday, combining the climb with a benefit for the CASA programs seemed like a natural fit. 

"I set out two goals: to raise money and raise awareness. I've raised about $4,000 so far, but I am perhaps prouder of the increased awareness of CASA. Because the first time I heard about CASA, I thought, Why haven't I heard of such an important organization before?"

John has brought attention to the CASA cause with a website and Facebook page. And he's inspired the next generation by involving a local elementary school. The children raised funds for CASA and even started training for such an ascent. After learning that Kilimanjaro porters are allowed to carry 35-lb. backpacks, the children sent him a video of themselves carrying backpacks of the same weight up a hill behind their school.

"One of the students left a post on our Facebook page saying that when she grows up, she is going to climb Kilimanjaro and help CASA kids too."

NJ Pack with Pride Program Recognized with Nonprofit Innovation Award

In February, NJ Biz recognized CASA of New Jersey by awarding the organization with its inaugural Non-Profit Innovation Award for creating and implementing the Pack with Pride program. The initiative grew out of discussions between child welfare and family court leaders. Those leaders recognized that something as simple as giving a suitcase to a child to put their belongings into, instead of a ubiquitous and convenient trash bag, could minimize the negative effects of being removed from their homes.

In just over a month after the program launched, nearly $50,000 was raised–enough to purchase duffel bags for each child anticipated to be moving a placement next year. The bags have a special feature: when closed they zip into a small flat pouch, but when expanded they are wide enough to hold a child's possessions. DYFS social workers can keep a stack of them in their state vehicles for child-welfare emergencies, and children, who are given the bags, can store them in a dresser drawer for when they are needed.

Pack with Pride has the potential to be a program model for CASA organizations nationwide. The partnerships and success can easily be replicated through simple fundraising and community outreach to companies that can supply duffel bags, the innovative and unique design is complete! Individual donors can “gift” these bags to a child by donating through an online shopping cart of a local CASA organization. To learn more, call Peter Cerra, director of marketing and communications at CASA of New Jersey: (609) 695-9400.

Virginia CASA Program Holds Multicultural Recruitment Event

As part of their ongoing effort to recruit volunteers who resemble the children they serve and raise awareness of the issue of disproportionality, the Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program is holding Multicultural Volunteer Recruitment Social Events in February and April.

The evening social events will be held at local restaurants where guest will learn more about the CASA program by meeting program staff and receiving literature, including fact sheets describing the need for multicultural volunteers. African American children currently represent an astounding 50% and 66% of the children served by the child welfare system in Arlington and Alexandria, respectively.

CASA program staff  are publicizing the events widely, through their website, Facebook page, program partners and local newspapers.  

“In everything we do, we recognize that volunteer recruitment is an ongoing effort,” says Dana Taylor, CASA case supervisor. “Whether people choose to attend the event or not, our outreach efforts will help raise awareness of the need for CASA volunteers of color and of the issues facing children that are abused and neglected”

To learn more about the events, call Dana Taylor, (703) 820-9001.

Oregon's Union County CASA Holds Volunteer Link Event in Connection with MLK Day of Service

Every January, good intentions run high: inspired by New Year's resolutions and the the MLK Day of Service, people want to make positive changes for themselves and their communities. How do you funnel this wealth of community good will to organizations in need of help?

Thinking that people who want to make a difference might not know where to begin, Union County CASA director Toiresa Troyer joined with other nonprofit leaders to host Volunteer Link at the La Grande Middle School on January 19. The two-hour event will bring representatives from approximately 30 organizations—ranging from the animal shelter to the Lion’s Club to a youth education program—together with prospective volunteers.

“It’s an idea that we picked up at the National CASA conference last year—a combination of speed-dating and networking. People will have a chance to learn about the needs in the community and how they can help meet those needs,” says Toiresa.

Volunteer Link was planned by a volunteer committee, with the support of an AmeriCorps/VISTA volunteer. Local businesses have helped get the word out: restaurants placed promotional table-top tents; banks announced the event on their reader-boards; the chamber included an article about the event in its newsletter; and the local newspaper published a letter to the editor, and a feature story is in the works.

The involvement of the community and the help of an Americorps volunteer meant that the organizations could hold the event for no out-of-pocket costs.

Says Toiresa: “There is no end to the good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.”

National CASA asked volunteers from across the country to share their impressions of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Read their statements.

Software Donations and Discounts Help CASA Programs Serve Children

The Microsoft Corporation recently awarded nearly 100 local CASA/GAL programs free licenses of Microsoft Office 2007 Professional. National CASA worked with Microsoft to help identify and connect the programs to this opportunity. 

“We are now working faster and smarter through this gift, which in return allows us more time to spend advocating for the abused and neglected children we serve.” ~ Mariah Hayes, executive director, CASA of Franklin County Illinois

If your program missed this opportunity or needs additional software, there are still options available to get software at generous nonprofit pricing through techsoup.org, which sells products donated by major manufacturers including Microsoft and Cisco. Techsoup provides resources frequently used by nonprofits, such as the Microsoft Office Suite, at a substantial discount. One important caveat is that there is often a limit to how many orders can be placed by one organization per year so be sure and order all you need at one time. Many CASA programs use TechSoup and there is no fee to sign up for this service.

National CASA is committed to pursuing future donations and savings for member programs and would like to hear about your needs and suggestions.  Please send them to us using the contact us form.

Orange County CASA's Transitional Planning Conferences Support Emancipating Youth

CASA of Orange County has partnered with their department of social services on an effort to prepare older youth for emancipation from foster care. The CASA program has adopted a teaming approach that is referred to as a transitional planning conference in Orange County.

The transitional planning conferences are coordinated by social services, and CASA volunteers are very often included in the meetings. Ideally, meetings begin at age 16 and are held every six months after that point, until emancipation.

In addition to the youth, social service worker and CASA volunteer, other participants in the conferences include therapists, teachers, past caregivers, mentors and family members. The coordinator identifies and invites additional resource people; the youth determines who they would like to have in the room.

The goals of the conferences are to empower foster youth by providing them with the skills necessary to transition to independent living. In this process, youth identify their individual goals, then meeting participants join the process by identifying the youth’s strengths and what it will take for them to achieve their goals. Finally, a plan is developed that will enable the youth to meet educational, employment, housing, medical, documentation and support needs.

Find additional information about the transitional planning conferences in Orange County’s transitional planning conference overview.