CASA News • Fall 2015

Volunteer Viewpoint: Naiwen Guo-Xing

I attended the CASA orientation twice. Finally, thinking of the children’s innocent smiles and tears melted my hesitation away, and I committed to attending training. I accepted my first case in March 2014. I was nervous, but my CASA supervisor quickly put all my worries at ease. We talked about my CASA child, 2-month-old baby Grace, and the steps and goals for me to get started.
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In this issue:

Casas for CASA Recap • Making a Difference • CASA Receives State Awards • Be the Man • Terracon Golf Benefit • CAUW Donations Fund CASA • CASA Receives Grant • New Volunteers

Casas for CASA Fundraiser Grosses $93,000

Capital Area CASA Association’s 21st annual Casas for CASA playhouse fundraiser, presented by title sponsor Faulk and Meek General Contractors, raised nearly $93,000 to support the organization’s efforts. The fundraiser was held July 25 through Aug. 16. Read more >>

Making a Difference

CASA continues to provide an advocate for every child who needs a voice in East Baton Rouge Parish. During the first half of 2015, 120 advocates provided a voice in court for 182 abused and neglected children. Sixty-four new cases were appointed an advocate. Fifty-three CASA cases involving 72 children closed. Staff and volunteers attended 377 court hearings, 88 child protection agency and other case staffings and submitted 101 court reports to provide juvenile court judges with information about these children.

CASA Receives State Awards

Capital Area CASA received awards during the “Geaux Blue for Kids” awards night hosted by LouisianaChildren.org May 20 at the Capitol Welcome Center. CASA volunteer Marvin Taylor was honored as Louisiana CASA Child Advocate of the Year, and the Capital Area CASA program received the Diversity Leadership Award.
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Be the Man

Be the Man who makes a difference. CASA needs male volunteers to become powerful voices for children in the foster care system. In 2014, approximately half of the children served by Capital Area CASA were male, yet only 18% of CASA’s volunteers were male. While men and women can both perform the duties of a CASA, there are many cases in which a child can benefit from a positive male influence. Click here to learn more.

Terracon Golf Benefit

The fifth annual Terracon Golf Benefit for CASA will be held April 11, 2016. Participants will enjoy a day of golfing at University Club while helping CASA in its advocacy efforts on behalf of abused children. For more details, contact Lisa Smith at (225) 239-2644 or lisa.smith@terracon.com.

CASA Receives Grant

Capital Area CASA received a $4,000 grant from the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge – Bishop Stanley Joseph Ott “Works of Mercy” Trust Fund. The grant has helped CASA in its efforts to continuously recruit, screen and train new CASA volunteers, enabling the program to continue serving every child in East Baton Rouge Parish who needs a trained volunteer advocate.

CAUW Donations Support CASA

Capital Area CASA is fortunate to be a Capital Area United Way community partner. As one of 46 partner agencies in the 10-parish area served by CAUW, CASA receives funding raised through the annual CAUW campaign. Please consider supporting Capital Area United Way, and be sure to attend the Jambalaya Jam October 8.

New Volunteers

Congratulations to the new CASA volunteers who completed training during the first half of 2015:

Maylen Aldana
Brady Babin
Rachelle Berkley
Kathy Blanchard
Alexis Breedlove
Dolores Butler
Chauntey Carter
Jeffrey Cooke
M.E. Cormier
Kim Cupples
Claudia de la Rosa-Fuller
Linda Donnelly
Darrell Guidry
Caleb Huval
Tonika Jackson-Smart
Lance Lyons
Arien Major
Dionne Mars
Mary Ann Mason
Evelyn Mitchell
Perry Parrino
Cheryl Perkins
Ashley Perrault
Haven Pourciau
Laura Valle
Corey Wilson
Gretchen Wroten

Copyright © 2015 Capital Area CASA Association, All rights reserved.
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