C-mail,
your CASA connection
April, 2010
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FORGOTTEN CHILDREN IN GEORGIAA big THANK YOU!! to Duaine Hathaway, Executive Director for the Georgia State office for all the work he and his team did to help at the National CASA Conference Orientation for new Executive Directors. We spent an entire day with them learning about how they do it. They put up this Forgotten Children exhibit in the park next to our National Conference.
CASA IN THE MEDIA
I recently had the pleasure of appearing on The Schenectady Today Show. When you watch---be kind in your thoughts---it's not as easy as the professionals make it look! For my part, I wanted to let them know: we needed volunteers; we have experienced large cuts in state funding; and we are trying to create a new committee, CASA Friends, to help with our inaugural event this fall. I asked Kathy McGowan,
Coordinator (Rensselaer, Albany) CASA of the Capital Region, to come as the expert---she did a wonderful job talking about what it means to be a CASA Volunteer. All in all, we succeeded in our goal to create awareness.
The Schenectady Today Show is seen each weekday morning on Channel 16 in Schenectady (NY) County on Public Access Television.
Here is the link to our segment http://www.blip.tv/file/3425526 .
PennyExcerpt from a message from Michael Piraino
Many of you have already heard or watched the recent NPR story; Foster Kids have Tough Time After 18. If you haven't, I recommend it to you. You can access this story through the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125594259 .
The significant issues faced by youth transitioning out of foster care led us to apply for a grant from the Walmart Foundation last year for our Fostering Futures project. I have written to you about the project in the past and want to give you an update.
You may remember the initiative has two primary components. The first is the development of a new specialized volunteer curriculum for advocates working with older youth. The curriculum will have both on-line and in-person components and will feature the "possible selves" tools found to be effective in a 2006 University of Michigan study on improving educational outcomes for at-risk children. Their findings center on the concept of "possible selves" - that the imagining of and planning for positive future goals is a strong motivator and predictor for achieving those possibilities.
The second component of Fostering Futures is the identification of CASA/GAL programs to serve as pilot sites for the training curriculum. We have identified five state organizations and eleven local programs and invited them to apply for grants to pilot the Fostering Futures curriculum. The programs range from large to small; rural and urban; government administered and non-profit; GAL and friend of the court models.
Many programs were in contact with our staff when they read about our Fostering Futures older youth initiative. Others were recommended by you and your colleagues. The pilots we have identified have a commitment to and/or experience working with young people transitioning out of care. Some of the factors we considered in identifying sites were whether the program had specialized training for volunteers (pre-service and/or continuing education) and if they were working in collaboration with courts and social services with this population. We sought programs that are well-managed, with strong infrastructures and leadership, a good record of sustainability, and that have the capacity to engage in a significant new project.
As you know, IOLA funding was seriously cut back this year. IOLA funds both Administration of Justice (AOJ) grants, which include CASA, and funding for direct civil legal services. The state budget as of this writing has eliminated a total of $13.2 million for civil legal services, including the governor's own commitment of $1 million. Here is a good site to watch for advocacy efforts around state funding for civil legal services http://www.empirejustice.org/.
A number of organizations are working diligently to restore and increase state funding for civil legal services, to ensure that the poor have access to the legal help they need. At a time when more families are facing financial hardships, and subsequent legal crises as well, this funding has never been more critical. The site includes a "Take Action Now" form to indicate to your state representatives your support for the efforts to restore funding.
Sullivan County CASA
Sullivan County CASA held an Easter Party on Saturday, March 27th. Pictured from right to left: Faith Kaplan, Anthony Rodriquez, Minnette Kramer, Bill Sipos, Easter Bunny, Lilly Hendrickson, Hope Bock holding Melanie Bock, Eileen Linders, and Mary Williams-Withohn.
Sullivan
County CASA recently received a generous donation in memory of Brian
Ingber. Pictured at left: Fern Ingber, vice president of the
Brian Ingber Foundation, hands Lilly Hendrickson, Director of Sullivan
County CASA, a $1,000 check set up in memory of her
brother-in-law. Lilly notes, Brian had "a great love for
children" and they greatly appreciate this donation.Sullivan County CASA also reports that they have 8 volunteers in training.
CASA of Westchester County
CASA of Westchester County reports that one of their volunteers, Monica Gray, is being honored on April 23rd by the United Way for her work as a CASA. The award is a Social Justice Award and is being received for her commitment to a 10 year old child who has been mostly hospitalized and institutionalized for the past 5 years. Monica has visited the child weekly wherever she is placed, advocates endlessly for everything from appropriate clothing and a proper education to her right to grow up in a family home rather than an institution. She really deserves to be applauded! CASA of Westchester County also has a CASA training beginning on April 8th and on May 6th. Nineteen new volunteers will be sworn in by Honorable Judge Kathie Davidson bringing the total number of Westchester County CASA volunteers to 90!
Genesee County CASA for Children
Genesee County CASA for Children has recently been awarded a $2,500 grant from Bank of America. They are also in the process of training 4 new volunteer advocates.
Genesee County CASA for Children is holding a Forgotten Children Event on Thursday, May 27, 2010. This
will consist of a Processional Walk from City Hall to the Courthouse at
12:15 pm. From 9:00-5:00 there will be 60 life-sized cut-outs of
children displayed on the courthouse lawn, representing each child in
foster care in Genesee County. This event is being held to raise
awareness for the children in our community and all the services
available. At the Courthouse will be a Jaycees $1 Hot Dog Stand
and information bags filled with details about agencies in the
county. This event is open to the public and all are
welcome! Voices for Children / CASA
The Voices for Children / CASA in Broome and Tioga is holding a volunteer training session beginning April 21- May 19. They also have their Facebook and Twitter running successfully and would welcome new followers and fans!!!
CASA of Oneida and Herkimer CountiesThe Peacemaker Program, Inc. recently relocated its main office. The agency is now housed in the Mill Square Professional Building at 502 Court Street, Suite 234, Utica, NY 13502. As always, The Peacemaker Program may also be reached by phone at (315) 724-1718; fax at (315) 724-1375; and email at info@thepeacemakerprogram.org.
Come to the Table raises more than $19,000
The Peacemaker Program raised more than $19,000 from its sixth annual Come to the Table on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. Come to the Table allows creative individuals to showcase their talents by choosing a theme and designing their own unique table settings. Tables are then sold by auction or outright to benefit the mediation and child advocacy services of The Peacemaker Program, Inc. All proceeds benefit The Peacemaker Program, Inc. The mission of The Peacemaker Program, Inc. is to offer inclusive, innovative approaches to resolve conflict and achieve positive outcomes for children, families and the community. For information or to view pictures of this year’s tables, visit www.thepeacemakerprogram.org.
CASA Volunteer Trainings
Voices for Children/CASA
A volunteer training will be held April 21, 24, 26 & May 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 at their Accord office: 30 West State St. Binghamton, NY 13901. Evening times to be announced.
CASA of Oneida & Herkimer Counties
We will be holding our volunteer training May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 from 5 to 9 and May 8, 9 to 5
at a location to be announced.
CASA of the Capital Region
A volunteer training will be held Monday and Wednesday evenings, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. beginning Monday, April 26 (there will be no training week of Memorial Day). The training will be held at the Center for Community Justice, 144 Barrett Street, Schenectady, NY. For more information or to apply, please contact Heather Lewis, Schenectady Program Coordinator/CASA of the Capital Region, at 518-346-1281, ext. 29 or via email at hlewis@thecenterforcommunityjustice.org.
Other Trainings and Webinars
Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EST), East Syracuse, NY, Holiday Inn - Carrier Circle
SBTC Recruiting, Developing & Retaining a Motivated Board of Directors / Presented by New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON)
More information and registration.
Thursday, May 6, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (EST), Watertown, NY, Ramada Hotel (Watertown)
SBTC: Board's Role in Working with Staff Leadership / Presented by New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON)
More information and registration.
Thursday, May 6, 2010, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (EST), Watertown, NY, Ramada Hotel (Watertown)
SBTC: The New Form 990: A Focus on Board Governance Watertown / Presented by New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON)
More information and registration.
Let CASANYS know when your next Volunteer Training is to begin as well as any In-Service opportunities you would like to share with other programs, so that we can list them in next month's newsletter.
We offer here some activities for children of different ages.
Volunteers are encouraged to print them out and put them in their CASA
bags to take along when they visit the children. We are eager for
feedback and welcome any suggestions for additional activities. Please
e-mail us at newsletter@casanys.orgSome Spring Activities:
For Younger Children:
- Craft Project: Complete instructions for a couple of Spring craft projects.
- Activity Pages: Butterfly and Ocean Concentration Activities.
- Spring Coloring Pages
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The information contained in Direct From Albany is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CASA: Advocates for Children of New York State. This communication, including any attachments, may contain privileged and/or confidential information or knowledge that is otherwise protected from disclosure. It is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity addressed above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety. Thank you for your cooperation.
The information contained in Direct From Albany is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CASA: Advocates for Children of New York State. This communication, including any attachments, may contain privileged and/or confidential information or knowledge that is otherwise protected from disclosure. It is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity addressed above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety. Thank you for your cooperation.
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