January 2015 - Richland County CASA

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to
keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an
invincible host against difficulties.” — Helen Keller
From The Director’s Desk:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! We look forward to
working with everyone this year towards the
well-being of our children. Please let us know if
there is anything we can do to better support our
guardians and partners ~ we need your feedback
and appreciate your support of CASA. Keep your
calendars marked for the 10th annual Volunteers
For Youth Conference ~ March 13th! We have
great workshops lined up and a for the first time,
a Judges panel! Check out all of our 2015
scheduled activities ~ another busy year indeed!!
Please spread the word about CASA to your
friends, family, and everyone ~ we hope to
recruit at least 100 new GALs in 2015!!
Stop by the office to visit and let us know how
you are doing! Thank you for all you do for us
and our children.
Paige
Our Mission:
To advocate for the best
interests of abused and
neglected children in the
Richland County Family Court by
providing quality volunteer and
legal representation to ensure
every child a safe, permanent,
and nurturing home.
Children Served in
December:
New Children ~ 64
Total Children ~ 694
Children Dismissed ~ 17
Total Volunteers ~ 526
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Taylor Crawford
RCCASA is known for recruiting the best volunteers and Taylor Crawford is one
of the best!! Taylor was born in Griffin, Georgia (famously known as the town
where the classic “Driving Miss Daisy” was filmed). He grew up in Griffin along
with his older and younger brothers and parents Kenneth and Lauren Crawford.
Taylor graduated from the University of South Carolina where he received his BA
in Experimental Psychology. His love for children landed him a job with the
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. He is a Juvenile Probation
Officer AND our “go to guy” for DJJ inquiries. He is known for saying,
“Anything I can do to help kids I am all in.”
After hearing about the Richland County CASA Quarterbacks, he decided to
become a Guardian ad Litem and has been a guardian for 2 years. In those 2
years, Taylor has served 9 children, participates in all CASA Quarterback
recruitment events, trained over 200 volunteers, works the St. Patty’s day event,
and is a Mentor. Taylor is one of our youngest CASA Quarterbacks and loves to
challenge his peers to become a volunteer.
Taylor is dedicated to the children he represents and to this program. As a
Guardian ad Litem Taylor has a rewarding way to give back to the community
and is most appreciative of all the support received from everyone at Richland
County CASA.
Taylor ~ Thank you for all you do for CASA!!!!!
COMMUNITY PARTNER
SPOTLIGHT!
We would like to thank everyone who has assisted us throughout
the year. We look forward to a continued partnership in 2015!
South Carolina Bar Foundation
Colonial Life
USC School of Law, Pam Robertson
St. Thomas Moore
RC CASA Board of Directors
Walmart Foundation
Lipscomb Family Foundation
St. Martins In The Fields Church
TD Bank
Mary and Henry Peterson
Pollock Company
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Harold Johnson, Dogwood Pond
CASA Volunteers
Issues Regarding School-Aged Children
Approximately two-thirds of the children that we serve are school-aged. Some of those children
have various issues related to school; so, I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some
resources concerning children’s and parent’s rights and duties regarding school. The below links are
brochures provided by Appleseed Legal Justice Center. The provide a wealth of information; I
encourage you to review this information.
Enrollment and Attendance
School Attendance
IEP Meeting
Children Without a Permanent Place to Live
Expulsion
Suspension or Expulsion
Understanding Adolescent Behavior
By: Vicki Jackson
National Bestselling Author Dr. David Walsh best captures adolescent behavior in his book titled, Why Do
They Act That Way? Dr. Walsh’s book is “a survival guide to the adolescent brain”. Oftentimes, working with
adolescents can be very frustrating. As adults we tend to have a difficult time understanding their illogical thoughts,
decisions, and irrational behaviors. Dr. Walsh focuses on adolescent brain development and gives a great explanation
as to why they behave the way they do.
In his book, Dr. Walsh states that, to better understand adolescents’ behavior, one must first understand their
brain development. The brain matures from back to front with the pre-frontal cortex or frontal lobe being the last to
develop. The frontal lobe is the portion of the brain that allows us to reason, make judgments, problem solve, and
manage emotional impulses and behaviors. However, the frontal lobe is the last to develop and does not fully
develop until the mid-twenties or even as late as the early thirties. Adolescence is a time of risk-taking; however,
adolescents are unable to cognitively understand the repercussions of their decisions because their frontal lobe is not
fully developed.
Many of you who have worked with or raised an adolescent understand that during puberty, adolescents are
extremely moody making their responses unpredictable. We often tread lightly around our teens for fear that our
words and expressions will cause our teens to overreact. Dr. Walsh explains that teens are not fully capable of
interpreting facial expressions and postulates that teens often mistake adults for being angry when they are not. The
reason for this misinterpretation stems from the part of the brain that teens use to interpret facial expressions: the
amygdala. Adults, however, use the frontal lobe to distinguish facial expressions: that portion of the brain that
affords reason and emotional stability. Since the frontal lobe is not fully developed for teens, the brain adjusts and
filters their interpretations through the amygdala. The amygdala is the portion of the brain that is the headquarters for
fear and anger, and is responsible for fight or flight responses. With that being said, most teens are constantly ready
to go to battle and will often mistake your frustrations or irritability for anger, thus starting a fight between you and
your teen. In Dr. Walsh’s book he gives some tips to help you improve your communication with your teen:
-Begin statements with “I” rather than “You”. Starting with “you” triggers defensiveness.
-Avoid generalizations.
-To eliminate confusion, be as specific as possible when asking for something.
-Ask a question that requires more than one word to answer.
-Stick to one topic at a time.
-When there is tension between you and your teenager avoid attacking.
-Listening is more important than talking. Research shows that listening attentively communicates respect
(Walsh, 2004).
Hopefully, you better understand the source of your adolescents' anger and the reasons for their risky
behaviors after getting a glimpse into Dr. Walsh's research. I invite all of you to read his book for more insights into
adolescent behavior and for more tips on how to interact with your youth.
What a year it was!
I Have A Dream Walk down
Main Street, Columbia
USC Law School Chili
Cook-Off
CASA Quarterback Event
CASA Quarterback Event
Staff Development Retreat
SC Combat Veterans
Recruitment Event
CASA goes to the State House with
Senator Joel Lourie over child
deaths.
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Colonial Life Christmas Donations
WLTX Recruitment Phone Bank
TD Bank Christmas Donations
Sorting toys for the Holiday Drop-In
Holiday Drop-In selecting toys for our children
IN THE NEWS
The White House
Office of the Vice President
For Immediate Release
December 08, 2014
FACT SHEET: Improving Outcomes for Our Nation’s
Foster Youth
On any given day, there are over 400,000 children in our nation’s foster care system with over 100,000 waiting to be adopted.
Every year, 23,000 of these youth will age out of the system, never having found their forever families. We have seen that
youth who age out of foster care without a permanent placement often face challenges with completing their education,
unemployment, financial security and the criminal justice system. We also know that there continues to be a disproportionate
representation of African-American and Native-American children and youth in foster care. Like the significant commitments
being made today, the recommendations in the My Brother's Keeper Federal Taskforce report identify improving the lives of
foster youth as an important goal.
As part of its support for stable homes and strong support structures for foster children, the White House is announcing
today new steps that the Administration and our partners are taking to help support the foster youth in our nation’s care.
Furthermore, the White House today is also hosting current foster youth and foster care alumni from around the country for
an event featuring Vice President Biden that will culminate in the screening of the new film Annie.
Ensuring Access to Healthy Meals

Joint Letter on Free School Meals: The Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health and Human Services have issued a
joint letter from the Secretaries to chief state school officers outlining the categorical eligibility of foster children under the
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 for free school meals without the submission of a household school meal application.
The letter also suggests strategies for school districts to reach out to families whose foster children have not been
automatically receiving free school meals. In addition, the letter provides information on the Community Eligibility Program,
which allows qualifying schools to provide free meals to all students without household applications.
Protecting the Welfare of Native Youth

Indian Child Welfare Act Compliance: To protect Indian children from being illegally removed from their families, the
Department of Justice (DOJ) is redoubling its efforts to support the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), launching a new initiative
to promote compliance with ICWA. Under this important effort, DOJ will actively identify state-court cases where the United
States can file briefs opposing the unnecessary and illegal removal of Indian children from their families and their tribal
communities. DOJ will work with the Departments of the Interior and Health and Human Services to make sure that all the
tools available to the federal government are used to promote compliance with this important law. The Departments, as well
as tribes and Indian child-welfare organizations across the country, will work together to explore training for state judges and
agencies, to promote tribes’ authority to make placement decisions affecting tribal children, to gather information about
where ICWA is being systematically violated and to take appropriate, targeted action to ensure that the next generation of
great tribal leaders can grow up in homes that are not only safe and loving, but also suffused with the proud traditions of
Indian cultures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released its fourth annual report on LGBT
health and well-being.
In addition to highlighting accomplishments of the previous year, the report outlines several new objectives. Among
them are new data collecting measures that will take into account sexual orientation and gender identity when
conducting major national health surveys, as well as a commitment to increasing cultural competency in policy and
care systems serving American Indian and Alaskan Native LGBT and Two-Spirit populations. The report is available
http://www.hhs.gov/lgbt/resources/reports/dhhs-lgbt2014annualreport.pdf
IN THE NEWS
Children in foster care need this one thing to succeed
Compiled by Lois M. Collins Tuesday, November 25, 2014, Desert News
When life in the family of birth isn't working out, foster care can provide safety and more. But it often
doesn't provide everything a child needs. That's where community comes in.
"In the U.S. 397,122 children are living without permanent families in the foster care system. 101,666 of
these children are eligible for adoption, but nearly 32 percent of these children will wait over three years in
foster care before being adopted," according to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Some of the kids will be adopted, some will return home and about 25,000 a year "age out" of the foster
care system when they turn 18. Writes Rebecca Adams of the Huffington Post, "Kids who age out of foster
care are usually left without a college education, a job or a place to live."
But you don't have to be in a position to provide a permanent home for a foster child in order to make a
difference, she notes. Mentors can have tremendous impact.
Last year, the Deseret News explored some of the barriers that children in foster care face if they don't find
permanent homes. Half of those who are homeless have been in foster care. So are a disproportionate
share of those who are incarcerated, it said. Experts said children who are moved an average of three times
a year, like foster children, don't understand the concept of stable families. They don't make long-term
friendships or decisions and they don't feel secure.
"There are human and financial consequences, not because they are bad kids, but because 18 isn't
necessarily the best time to be without resources and a safety net," Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said. "No good comes from having a child have to learn how to
survive on his own. Or having no surrounding of joy in times of good things happening — the graduation,
marriage, childbirth, getting an apartment."
She asked the Deseret News what happens when the car breaks or a job is lost. Most kids can turn to home
for help. Not the foster kids who aged out, though.
Writing of mentors, Adams tells the story of Kelly Baker, a young woman who had a mentor herself from
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston when she was a child and her parents were divorcing. She wanted
to be that helpful person to someone else.
She has been providing a steadying hand and listening ears for a youth in foster care and believes she
contributes some stability to his life.
Mentors can contribute what the American Psychological Association calls "resilience." It's the ability to
adapt in less than ideal circumstances and come out OK. The APA lists factors that contribute to resilience.
They include "capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out. A positive view of yourself
and confidence in your strengths and abilities. Skills in communication and problem solving. The capacity
to manage strong feelings and impulses."
Read more at http://national.deseretnews.com/article/2858/Children-in-foster-care-need-this-onething-to-succeed.html#oKy2DIphDE4e2tEf.99
IN THE NEWS
Legislation Prefiled to Address Child Welfare Concerns
DSS Senate Oversight Committee Holds Last Hearing of Year
The Department of Social Services Oversight Subcommittee recently
heard testimony from several individuals. Dr. Olga Rosa, board certified
child abuse pediatrician and DSS Acting Director, Amber Gilliam both
testified. The committee heard about needs for centralized intake hotline
for child abuse cases, increased collaboration with S.C. Children's
Advocacy Medical Response System and creation of local child fatality
review committees.
Video of the testimony is available.
Prefiled legislation addresses some of the concerns raised during these
hearings.


S. 150 (Sen. Shealy, R-Lexington) restructures DSS through the creation of the Department of
Family Protective Services
S. 250 (Sen. Shealy, R-Lexington; Sen. Lourie, D-Richland; Sen. Young, R-Aiken) would allow
medical records to be released without consent of parent(s) to the medical provider who is
evaluating a child for suspected abuse and neglect. Obtaining written consent to release the
child's medical records can be very difficult -- even impossible -- to obtain if the parent is
unavailable or the suspected perpetrator and HIPPA allows for this exception.
S. 265 (Sen. Young, R-Aiken) allows for out-of-court testimony from staff of child advocacy centers in
suspected child abuse and neglect cases.
A Snapshot of RCCASA!!
YEAR
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Total
Children
Served
Declined
Children
New Children
891
989
1118
1115
1023
880
917
1045
524
674
848
619
607
497
479
593
77
181
95
0
0
0
0
0
Closed
New
Dismissed
Total Active
Children
Volunteers Volunteers
Volunteers
581
65
77
291
642
107
68
321
638
123
51
376
625
99
60
424
627
111
138
467
443
78
72
420
416
112
30
460
345
85
15
526
2015 Scheduled Events!
01.07.15 - January Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
01.20.15 - CASA Guardian Training begins ~ USC Law School ~ Contact James Washington to register ~ 5761580
02.04.15 - February Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
02.10.15 – Judicial Breakfast
02.13.15 - Love A Child Bake Sale ~ Please join us for our annual bake sale and get a treat for your loved
ones!!
02.17.15 – County Council Presentation to Honor Mary & Henry Peterson
03.04.15 - March Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
03.13.15 - 10th Annual Volunteers For Youth Conference ~ Midlands Tech, Airport Campus ~ call Sharon
Walker at 576-1733 to register!
03.16.15 – Court House Recruitment!! 11 – 2 / RC Family Court
04.01.15 - April Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
04.03.15 – Fostering Futures IL Conference for older youth at Epworth Childrens Home
04.06.15 - Annual Chili Cook-Off ~ USC Law School ~ Date not certain / will update upon confirmation
04.08.15 - CASA Quarterback Recruitment Event ~ 5:30 p.m. ~ Wings & Ale ~ Contact Missy Bowman at 5761728!
04.10.15 – RCCASA & RCDSS partner for National Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Walk and Activities
04.15.15 – Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
04.21.15 - CASA Guardian Training begins ~ 2020 Hampton Street ~ Contact James Washington to register ~
576-1590
05.06.15 - May Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
05.30.15 - CASA Delegation will attend NCASA Conference
07.01.15 - July Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
07.08.15 - CASA Quarterback Recruitment Event ~ 5:30 p.m. ~ Venue to be decided ~ Contact Missy Bowman
at 576-1728
07.21.15 - CASA Guardian Training begins ~ 2020 Hampton Street ~ Contact James Washington to register ~
576-1590
08.05.15 - August Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
08.28.15 - I Have A Dream celebration
09.02.15 - September Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
10.07.15 - October Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
10.07.14 - CASA Quarterback Recruitment Event ~ 5:30 ~ Venue to be decided ~ Contact Missy Bowman at
576-1728
10.20.15 - CASA Guardian Training begins ~ 2020 Hampton Street ~ Contact James Washington to register ~
576-1590
11.04.15 - November Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ 9:00 a.m.
12.02.15 - December Staff Meeting ~ CASA Office ~ Day Long Strategic Planning Meeting for 2016
12.10.15 - Holiday Drop-In for Volunteers ~ CASA Office ~ 1:00 till 4:00
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Staff: Betsy Burton, Roger Hoefer
GAL’s:
Allison Humen
Anthony McCollum
Barbara Anderson
Carolyn Townsend
Cheryl Waller
Christine Berdeguez
Dante Roberts
Darci Strickland
Dexter Rabb
Diana Gordon
Elizabeth Hudacko
Faith Pope
Heather Rogers-Rogenthal
Jacqueline Andrews Jane Mitchell
Kristin McConnell
Karen Brown
Keyonna Robinson
Kotina Hutto
Lacy Brown
Likina Turner
Lou Wells
Marlo Walker
May Peach
Neeta Shah
Priscilla Dorch
Quadrey Reeves
Raquel Burns-Felder
Richard Smith
Ron Brown
Ruby Smith
Sakeena Piersaint
Scott Drorbaugh
Sean Nimmons
Sean Player
Shawtae Baily-Clarkson
Sherry Walters
Susan Kennedy
Takila Bolden
Tamika Johnson
Tom Huebner
Tony Johnson
Tamika Montgomery Teckla Womack
Trish Zara
2015 CASA STAFF
Left to right
Back row:
Vicki Jackson, Fostering Futures Coordinator; Michael Watts, CASA Supervisor; James Washington, Program
Manager; Pamela Nipper, Program Manager; Marilyn Washington, CASA Supervisor; Matthew Perkins,
CASA Supervisor; Angela Kohel, Legal Manager; Christine Isler, CASA Supervisor; Roger Hoefer, CASA
Supervisor
Front Row:
Heyward Hall, CASA Suprevisor; Betsy Burton, CASA Attorney; Susanne Lyell, Administrative Assistant; Paige
Greene, Director; Melissa Bowman, Program Manager; Dee Dee Johnson, CASA Case Coordinator; Sharon
Walker, Program Manager; Delvin Alston, CASA Supervisor; Thomas Clark, CASA Supervisor.
Not Pictured:
Heidi Aakjer, PT CASA Supervisor; LaQuista Peterson, PT CASA Supervisor
RC CASA
1701 Main Street, Room 407
Columbia, SC 29201
803.576.1735