June 2012 - CASA of Central Virginia

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VOICES FOR CHILDREN
CASA OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Issue No. 18
June 2012
In This Issue
I Am for the Child
March Activity
Congratulations New CASA
Volunteers
Best Wishes to Jennifer Martin
Volunteer Banquet
Presidential Service Awards
Hall of Fame Inductees
Volunteer Spotlight
Advocate Manager Corner
The CASA Library
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Pledge
April Activity
67 Volunteers Assigned
233 Children Served by
Program
32 New Children
12 Closed Children
Congratulations to
Elmona Reid, CASA
Volunteer, on the birth of
her daughter.
Message from the Executive Director
We're Number One in the State!
CASA of Central Virginia is ranked first among CASA programs in the state for
having advocated for the MOST children in 2010-2011: 489 children served with
appointments of CASA volunteers to 528 children. This is testimony to the value
placed on the advocacy provided by CASA volunteers by the Juvenile and Domestic
Court Judges in the 24th Judicial District. It is also a credit to the effectiveness of the
advocate managers in assigning cases and assisting volunteers and to the success of
the CASA volunteers in advocating for the children.
CASA of Central Virginia is one of the largest CASA programs in the state
geographically and has always been ranked in the top three in the numbers of children
being served by the program. This is the first year that CASACV has held the top spot,
which has usually been held by Fairfax CASA. Fairfax CASA, which serves a much
more densely populated area, was in the second spot, with 445 children being served
by CASA volunteers out of 523 appointments. Greater Prince William CASA
(Manassas) was in third place with 415 appointments and 415 children served.
Henrico CASA was next with 302 children served (308 appointments) and Richmond
CASA with 286 children served (296 appointments).
Across the state in 2010-2011 the CASA volunteers advocated for 4,201 children, an
increase of 72 children from the previous year. We are very grateful to the legislators
and Governor McDonnell for approving a state budget which included level funding of
$1,116,068, which will be allocated to the 27 CASA programs for 2012-2013.
As reported by Voices for Virginia's Children, we can also be grateful to the General
Assembly and Governor McDonnell for supporting funding for children's mental health.
There will be $3.3 million in new funding for child psychiatry and crisis response
services for children over the next two years. This is a win for children!
Jane Francis
Congratulations to Our New CASA Volunteer Inductees
CASA of Central Virginia is pleased to announce the induction of 17 new CASA volunteers on May
15th at the Campbell County J&DR Court. The Honorable Ellen White performed the swearing-in
ceremony. A reception followed the ceremony. The volunteers completed 33 hours of class room
training, in addition to outside assignments and court observation.
Front row, left to right: Kathy Keane, Alicia Tuck, Maurine Harrison, Anna Dawson, Heidi Heaton,
Rebecca Hanna, Alison Weddle, Wanda Dickerson, Judge Ellen White
Back row, left to right: Barbara Washington, Barbara Topinka, Shannon Moore, Nancy Nevill, David
Burford, Lois Griffin, Sarah Jackson, Al Gorman, Marcus Banks, Regina Fuqua-Banks
Best Wishes to Jennifer Martin,
CASA Advocate Manager
The CASA of Central Virginia staff is losing an exceptional
advocate manager and true advocate for children. May 31st was
Jennifer's last day as the CASA advocate manager serving
Lynchburg, Amherst and Nelson. She will be taking the summer
off to spend time with her family and working on developing a preschool program at her church, Amherst Baptist, where she will be
the Director/Teacher beginning in late summer. It is with much
sadness that we see her go, but we are happy for her to have this
wonderful opportunity that will also allow her additional time with
her own family. Although Jennifer is leaving her position on staff,
she is not going far; she is remaining with CASA and continuing
her work as a CASA volunteer.
We were fortunate to fill her position rather quickly and welcome Allan Jamison as the new CASA
advocate manager covering Lynchburg, Amherst and Nelson. You will be hearing more about Allan in
next month's newsletter.
Layla Jade Anderson
Born 5/28/12
7.1 bs 12:31 am
CASA Volunteer Recognition Banquet
United Way
Day of Caring
Our annual Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation Banquet was held on May 30th at
Lynchburg College. We can not thank our wonderful volunteers enough for their
extraordinary commitment and advocacy for the abused and neglected children in our
communities. We would also like to thank the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust for
funding the event, Lynchburg College for donating the space, and Saunders Nursery
for donating the flowering annuals that were a gift to our valued volunteers.
The evening began with a wonderful dinner, followed by a musical performances by
VYBE and The Dance Theater of Lynchburg. The evening culminated with the
recognition of 23 recipients of Presidential Service Awards and the induction of four
volunteers into the Dale H. Harris Volunteer Hall of Fame.
Thank you to volunteers
from Genworth who made
214 starfish ornaments at
the CASA administrative
office for Day of Caring on
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We were extremely honored to have present, the Honorable Dale H. Harris, retired. She shared her memories and her appreciation to the CASA program and our
volunteers. This was a great introduction to the presentation of this year's inductees
into the Honorable Dale H. Harris Hall of Fame.
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office for Day of Caring on
May 23rd. Thanks also to
Connie Shannon, CASA
Advocate Manager, for
offering her expertise on
making the ornaments.
Read the Starfish Story
and Buy a Beautiful
Starfish Necklace from
CASA of Central VA for
$20
Congratulations to our Presidential Service Awards Recipients
Presidential Service -SILVER (250-499 hours of service)
Order Starfish
Necklaces On-Line
Kennie Dickson Sandy Morrissett
Beth Doan
Marjo Hennessey
Presidential Service - BRONZE (100-249 hours of service)
David Erickson
Cynthia Mitchell
Vicki Barrett
William Nevill
Susan Gregory
Vicki Bertrand
Katie Bawell
Barbara Washington
Joan Schnabl
Karima Sefiane
Renee Matteucci
Diane Davis
Octavia Starbuck
Eugene Varnadoe
Laura Winston
Susan Kadas
Joyce Foster
Anne Wojcikowski
Sonia Smith
Helpful Links
CASA of Central Virginia
National CASA
Association
Virginia's Judicial System
Virginia Department of
Social Services
Voices for Virginia's
Children
CASA of Central
Virginia
P.O. Box 11373
Lynchburg, VA
24506
434-528-2552, phone
434-528-2551, fax
www.cvcasa.org
CASA STAFF
Executive Director
Jane Francis
Associate Director
Lorna Rexrode
Advocate Managers
Allan Jamison
Angela Mayfield
Connie Shannon
Recruiting Coordinator
Anne Wojcikowski
Bookkeeper
Helen Lundeen
New Hall of Fame Inductees
In March 2010 The Honorable Dale H. Harris Volunteer
Hall of Fame was established to commemorate the 20th
Anniversary of the establishment of the CASA program
and the induction of the first CASA volunteers in February
1990. In the first year twelve volunteers were inducted. At
the Volunteer Recognition Banquet on May 19, 2011, six
more volunteers were added to the ranks. We are proud to
announce that four more volunteers were inducted into the
Volunteer Hall of Fame at the Volunteer Recognition
Banquet on May 30, 2012. These new inductees are as
follows:
Vicky Bertrand has been a CASA volunteer since
2009 and has advocated for 36 children in Bedford County. She contributes
countless hours in assisting the Bedford office and often takes multiple cases with
multiple children involved.
Walter Gaedecke has been a CASA volunteer since 2009 and has advocated
for over 20 children in Bedford County. Walter has demonstrated passion and
professionalism in his advocacy of children and will work tirelessly to ensure that
the best interests of the children are served.
Kate Gombos has been a volunteer with CASA of Central VA since 2004 and
served as member of the CASA Board of Directors from 2004-2007. As a board
member she served as Vice President and Chair of the Administrative Committee.
While on the board, Kate donated her time and expertise to the development the
CASA website through her business, Gombos Consulting, LLC. Although Kate
and her family now live in Connecticut, Kate continues to volunteer her time and
talents to maintain and update the website and is in the process of reconfiguring
the website. The website has been an invaluable communication tool for CASA
for the past six years - all thanks to Kate!
Barbara Washington has consistently shown a commitment to the CASA
program and to advocating for the best interest of children by not always taking
the easy route. She became a CASA volunteer in June 2004. She then moved
into the position of advocate manager in November 2005. Barbara began
facilitating the CASA Pre-Service Training in the spring of 2007. Although she left
the employment of CASA in October 2007, she has continued to facilitate the
training of many CASA volunteers. The spring 2012 class was her last class. She
will be missed! CASA of Central VA
Board of Directors
Cindy Forren, President
Captain Ryan Zuidema Vice President
Shep Nowlin, III - Treasurer
Maria Nathan, Ph.D. Secretary
Bonnie Crews
Joey Fronheiser, Ph.D.
Scott Hudson
Muriel Mickles, Ed.D
Barbara Nash
Bruce Pearson
Erskine Profitt
Anita Satterlee, Ed.D.
Pamela Smith-Johnson
Inez St. John-Crews
Richard J. Sterne, Jr.
Phyllis Webb
A few of our past and new Hall of Fame Honorees.
From left to right; Joe Payne, Barbara Washington, Vicki
Bertrand, Walter Gaedecke, Cindy Mitchell, Sandy
Morrissett, and Octavia Starbuck
Volunteer Spotlight
Kathy Moon
Advocate Manager: Connie Shannon
Court served: Campbell County J&DR
Occupation: Substitute Teacher
Length of time as a CASA volunteer: 3 years
Most memorable CASA moment: The funniest moment was
at the end of my very first CASA home visit. As I walked out the front door, I caught a glimpse of
something flying through the air but wasn't sure about what it was until it attached to my right leg. It
was the family's less-than-friendly Chihuahua. Thank goodness for thick jeans! It was my first-ever
dog bite.
The case that touched me the deepest was a baby with shaken-baby syndrome. He was eventually
placed with family members who love him and are doing everything possible to help him reach his
potential. I have stopped to see him quite a few times since the case ended, and it's touching and
fulfilling to see the progress he continues to make because he is in a situation where he is loved and
cared for.
One example of how your advocacy made a difference on a case: In one situation I was able to
help the family work through some school difficulties and get the special help that they needed.
What means the most to you about being a CASA volunteer: Helping the families develop coping
strategies and encouraging them to follow the court's plan in order to give their child a happier,
healthier future. It is fulfilling to watch a parent/caregiver learn to follow a different path and positively
affect a child's life. It takes great courage for any of us to admit our mistakes and make the necessary
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changes. Some of these parents are very young and it's not always easy for them to learn the healthy
parenting skills that they never experienced in their own lives. Their willingness to change is the
foundation for altering their children's futures, and being a CASA enables me to be a part of that
change.
Advocate Manager
Guidance and Support Corner
Stockholm Syndrome
Recently, I had a case in which the caseworker thought the children's behaviors might
be the result of Stockholm Syndrome, a term that was unfamiliar to me. The two and
three-year-old children were observed to eat in a rather robotic state, where they would
continue moving their spoons to their mouths from the bowl, even after the food was all
eaten. When their parent told them to stop, they would put their arms up in the air,
signaling to be let down from their high chairs. Additionally, the caseworker noticed
that the toddlers stayed in one position on the floor, until that parent told them to go
back to their room, which they promptly did.
In an effort to understand this concept better, I turned to
www.medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com , and here is that website's synopsis:
Definition: Stockholm syndrome refers to a group of psychological symptoms that
occur in some persons in a captive or hostage situation.
Click To Read Entire Article
Submitted by Connie Shannon
This
CASA Library Month's Featured Resource
In Loving to Survive, Dee L. R. Graham and her co- authors
argue that women bond with men and adopt men's perspective
in an effort to escape the threat of men's violence against
them Graham provides us with a complete account of her
remarkable insights into relationships between men and women. The authors take the Stockholm Syndrome as their starting point
to develop a new way of looking at male-female relationships. They propose that women's current psychology is actually a
psychology of women under conditions of captivity that is, under conditions of terror
caused by male violence against women. Therefore, women's responses to men, and
to male violence, resemble hostages' responses to captors.
This is a book that will forever change the way we look at male-female relationships
and women's lives .
Submitted by Connie Shannon
Funding for this newsletter is provided by a grant
from
Retail Merchants Foundation, Inc.
Thank you for your interest and support of CASA of Central Virginia.
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