Anchorage
Anchorage CASA is delighted to introduce
sixteen new CASA volunteers. Please welcome Brandon Zarzoza, Josephine Vollertsen, Shirley Tuzroyluke, Trina
Short, Richard Satterfield, Evelyn Robinson, Albert
Nells, Chuck McCrea, Joshua Love, Brenda Jones, Andrew
Hickman, Justin Hatton, Nick Gilila, Tom Fenn, Pola
Farve, and Karmelle Diele to the CASA family.
On February 11, 2008, in a courtroom packed
with their co-workers, family and friends, Master
Hitchcock swore in this first CASA class of 2008. Judge
Christen, presiding judge of the third judicial
district, was also present and spoke to the graduates.
What a pleasure to present such a large and diverse
group - including 9 men and 8 volunteers who
self-identified as Alaska Native/American Indian. A
special thanks goes out to Southcentral Foundation for
extraordinary support of their employees in the class.
A number of people deserve our thanks for their
help with the training: Melissa Pickle (PIC)
taught child development; a panel of experienced CASA
volunteers - Phyllis and Carroll Schmidt, Andy Romang,
Linda Janidlo and Kerry Boness - shared their
words of advice and inspiration; and Sylvia Berg
(CITC), Beth Snyder (ASD), Helen
Strothers (ACMHC) and Melissa Emmal (AWAIC)
shared their expertise.
Our next training class begins April 1st. The
complete schedule of
information meetings and class sessions is available on
the core training page of our website. Tell a friend!
Kudos
Kudos to
CASA volunteer Robert Heffle. According to the
juvenile probation officer on the case, Robert's
involvement has contributed to the youth exhibiting
improvement "like night and day." Way to go, Robert!
Passes, Coupons and More
While it is not required, sometimes CASAs take
children and youths on an outing in order to better know
the child. Thanks to the generosity of Alaska Thetas
and local agencies there are a number of free
activities available to CASAs. Anchorage CASA has gift
certificates for the Bear Tooth Pub and Grill, Old Navy
and Cold Stone Creamery. We have passes for the people
mover bus, the zoo and H2Oasis. We also have coupons
for a free haircut from Haircuts for Peanuts and prepaid
phone cards. Contact
LeeAnn (269-3513) for
details.
In January Anchorage CASA offered the first of
many training opportunities for CASAs this year. The
first in-service was a panel discussion about Family
CARE Court, a drug court model. The panel consisted of
Judge Tan and Judge Rindner, the judges
that preside over CARE court; Sylvia Berg from
CITC family services; Tammy Ketchum-Wallette,
CARE Court coordinator and Marcia Honea, GAL.
The panel provided information about CARE court,
services available and the referral process. There was
also a discussion about substance abuse, treatment
options and the impact on families. After the panel
discussion, CASAs were invited to observe CARE court. A
special thanks to the panel for taking time to provide
CASAs with this invaluable information about Family CARE
Court.
June
Haisten
Fairbanks
Fairbanks CASA is welcoming the return of the sun and
warmer weather. On
March 17,
we will have Brittany Luddington from the Alaska Center
for Non-Violent Living presenting on the
Effects of Domestic
Violence on Children. Training will be
at the office from Noon-2:00. We are also gearing up
for the Community Cares Conference and the
Light of Hope
Luncheon. The conference and luncheon
will take place
April 23
at the Carlson Center. It should be a very informative
conference and an inspiring luncheon. I have sent
information out to all of the volunteers and hope to see
each of you there. The conference will be the
continuing education training available during the month
of April.
Thanks goes out to Andre' Layral for presenting
at the February continuing education training. Andre'
spoke about the 40 developmental assets and how CASA
volunteers can help build these assets in the children
and youth we serve. Also, a big thanks to Fairbanks
CASA volunteer Jan St. Peters for convincing the
Denali Quilter's Guild to choose the Fairbanks CASA
program as the organization to donate their Project
Linus quilts to. This service project's mission is
to "provide love, a sense of security, warmth and
comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized,
or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade
blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer
blanketeers." Jan showed me a sneak peak of some of
the quilts and they are beautiful works of art. I will
let the CASA volunteers know when they will be available
to distribute to a child you advocate for. They are
sure to comfort any child who receives one. Thanks
again, Jan and the Denali Quilters.
Last week I had a conversation with Susan Davis of the
Alaska Center for Resource Parents who asked how they
could get more CASA volunteers assigned to cases. After
explaining the process she seemed a bit disappointed to
know there wasn't a CASA available for every child. She
told me that foster parents who have a CASA volunteer
assigned to their child are generally much happier and
satisfied with their placements. Why? Because they
know that a CASA volunteer will call them back and
listen to their story and reply with good judgment and
objective reasoning. Way to go CASA volunteers! You
truly make a difference, in many more ways than you may
think.
Jane
Atkinson
Juneau
Welcome to the new CASA volunteers in Juneau!
Allen Hulett,
Jill Burkert, Don Harris, Macky McClung
and Tom
Shanley joined our ranks on the 30th
of January. Three of them already have cases and are
hard at work. The training was wonderful and Marion did
a great job, as usual. People really seemed to enjoy
the new curriculum.
Jean Jasmin
(04) who had been taking a short hiatus, went through
the training again and was so inspired that she asked
for a new case. We also saw several of our other
"experienced" volunteers pop in throughout the
training. Janine and I are very fortunate to work with
this group of supportive, enthusiastic volunteers.
Planning for Light of Hope is moving ahead and
we are anticipating our event in late April. We are
hoping to have an outdoor event this year, but southeast
weather can be very unpredictable in the spring. Our
theme this year centers around the forget-me-not seed
packets from National CASA. We are hoping to make a
connection with the abundance of our state flower and
the plight of abused and neglected children so that
awareness will be raised in our community.
Kudos
Where to start with Kudos?
Debbie Anderson
received kudos from one of the parent's attorney for the
incredible job that she does in her case. Debbie
continues to meet with the older kids every week for
lunch and makes sure that the dad is connected to the
resources that he needs. As a result of Debbie's
persistence, the kids are getting the educational needs
met and other assessments are in the works. Sherri
Morino continues stay above the high conflict in her
case and maintain her focus on the children. Tom
Shanley got off to a resounding start by taking on a
case involving five children. He made sure that their
grandmother received respite care, money for car repairs
and the emotional support necessary to allow her to keep
all five children together. Nancy Barros has
relentlessly continued to advocate for a teen in
residential treatment who needs an individualized
treatment plan which will allow her to transition to
independent living. The social worker on the case gave
a shout out to Fred Morino for going above and
beyond when he agreed to transport his CASA-kids to the
jail for a visit with their mother. Juneau CASAs are
doing awesome work!
Lynn Squires-White
Valley
We are proud to announce that six new CASA
volunteers have joined the Valley CASA Program! Many
family, friends and staff were able to attend the March
3, 2008 ceremony where the honorable Judge Beverly
Cutler presided over the swearing-in. Congratulations to
Maria Abada, Mardene Collins, David Eastman, Mariann
Malone, Rhonda Morrow and Cheryl Mallett.
Thank you so much for everyone's hard work and
dedication. Your commitment to the CASA program and the
children we serve is truly special!
The Valley CASA Program would like to thank the
members of
Kappa Alpha Theta Alaska Alumnae Chapter
for their generous donation of the wonderful gift cards
to be used as special "thank yous" for our CASA
volunteers. The gift cards to Barnes and Noble, Cold
Stone Creamery and the movie theatre were received with
great delight! What a wonderful way to recognize
individuals for their perseverance, enthusiasm and a job
well done. These donations were fun gifts for our
volunteers that not only said "thank you," but also
encouraged them to do something nice for themselves for
a change - buy that book that one never had time to
read, splurge on an extra special ice cream concoction
or lose oneself in a good movie with a bag of popcorn!
Thank you Thetas for presenting this wonderful
recognition opportunity for our Valley CASA volunteers!
Valley Light of Hope Reminder-
The Valley Light of Hope event will take place on
April 6, 2008 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm at Wasilla High
School. The Light of Hope event is used to bring about
community awareness of child abuse and neglect and to
recognize those individuals who go above and beyond to
support, protect, educate and treat abused and neglected
children. This is a family friendly event with
activities designed to promote healthy and safe family
fun. Please join us for this wonderful occasion
that celebrates the success of an involved community.
Cecily Skoog-Moore
Native Outreach Project
Cami! The Native CASA Council was honored that
Public Advocate Josh Fink attended our November 2007
meeting. How supportive! Master Hitchcock also honored
the Council by talking from his heart about issues that
he had a burning interest in: family, youth-in-care and
culture.
Master Hitchcock believes that those families
that the courts, OPA and OCS work with require broader
family and relative interaction, involvement and
strength based planning (What are the parents' and
family strengths?). He stated that the loss of a
cultural connection is a big problem, especially with
youth 13-15 year olds. Studies* indicate that when there
is disconnection from culture there will be significant
negative impacts like: depression, alcohol abuse, and
suicide, he said. And that we need to bring youth a
caring network and a community of trust for them to have
a meaningful future. Master Hitchcock stressed his
concern for children who lose hope and that they must
not lose the ability to dream good dreams for their
future. Our young people, he said, need cultural
connectivity.
There is another CASA training that starts
April 1st in Anchorage, and more Native
volunteers will step forward and speak up for children
in care. . .even one Native at a time is a good start.
One day there will be CASAs for all children in care who
need one. Native people are hearing the CASA drum for
the first time and will respond. Thank you! Mahsi!
Kay Wallis
*Passports for Native Children by
Judge Abby Abinanti
