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MAY 2019
CASA of Bell &
Coryell Counties
112 North Main Street
Belton, Texas 76513
(254) 774-1881
Check out more on
our social media!
Greetings Advocates, Volunteers, Board Members, Staff, and all of our CASA network,
Spring has sprung and we are loving it! At CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties, we have been
busier than ever and that is in part due to all of you who give your time and effort in making
the work we do happen. It has been a very quick six months since I started at CASA and I can
tell you that the level of dedication and passion I see from our staff and Advocates has blown
me away – I am humbled by the work you do each and every day.
Since December, we have hosted our 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K and Family Festival, one
of our largest annual fundraisers. We give our most sincere thanks to every Advocate, staff
member, and fundraising committee member who helped make our second-ever 5K such a
huge success. We have already started discussions for next year – be sure to mark your
calendars for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend 2020!
Another major project included providing training for all of our current Advocates in the Optima
system. This was one of many steps in our local program’s efforts in going paperless with our
volunteer and case management. Preliminary feedback is that everyone is loving the Optima
Go mobile app with talk to text and our Advocates are excited to be using Optima going
forward!
Additionally, we welcomed 14 new Advocates at the end of February (our largest class yet!)
and we are preparing to swear in another 12 in the coming month. Currently, we are serving
nearly 250 children and, as we continue to grow, we will continue to work tirelessly to meet the
ever-growing need for CASA advocacy in our two counties.
We appreciate each and every one of you who supports CASA and the children in our
community in your own way – whether it is through advocating for a child, donating time and
funds to the agency, or helping to spread awareness and the CASA Mission – we cannot thank
you enough!
Sincerely,
Dawn Graves Executive Director
Contact Log
Reminder:
Attention, Advocates!
Be sure to record
your casework,
volunteer hours, and
in-service training in
Optima each month.
Don’t forget to
include your travel
time and mileage.
Let CASA know how
YOU are making a
difference!
CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties Welcomes 14 New Advocates!
On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, The Honorable Judge Jack Jones joined CASA in welcoming 14
new Advocates to CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties. Your local CASA program is steadily
growing and we are excited to see what the rest of 2019 has in store in our ability to provide
quality advocacy for the children in our local community. We would like to thank these new
Advocates for committing to speak up for at least 14 more children who have experienced
abuse and neglect in Bell and Coryell Counties. On behalf of all our volunteers, advocates,
board members, and staff, welcome to the CASA family!
From left to right: Jess Johnson, Rebekah Moon, Allison Morrow, Bri Johnson, Romona Thompson, Priscilla Bruton,
Liz Miranda, Aundrea Dudik, Mareta Taukilo, Amy Patterson Ivy, Beverly Ledbetter, Ginger Legard, Georgiana
Chatman, and Molly Holt.
Volunteer Highlights and Stories
Ellis Hutchison
Advocate Ellis Hutchison joined CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties in October 2018. Since that
time, Ellis has done a phenomenal job in advocating for one of our local children. In only the
first 6 months of his service with CASA, Ellis has shown his commitment to CASA’s mission by
traveling each and every month to Lockhart, Texas to visit his child. During this time, Ellis was
also able to inform CPS and the Court that he was able to locate a distant sibling of the child.
His CASA child has been diagnosed with Autism and the foster parents stated that they would
like for the child to attend a summer camp that specializes in working with children on the
Autism spectrum. Ellis wasted no time in ensuring funds were secured from Fostering Angels for
his child to attend this summer camp. CASA Supervisor Lindsay Beaton stated “from day one,
Ellis has been a champion Advocate for this child and he always goes above and beyond.”
Thank you, Ellis, for serving with CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties and for all you do each day
for your CASA child.
Christina Smith
Christina Smith joined our program as
a Court Appointed Special Advocate
in June 2018. Since that time, Christina
has been assigned to two cases and
has been working with 5 children for
the last 8 months. In her time with
CASA, Christina has accomplished a lot. She successfully advocated for one of her teens in
receiving mental health services. She was also a primary player in assisting a father with
navigating the waters of being a single, full-time father for 3 CASA children. CASA Supervisor
Lindsay Beaton stated “Christina is absolutely rocking it. We love having Christina as an
Advocate.” Thank you for all you do, Christina!
If you have not yet been featured in the CASA newsletter or if you have only been briefly mentioned, we
are still waiting to hear your story! Your Recruiter/Trainer is actively seeking information from our staff, those
who have praised CASAs in our communities, and from you - the Advocate! If you would like to share your
story but remain anonymous, let us know! Please send us your stories or stories of your fellow Advocates
and volunteers by emailing Karli Barger, Recruiter/Trainer, at kbarger@casabellcoryell.org.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Doug Allen (May 9), Reaunna “Andy” Anderson (April 18), Sharla Carter (May 10), Nikky Clinton
(May 17), Melanie Delgado (May 6), Marlean Druce (April 22), Gwen Everett (May 1),
Domenica Fernandez (April 26), Rolana Frank (April 27), Ralph Garcia (May 7), Leslie Holman
(April 27), Bri Johnson (May 3), Jess Johnson (May 16), Susan Jones (April 22), Whitney King (May
3), Ginger Legard (April 22), Bethany Lehman (April 11), Sandy McClellan (May 28), Dona
Thompson (May 7), and Yulanda Young (May 5).
CASA ANNIVERSARIES
1 Year
Domenica Fernandez, Lin McBee, Michelle Wininger, and Ellen Wright
2 Years
Eric Cain, Nikky Clinton, and DaShanda Deas-Davis
3 Years
Susan Jones, Lisa Shatto, and Denise Vonderheid
WHO CAN BE A CASA?
If you or someone you
know has heart,
strength, and
compassion to speak
up for children, let us
know!
Court Appointed
Special Advocates
are volunteers who
pledge to give their
time to help children
journey through the
foster care system.
They speak on behalf
of a child at court
hearings and use their
voice to put the best
interests of the child
first.
If you have or know
someone that has the
qualities to give
children another
chance, let us know
by emailing Karli
Barger,
Recruiter/Trainer.
New CASA
Volunteer
Orientation:
May 16, 2019
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
at the CASA office
C
A
S
A
Strengthening
the voices of
Texas children.
Meet Your Board of Directors!
Would you like to know more about our fabulous Board of Directors? In each newsletter, CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties features one member of our Board to shine light on their roles, backgrounds, and experience with CASA. This month, we would like you to meet our Former Board of Directors President, Ms. Bette Robinson!
Bette Robinson
Serving on the CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties Board of Directors for the last five years has given me
the opportunity to work with amazing people – Board members, CASA staff, community members, and
especially Advocates – those who give tirelessly of their time and resources to provide support for children
as they go through the court system as foster children. Upon retiring from Killeen ISD in 2004 after a career
as an elementary teacher and school administrator
(Principal and Director of Special Education), I
responded to an ad in the newspaper about CASA
and became a volunteer Advocate. For the next
nine years, I served as a CASA for several cases.
Each case I worked on and each time I was in court,
I learned something new about the system, about
the appalling circumstances some children live in,
about the need for someone to support families,
and about the resilience of children. One of the
most rewarding moments of my CASA career came
when I was visiting a child at school and a classmate
asked if I was her grandmother. She replied, “No, she
is my friend.”
CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties Introduces Two Internship Positions in 2019
Your local CASA kicked off the new year in full-swing with several great additions to our office team. Within
the last five months, we have welcomed two incredible and talented new team members as full-time
staff – Ms. Dawn Graves as our new Executive Director and Ms. Kim Craig as our new Executive Assistant.
During this time, your CASA office has continued to work tirelessly in implementing many necessary
changes to accommodate our growth in working with our Advocates, community, and in our service to
local children.
Over the last year, your local CASA program has also experienced an increase in demand for internship
positions for our local students entering and continuing in the social work field. CASA of Bell and Coryell
Counties understands the value in providing quality educational opportunities and professional growth
experiences for our local students and, as we continue to grow in our service and mission, we were thrilled
to welcome our first two internship positions in January 2019.
Lindsay Beaton Serves as 2019 Training and Outreach Intern
Ms. Lindsay Beaton is currently one of CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties’ Advocate Supervisors and is
completing her Masters in Social Work through the University of Denver. Ms. Beaton began her field
internship in January in CASA’s Training and Outreach department with Recruiter/Trainer Karli Barger. In
her internship role, Ms. Beaton has assisted in the implementation of the new Texas CASA Pre-Service
Training Curriculum, has served as a co-facilitator in over 15 pre-service training sessions, and is currently
working to increase our local program’s outreach and awareness efforts through social media.
Specifically, Ms. Beaton’s projects have included designing and incorporating additional in-class learning
activities for new Advocates to increase trainee learning and engagement. She is also currently
developing a mock CPS case tailored to match our service area standards and procedures that will be
used in upcoming pre-service trainings. Ms. Beaton is also working to increase our social media presence
and has created official Instagram and Twitter accounts for our local program (be sure to check them
out!).
Past Board President Bette Robinson (left) passes on
the title to the current Board President, Tina Capito.
There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.
Sister Mary Rose McGeady
WONDERING WHO
SOME OF OUR
SUPPORTERS ARE?
NOTICE
CASA of Bell and
Coryell Counties
has recently
updated all staff
emails. Please see
the list below and
update your CASA
staff email
contacts!
Dawn Graves
Executive Director
dgraves@casabellcoryell.org
Kim Craig
Executive Assistant
kcraig@casabellcoryell.org
Marlean Druce
Volunteer Admin Assistant
mdruce@casabellcoryell.org
Karli Barger
Recruiter/Trainer
kbarger@casabellcoryell.org
Michelle Hamilton
Lead CASA Supervisor
mhamilton@casabellcoryell.org
Lindsay Beaton
CASA Supervisor
lbeaton@casabellcoryell.org
Denise Hanley
CASA Supervisor
dhanley@casabellcoryell.org
Vicki Israel
CASA Supervisor
visrael@casabellcoryell.org
CASA Goes Paperless in Case Management with Optima –
Thank you, Allison Morrow!
In January, we also welcomed our first case management intern,
Ms. Allison Morrow. Ms. Morrow is currently enrolled at Texas State
University where she is earning her Masters in Social Work. Ms.
Morrow’s primary role has included working with our Advocate
Supervisors and current Advocates in continuing education
training. Ms. Morrow completed the Pre-Service Advocate
Training on February 26 and accepted a case shortly thereafter.
Along with becoming an official Court Appointed Special
Advocate with our program and working a case, she also took
charge of CASA’s Optima Training initiative. Ms. Morrow
scheduled, planned, and coordinated over 13 Optima training
sessions to meet the needs of our current Advocates, as well as
served as the primary facilitator for several of these sessions. She
has also assisted in a variety of other capacities to increase
program efficiency and organization. Thank you to our two
wonderfully talented interns for taking on your projects at a time
of great need and for all you do in the mission of CASA!
CASA’s 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K & Family Fun Festival
CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties wrapped up a second successful year of its St. Patrick’s Day
5K fundraiser. The event this year took place on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the South Temple
Community Park in Temple, Texas. This year’s event began with a 5K run at 9:00 a.m. following
by a family fun walk and stroll at 10:00 a.m. We were also joined by over 10 vendors throughout
the community who provided physical fitness and wellness activities for the children in
attendance. This year’s 5K was a huge success and we are looking forward to next year’s
event! Thank you to each and every Advocate, staff member, and fundraising committee
member who contributed to this year’s 5K.
Interns Allison Morrow (left) and Lindsay Beaton
(right) increasing awareness during National
Child Abuse Prevention Month.
CASA of Bell and
Coryell Counties
thanks the
following
businesses for your
Kris Kringle Basket
donations and for
being champion
CASA supporters!
We would like to thank the following sponsors of CASA’s 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K – we
could not do what we do without the support and involvement of each of you!
Randy Taylor Custom Builders, Smile Doctors, Twisted Metal Automotive, Fire Street Pizza, First
Texas Brokerage, State Farm, CenTex Technologies, Orangetheory Fitness, 9 Round, Vista Real
Estate, Garlyn Shelton, and McLane Children’s Hospital.
Attention, Advocates! Be Sure to Enter Your Contact Logs! As our Advocates are aware, CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties has recently shifted to Advocate use of
Optima for case management. This system has replaced our Advocate case binders, monthly timesheets,
and monthly notes.
Please remember to enter contact logs for all casework you
complete in your service with CASA. When entering a contact log,
ensure you are recording your roundtrip mileage, any expenses
incurred, and don’t forget to record detailed notes for each log!
Once a contact log has been entered, your CASA Supervisor will
review and let you know if any additional information is required prior
to approval.
Other Things to Keep in Mind:
1. Ensure all case information is accurate and up-to-date. If you are unable to update specific
information, please inform your CASA Supervisor.
2. Upload your documents. If your CASA Supervisor receives any documentation, it will be uploaded
to Optima for your review. Please avoid any unnecessary printing of documents in Optima. If you
need to print a document, be sure to shred any documents containing confidential and case
information immediately (a shredder is available at the CASA office for Advocate use).
3. Record your in-service training and continuing education! If you have any in-service training
documentation, please be sure to forward it to Karli Barger, Recruiter/Trainer, at
kbarger@casabellcoryell.org so that it can be added to your file. Also, remember to include a
summary of the training/independent study and how you believe it will benefit you in the work
you do as a CASA! Any in-service training that does not include a summary of the event, book,
webinar, etc. OR does not have a certificate of completion cannot be approved.
4. Be sure your contact information and emergency contacts are up-to-date.
If you have any questions regarding Optima, please contact your CASA Supervisor.
Marilu Family Hair
Salon
Vista and Fairway Are Giving Back!
If you are in the market for a home and interested in giving back to the community in your
home-buying process, here is your chance! Dennis Fletcher of Fairway and Christine Fletcher
of Vista Real Estate (both current CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties Advocates!) are passionate
about giving and will donate $500 in the borrower’s name (to any charity of the borrower’s
choice) for every loan originated with Fairway and Vista Realtors. If you work with both Dennis
and Christine, be sure to name a charity for a donation! If the borrower does not pick a charity,
these CASA champions will send the donation to your very own CASA of Bell and Counties.
Thank you, Dennis and Christine, for your continued generosity and for all you do for your
community!
Waffle Cone
Aces High Bingo Supports CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties!
Did you know Aces High Bingo in Temple has offered to serve
as a continuous fundraiser for your local CASA? Aces High
Bingo opened on Friday, August 17, 2018 and is a member
of Texas Charity Bingo, a group of bingo locations across
central Texas that benefit local charities and nonprofit
organizations. This new bingo hall in Temple will benefit both
the Boys & Girls Club of Central Texas, Inc. and CASA of Bell
& Coryell Counties. CASA sessions are on Mondays at 2:00
p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. You can read
more from the Temple Daily Telegram here. We hope you will
stop by soon to enjoy a game of bingo for a great cause!
News from Texas CASA
From the CEO: Connection-Focused Advocacy for Children & Families
“Relationships can make or break lives. At the end of
the day, quality connections – loving families, caring
teachers, supportive communities – are one of the
strongest indicators (and predictors) of child well-
being. They are absolutely essential for a child to
thrive, and if, for whatever reason, they aren’t there
for them when they need them, the child almost
inevitably suffers.”
– Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs
Drawing from her juvenile justice days, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs highlights how essential
connections are for children. CASA volunteers play a critical role – offering a connection to a
child as well as helping to build a network of support around the child and family. Read the full
article in The CASA Voice.
The Family Helpline for Strong Families and Safe Children
The child welfare system can be very complicated and difficult to navigate, especially for
parents and caregivers. Luckily, there are numerous resources available that can help ease the
burden and answer questions along the way. The Family Helpline for Strong Families and Safe
Children is a resource available to Texas parents and caregivers involved in the CPS system. By
calling the Family Helpline (1-844-888-6565; Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.),
attorneys with extensive history working with CPS can demystify the CPS process, provide a
walkthrough, what to expect at various stages of the process, and refer callers to local
resources that could benefit the children we serve and their families. A project of the Austin-
based Texas Legal Services Center, the Family Helpline is staffed by experienced attorneys that
can help parents, caregivers, and Advocates navigate the process, provide free, objective
legal information, and referrals for families and caregivers. While the helpline was designed to
assist families with the system, Crystal Leff-Piñon (Helpline Managing Attorney) states that the
helpline is open to anyone who needs questions answered. “Anyone in the community can call
in and basically get a free class on child welfare law,” says Leff-Piñon. If you (as a CASA
volunteer) or a parent/caregiver you work with through CASA could benefit from this resource,
please call the number above or contact Karli Barger, Recruiter/Trainer, for more details at (254)
831-9880.
Wes’ Burger Shack
& More
T
h
a
n
k
y
o
u
!
Texas CASA Voice In A Minute
Do you want to get your Texas CASA news
firsthand but struggle finding the time to
keep informed? Texas CASA knows our
volunteers, board members, staff, and
supporters are staying busy fighting the
good fight. Here’s where we introduce
you to The CASA Voice in a Minute! With
Texas CASA’s new quarterly digest, even
the busiest child champions can keep up
with all-things-CASA. The CASA Voice in a Minute is a single email sent to subscribers once every
three months and includes only the most important and relevant stories from previous editions
of The CASA Voice. Click here to take a look at the first edition of The CASA Voice in a Minute.
If you like what you see, you can subscribe here!
Calling All CASA Fundraising Volunteers!
CASA on Main and CASA by the Pond 2019
Our next two fundraisers are quickly approaching and CASA is requesting assistance from any
volunteers, board members, staff, and supporters that want to go the extra mile!
CASA on Main is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will take
place in the parking lot behind the CASA office in Belton. This event will include food trucks,
music, vendors, and guest appearances by PJ
Masks, Baby Shark, the Cat in the Hat, and
more!
Our next fundraiser, CASA by the Pond, will
take place on Saturday, October 12, 2019
from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Venue at Lilly
Pond. More details to come!
If you are interested in serving as a champion
fundraiser for CASA of Bell and Coryell
Counties, please contact Karli Barger,
Recruiter/Trainer, at (254) 831-9880 or at
kbarger@casabellcoryell.org.
Recruitment and Pre-Service Training
New CASA Volunteer Training
Thursday, May 16, 2019| 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | CASA Office
Do you or does someone you know want to make difference for a child in the foster
care system? If so, visit our website to submit an application or email/call
Recruiter/Trainer Karli Barger (kbarger@casabellcoryell.org; (254) 831-9880) to receive
the complete application packet!
APPLY TO BECOME A CASA HERE!
Do you know someone who has what it takes to speak up for a child? If so, nominate them here!
Our team of volunteers, board, staff, and communities are beyond
grateful to all of our supporters – and you, our individual donors
and CASA volunteers who continue to stand up for children and
support CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties.
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