Child Advocates Network

CASA RALLY MEDIA ADVISORY

Teresa — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:33:19 +0000

Media Advisory: CASA RALLY AT INDIANA STATE HOUSE
Volunteers from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will take part in a rally at the State House. CASA volunteers advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children whose families are involved with the child welfare system.
Indiana State House
Indianapolis
North Atrium 2nd floor
Monday, March 5th
10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. EST
There are 3,200 CASA volunteers in 72 Indiana counties advocating on behalf of 18,613 abused and neglected children. The rally is expected to include approximately 350 people from across the state. The goal is to draw attention to the need for more CASA volunteers and the importance of their role as a voice for vulnerable children.
Supreme Court Justice Steve David is scheduled to speak along with a former foster youth. Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard will also be honored for his long-time commitment to CASA.
The Rally is being sponsored by the Indiana Child Advocates Network and the State Office of GAL/CASA, of the Indiana Supreme Court, Division of State Court Administration.

Child Advocates to Rally at the Statehouse!

Teresa — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:02:55 +0000

On March 5, 2012, child advocates from across the State of Indiana will rally for children at the Statehouse. Thousands of children are abused and neglected in Indiana every year. Trained community volunteers from 72 of Indiana’s 92 counties advocate for this childten in court. We will be meeting in the North Atrium of the Statehouse from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon to support our CASA volunteers and to recognize Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard for his many years of commitment to CASA volunteer programs and Indiana’s children. We are looking forward to this event, and hope to see you there!

Indiana one of 16 sites for innovative program for older foster youth

Teresa — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:15:50 +0000

Indiana has very successfully helped the National CASA Association pilot a unique program aimed at helping older foster youth better prepare for independence as they “age out of the system” and strike out on their own. Called Fostering Futures, Indiana was one of only 16 sites chosen to particpate, and exceeded the goal of training 75 volunteers by training 102 volunteers all across Indiana! Read about the program in the Indiana Court Times: Fostering Futures — A Program for Older Foster Youth.

Indiana Youth Institute releases “Issue Alert” focusing on abused children and CASA

Teresa — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:23:27 +0000

Advocacy for abused and neglected children is highlighted in the Indiana Youth Institute’s April Issue Alert. This Alert can be printed and used for community education — please feel free to share: Issue Alert: Helping victims of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Listen to a radio interview highlighting the need for advocacy for child victims

Teresa — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:31:56 +0000

Tune in here to a radio interview calling attention to Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and the plight of children waiting for an advocate: WFYI radio interview–Child Abuse Prevention Month, Bill Stanczykiewicz, CEO of IYI

CASA highlighted in Indiana Youth Institute’s monthy Indy Star column

Teresa — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:34:03 +0000

The Indiana Youth Institute focuses attention on CASA during Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Read their April Indianapolis Star column here: Bill Stanczykiewicz: Abused and on a waiting list

Indianapolis makes us proud

Teresa — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:43:50 +0000

The Marion County CASA program, Child Advocates, Inc., has worked hard to increase their cultural competency and become more representative of the children they serve. Because of their dedication to inclusiveness and hard work, they recently received the 2011 National CASA Association Inclusion Award, presented at the national conference in Chicago in March. Here, they are highlighted in the National CASA blog: Changing the Face of Child Advocacy in Indianapolis

2010 Indiana CASA Progress Report released

Teresa — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:41:50 +0000

The Indiana Office of GAL/CASA has published its annual progress summary! View it here: 2010_Progress_Report. Please feel free to print and distribute widely.

Meet Brian Kasper

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:15:18 +0000

Brian Kasper had already been involved in the child welfare system for all of his 14 years when he met his CASA volunteer. Even though he didn’t initially know what it meant to have an advocate, he quickly found out.

“After he (my CASA) was assigned to my case and came to the first court hearing, finally my voice was being heard,” said Brian. “There was someone to advocate for me and be very adamant about what was important to me and what I needed.”

When Brian aged out of the foster care system and graduated from high school, his CASA volunteer and was there as he started at Purdue University.

Hear Brian explain why a CASA volunteer can make such a difference.

View on Vimeo.

Meet Frank West

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:10:13 +0000

With a successful career, four children of his own and an active ministry, Frank West has a full schedule. However, for the last three years, he’s also been a CASA volunteer in Grant County. Alone or in partnership with his wife, he’s advocated for several children in foster care.

His passion and dedication stems from his own troubled childhood and his desire as a Legionnaire and as a father to give back to his community and help children. He recognizes the role of a CASA volunteer can be challenging but is an opportunity for ordinary people to make extraordinary differences in the lives of children.

Hear his story here.

View on Vimeo.