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1311 Jamestown Road
Suite 201
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-3306
(757) 229-3972 FAX
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All Rights Reserved
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The Voice |
| Colonial CASA's E-Newsletter
Volume I, Issue 09
September, 2006
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| If you are like me, you are probably wondering what happened to the summer months, where did they go? With the month of September underway, Colonial CASA is looking forward to this fall. With our new Executive Director, Rebecca Bresee, a new class of CASA volunteers, the Virginia CASA State Conference, and the upcoming Annual Campaign, Colonial CASA will be buzzing! This newsletter is geared to the most salient updates and friendly reminders of our common cause --- helping the abused and neglected children of our community.
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In This Issue... |
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Pencil It In... |
- Sept 11: Monthly Meeting, 11:30am
- Sept 12: WCHF Luncheon RSVP Due
- Sept 15: Holiday Card Orders Due
- Sept 21: WCHF Luncheon
- Sept 27: New Volunteer Training Starts
- Oct 2: State Conference RSVP Due
- Oct 9: Monthly Meeting Cancelled
, Columbus Day
- Oct 13-14: Virginia State CASA Conference
To Access Colonial CASA's Calendar, Click Here.
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From the Desk of the Executive Director |
I'm here! I am working hard with the Board of
Directors, Donna, Sarah, and Barbara to collect,
review, and assimilate all information available in
order to hit the ground running at the helm of
Colonial CASA. What a great place to be! Please
stop "up" to introduce yourself next time you are
here. I would love to meet the hearts and souls of
this great place.
~Rebecca Bresee, Executive Director |
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Virginia State Conference Heads to Williamsburg
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If you are interested in attending the Virginia State CASA Conference, you must RSVP to Barbara McElroy by October 2, 2006. Colonial CASA has secured a grant from the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation and would love for each CASA Volunteer and Board Member to attend the two day Conference, October 13-14.
Colonial CASA will have an exhibit table to sell CASA tote bags and CASA cards. If you are interested in volunteering your time to sit at this table, or the registration table, let us know.
Email Barbara McElroy, Program Specialist, or call 757-229-3306 to register or volunteer at a table. You must register through the office to have Colonial CASA pay your registration fee.
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Improving Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse
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The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Children's Justice Act Program are sponsoring a training in Virginia Beach on October 19th and 20th. This training is designed for professionals who handle child maltreatment cases in Virginia. Participants will learn the latest development and techniques to investigate, assess, validate, and prosecute child abuse allegations.
All CASA advocates attending this training will receive 9 hours of Continuing Education Credit. If you are interested in attending, email Barbara McElroy, Program Specialist, or call 757-229-3306. The registration fee will be waived for all interested advocates.
Visit the DCJS Site, Click Here. |
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Advocates and Kids Love the Spirit of Giving Backpacks |
Colonial CASA would like to thank the Spirit of Giving for bringing hope and love to the children we serve. Through their dedication and commitment, 7 CASA families, 10 children, received school supplies and backpacks for the upcoming school year.
The CASA advocates loved participating, "It was a pleasure to be able to give the boys something. They have had a rough time for a while and to be able to give them something from CASA showed them that there are others who are thinking of them and are concerned about them and want them to have a 'joy-gift.'" - CASA Advocate
The children appreciated the thought, two CASA children who received backpacks and school supplies sent the office a thank you card. The card they choose states, "The world needs a lot more people who are as thoughtful as you - Thank you for your kindness."
Get More Information on the Spirit of Giving, Click Here. |
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Send Flowers to a Loved One and Support CASA
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National CASA recently announced one of its newest corporate partners, Organic Bouquet. Organic Bouquet is a source for eco-friendly, sustainable and fairly traded floral arrangements. Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of each designated National CASA bouquet (or any product purchased using the special link below) support National CASA and their work with local programs – particularly volunteer recruitment and training programs.
Send someone a beautiful organic bouquet today and support safe homes for children nationwide. Or, if you prefer to shop by phone, you may call 877- 899-2468 and mention that you want National CASA to benefit from your purchase.
See the National CASA Bouquet, Click Here.
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Cruise to Bermuda for CASA |
 Newport News CASA sponsors a Group Cruise from Norfolk to Bermuda next summer, from June 10th to June 16th, 2007, on the Empress of the Seas. In addition to the availability of cabins for reservation, they are raffling off a cabin for two. The raffle tickets cost $10 You have a 1-500 chance of winning the prize, valued at $2,032. For more information, see the attached brochure and/or contact Newport News CASA.
See the Brochure, Click Here. |
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August Monthly Meeting Minutes |
Were you unable to make last month's Monthly Meeting? If so, this article should provide you with all the information you need: important updates, questions, etc. Please note, the October Monthly Meeting is cancelled.
Program Update:
- An Update from the Executive Director Search Committee. Colonial CASA’s new Executive Director, Rebecca Bresee is set to begin on September 5th and is looking forward to meeting each of you!
- The Cultural Awareness Campaign Continues. Colonial CASA is currently in the midst of a Cultural Awareness Campaign to address the issue of diversity amongst its volunteer base. Currently, over 50% of CASA families are people of color while less than 15% of our volunteers are. In an effort to increase the diversity amongst its volunteers, Colonial CASA applied for, received, and is currently executing a grant to do just that. At this point in time, we are identifying volunteers and members of the community who are interested in speaking throughout the community about this need.
- Colonial CASA Receives Tax Exempt Status. Recently, Colonial CASA applied for a tax exemption from James City County for property taxes. After a public hearing, the County granted us our exemption. We will save roughly $1100 a year!
- CASA Participates in a Holiday Card Fundraiser. Colonial CASA has started the annual Holiday Card sale. You should have received a letter and brochure announcing our involvement. If you would like to order your cards, please do so soon! The sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta who raise money for CASA both nationally and locally have adopted this fundraiser and will sell the cards at Homecoming, Parents’ Weekend, and the annual Alumnae Dinner to benefit Colonial CASA.
- Colonial CASA Prepares for the Virginia State Conference. The registration period for the biannual Virginia State CASA Conference, to be held in Williamsburg, is still open. Please RSVP to Barbara McElroy via email, if you are still interested. We will also need volunteers to serve as moderators, sit at the registration table, and at the Colonial CASA exhibit table where we will be selling our CASA bags and holiday cards.
- CASA Kids Learn "the Spirit of Giving." This fall, the Spirit of Giving, Colonial CASA’s Auxiliary, supplied backpacks and school supplies to 7 CASA families, a total of 10 CASA children. The children and their families were incredibly thankful for the generosity of these women who believe in bringing all CASA children a “sense of hope, health and well-being, as members of the community from members of the community,”
Volunteer Questions and Concerns:
- The Ideal CASA Report Length. A CASA volunteer asked about the traditional length of a court report. Specifically, whether it can be too long. CASA staff and volunteers engaged in a discussion to address the question. In short? A report can never be too long. CASA advocates are able to address and discuss issues typically “off limits” to other agencies. CASAs can report on basic observations such as body language, mannerisms, implied meanings, and other subjective elements of human nature. The CASA report is a unique document in that advocates present the facts and observations in the interview section of the report, offer their own feelings in the assessment portion, and make recommendations to the Court following the assessment. CASA advocates have a great opportunity to present as much, or as little, information to provide the court with the most information to make its decision.
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Program Policy Update: To Copy or Not to Copy DSS Files?
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Colonial CASA's Volunteer Coordinator, Sarah Serra, wrote this month's Program Policy Update Article, To Copy or Not to Copy DSS File.
It has come to my attention that there were a few instances when volunteers were having difficulty when asking to copy JCC DSS’ files. First and foremost, your Court Appointment Order allows you to inspect and copy any records relating to the child held by “any state or local agency, department, authority or institution, and any hospital, school, physician or other health or mental health care provider.”
I have spoken with Mary Ann Lee, JCC DSS CPS Supervisor. CASA volunteers are welcome to copy documents from JCC DSS files as long as the document is not bound by HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which is the federal regulation that protects health information. For the sake of saving trees, copying the DSS file in its entirety is not prudent; but, by all means, copy any documents you may want to be able to review at a later date and would be beneficial in writing your CASA Reports. |
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Colonial CASA's Wish List |
After we sent the Colonial CASA "Wish List" in the last newsletter, our wishes were granted. Thank you to all those who donated goods! Currently, these are the supplies the office is wishing for:
- Microwave
- Vacuum Cleaners
- Hard Line Telephone
- Approved Fire Extinguisher
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Quick Links |
| Colonial CASA's Website
State CASA Conference Information
National CASA
CASA Net
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