Clergy, CASA and Community (CCC) is an initiative by Texas CASA to build a network of faith communities and leaders to champion speaking up for local children in foster care and their families. The goal is to see communities and clergy leaders coming together to live out their calling and be a voice for the children who need them, and to develop a rich network that engages new volunteers and supporters for the CASA mission.
The CCC initiative continues to grow and thanks to the support from Blue Bell Creameries, Texas CASA recently hosted the 2024 Clergy, CASA and Community Kick-Off meeting at the Norris Center in Austin, TX. The objectives of the meeting were to officially welcome ten new local programs to the initiative, expand learning on successful CCC implementation, provide a space for members to network in person and help them develop a personal vision for how their programs can be effective. The day began with a presentation by Rev. Kimberly Deckel, Executive Pastor, Church of the Cross Austin, speaking on how to effectively partner with churches in ministry, examples from her experience and practical advice about long-term relationship development. Next on the agenda was a CCC expert panel Q&A with panel members Melinda King and Jennie Sullivan from Dallas CASA, Patty Pisklak and Ariel Sanchez from CASA of West Texas and Jade Dimitri from CASA of Central Texas. Following the panel was a Faith Outreach Team Presentation by Dallas CASA, a delicious lunch break and a Volunteer’s Perspective presentation by Heather from CASA of West Texas. The day ended with a CCC Café where attendees broke out into three teams to discuss key takeaways from the meeting, including new ideas on how to partner and engage with CASA volunteers and staff, faith groups and the community at large.
“I look at the church as first responders,” states Dennise Jackson, Texas CASA Strategic Network Support Director and one of the creators of Clergy, CASA and Community. At the meeting, Dennise shared a personal story of a time when a woman came into her church in tears. She explained how the woman was devastated because she had recently had her children removed by Child Protective Services. At this moment Dennise realized that the church has always been a safe place for those in crisis, and it was then, that the idea of CCC was born.
Faith communities are a tremendous resource that CASA programs throughout Texas can turn to. We are so inspired by the work the local programs are doing to engage, activate and partner with diverse faith communities as a way to recruit volunteers, as well as to build support for children, their parents, families, foster families and adoptive families. We are honored to give a warm welcome to the ten new local programs that joined the CCC initiative this year:
- CASA in the Heart of Texas
- CASA of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties
- CASA of Collin County
- CASA of Ellis County
- CASA of Harrison County
- CASA of Hill County Texas
- CASA of Johnson County
- CASA of the Permian Basin Area
- CASA of Wise and Jack Counties
- Gulf Coast CASA
Thank you to all who attended the CCC kick-off meeting. We are deeply grateful for the work you put in to making this initiative thrive and we are excited to see the outcomes of your work in 2024 and beyond!