The CASA Voice
The CASA Voice is your go-to source for spotlights on the life-changing work that Texas CASA, the 72 local CASA volunteer advocacy programs, our child welfare partners, sponsors and supporters are doing to ensure a safe, positive future for all Texas children and families.
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Overview of the 87th Legislature with the Public Policy TeamJoin our Public Policy Team on July 22 and July 30 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM as they discuss new policy changes and outcomes from the 2021 Legislative Session.This two-part series will provide CASA legislative advocates the opportunity to learn about legislative funding, newly passed legislation and next...July 5, 2021 -
KidNation: Engaging & Educating Kids with Music“We understand that music is a form of expression and ultimately enables storytelling that can inspire our youth.” – KidNation Co-Founder - Chris "Ludacris" Bridgeshttps://youtu.be/QoDVo_anT28Looking for something to not only entertain your kids, but enrich their lives? Tune into KidNation!KidNation is a 100%-kid-safe educational media platform that uses music...July 5, 2021 - CASA on the Go: The Urgency of Placing Kids with Relatives, featuring the Honorable Leonard EdwardsThis week we're thrilled to share a conversation with The Honorable Leonard Edwards, who joins us to talk about his recent article on the urgency of placing children with relatives. A retired judge now working as a consultant and educator on judicial best practices, Judge Edwards served as a Superior Court Judge in...July 5, 2021
- Conversations with CASA - Helping Youth Access Education & Training Voucher Benefitshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_G3_0iY_Zw"A lot of our students are coming straight from foster care and going into postsecondary education by themselves. It's a really great benefit to help our students keep the lights on throughout the semester." The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program helps young people age 16 and up who’ve...July 5, 2021
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Ensuring Equitable Access to COVID-19 VaccinationsOn June 7, the Children’s Bureau released a letter from Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg, Esq. urging equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations for all involved with the child welfare system.Schomburg writes, “I am writing to thank you for your ongoing efforts to serve children and families during these very...July 5, 2021 -
Learn How to Use a Mobility Map with YouthHave you ever told someone your life story? Chances are you have! It often happens casually, or in pieces over a period of time, when we’re introducing ourselves to someone or revealing more of ourselves as we get to know someone on a deeper level.But what if someone asked...July 5, 2021 -
Championing Autistic Youth in Foster CareAround half of the children in foster care have a chronic disability. Autistic children, specifically, are 2.4 times more likely to be in foster care than their neurotypical peers.Autism is a commonly misunderstood developmental disability that affects how people think, understand the world, move, communicate and socialize. It’s estimated...July 5, 2021 -
Preparing Young People for a Unique Back-to-School SeasonBy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEORight now, we hope children and youth all across Texas are enjoying their summer vacation, kicking back, relaxing and basking in their freedom and time away from structured learning. Before they know it, they’ll be back in the classroom—and because of last year’s school...July 2, 2021 - Children Without Placement, the Capacity Crisis & CASABy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEODear CASA Community,The number of children without placements in Texas, referred to by the Department as “CWOP,” has reached an unprecedented level. At the same time, three Group Residential Operations facilities have just closed, and two licensing agencies are also shutting down.As a result...June 1, 2021
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Thanking McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek for 13 Years of Support & Counting!McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek recently celebrated the 20th year of hosting their annual charity golf tournament at the Tanglewood Resort and Conference Center in Pottsboro, Texas.The event raised an outstanding $60,000 for local CASA programs in their areas of operation and Texas CASA. This is the 13th year CASA has...June 1, 2021 -
87th Legislature Overview: CASA Funding & Passed LegislationMonday, May 31, marked the end of the 87th Regular Legislative Session in Texas. Texas CASA tracked over 260 child welfare bills, testified before committees 10 times, and registered in support of 65 bills total. Texas CASA thanks all local Legislative Advocacy Teams (LATs) for their support and correspondence...June 1, 2021 -
Celebrating Happy & Healthy FatherhoodIn honor of Father’s Day on June 20, we asked the dads on our staff to share their reflections on fatherhood by answering this question:Based on your own experience as a father, what does healthy and happy fatherhood look like to you?Steve, right, with his father, who passed away...June 1, 2021 - Conversations with CASA – An Intersectional Look at LGBTQ+ Advocacy with Riki Wilchins"People's lives are more complex than the boxes we tend to put them into."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZLNmy_sWj8In this episode of Conversations with CASA, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs talks with Riki Wilchins, Executive Director of TrueChild—a network challenging rigid gender norms through intersectional approaches that reconnect race, class and gender.In honor of...June 1, 2021
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Crucial Opportunities for Youth & Young Adults Impacted by the PandemicCalling everyone connected with older youth!Today, we want to draw your attention to time-sensitive benefits available to youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care through the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021’s Division X provision.Division X provides increased, temporary direct funding (that’s right—money!) and opportunities for...June 1, 2021 -
Bringing Kayla & Hudson Home: A CFE Success StoryIn early 2016, Shannon* and her husband Jason were in crisis. They struggled with substance use, were estranged from their extended family and had no real supportive connections to help them get clean and sober. Their 9-year-old daughter, Kayla, and 7-year-old son, Hudson, were removed by CPS from their...June 1, 2021 - Answering the Call: How Faith Communities Can Make a Difference in the Lives of Foster ChildrenBy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEO, for the Longview News-JournalPublished May 15, 2021When Winter Storm Uri hit Texas this February with unprecedented freezing weather and widespread power outages, people of faith were some of the first to respond.They were on the front lines of disaster relief efforts, distributing food,...June 1, 2021
- Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for ParentsBy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEOEach May, we observe National Foster Care Month, taking the time to raise awareness of the 400,000+ children and youth in foster care across the country. This year’s theme is Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents.It’s an unfortunate...May 3, 2021
- Guidance on Supporting Youth & Young Adults in Foster Care through the Pandemic with Division XIn December 2020, Congress enacted into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which includes a provision called Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic (known as “Division X”).Division X allows for increased, temporary funding and opportunities for extended foster care, return to care or participation in the Education and...May 3, 2021
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“The Imagination Report” – A Poem by Ebony StewartEbony Stewart, an internationally touring poet and performance artist, partnered with us and wrote this powerful poem and call to action: “The Imagination Report.” Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? Read the poem or watch the video voiced by Ebony below.The Imagination ReportSo...May 3, 2021 -
Texas CASA Champion Bill Spotlight: Helping Young Adults Exiting Foster Care Keep Their Critical Health CoverageLearn about an important bill we’re championing this 87th Legislative Session: SB 1059/HB 2963!SB 1059: RELATING TO THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN FORMER FOSTER CARE YOUTH.Author: Sen. PaxtonCompanion: HB 2963About: Bill History/Bill SummaryFor youth formerly in foster care, creates a streamlined process for determining eligibility...May 3, 2021 -
Golden Crescent CASA’s Letter Writing Campaign for Parents Behind BarsThe CASA network operates under the belief that the vast majority of parents love their children and advocates to keep families connected whenever safe and possible, whatever the circumstances of the case may be. CASA volunteers with Golden Crescent CASA in Victoria recently put this into practice in an...May 3, 2021 -
5 Tools to Help Everyday People Understand Foster CareMay is National Foster Care Month. What better time to raise awareness of the fact that there are more than 400,000 young people currently in foster care in the U.S.—nearly 48,000 of whom are here in Texas?If you’re a CASA volunteer or otherwise already involved in the child welfare...May 3, 2021 -
Happy Mother’s Day! Texas CASA Staff Share Their Favorite MemoriesIn celebration of Mother’s Day on May 9, Texas CASA staff members are sharing some of their wonderful memories with their mothers and mother figures.Growing up, my mom would hand make every Halloween costume for my sister and me. From more traditional costumes like Minnie Mouse or a bumble...May 3, 2021 - Opinion: Arresting Children in Foster Care Adds to Their TraumaOp-ed by Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs"For kids in foster care, one trauma-induced outburst can lead to a lifelong entanglement with the criminal justice system — a system that costs taxpayers billions every year. Many of these children have spent their lives at the mercy of circumstances beyond their...May 3, 2021
- Conversations with CASA – Supporting Child Survivors of Traffickinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEYGAqQugDYIn this episode, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs talks with Minta Moore, Founder and Executive Director of New Life Refuge Ministries. In 2011, Minta founded New Life Refuge Ministries with a three-part mission of Refuge, Education and Partnerships: a Refuge of long-term therapeutic care for child survivors, Education for...May 3, 2021
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DFPS Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Report on Child Maltreatment FatalitiesThe Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has published their Fiscal Year 2020 report on child fatalities. This report is a difficult read each year, but it’s important information to have as we continue to advocate for a brighter Texas, a safer system, and better support for...April 6, 2021 - Conversations with CASA – Chadwick Sapenter“We are thirsty for hope. We are looking to be poured into. We are looking to be believed in. … It’s as simple as this: finding the silver lining in their dark cloud.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evya3HT1B9oTexas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs talks with Chadwick Sapenter, investor, entrepreneur and Texas CASA board member.Chadwick is...April 6, 2021
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Making the Most of Virtual Visits with the Children You ServeIt has been a little over one year since the first case of COVID-19 here in Texas, which brought the start of physical distancing and virtual advocacy. CASA volunteers of all ages, skills and circumstances are using technology to stay connected with children and families, and some find they...April 6, 2021 -
Called to Serve: Texas CASA’s Faith-Based Recruitment InitiativeEvery major religion shares common tenets expressed in different words, and in every religion, prayers, stories and metaphors express the universal calling: To lead a moral, virtuous life, we must value and care for all people, including those less fortunate than ourselves. Knowing that many CASA volunteers come to...April 6, 2021 - CASA on the Go: Special Episode Featuring Kevin Campbell & Vicki SpriggsThis special episode of our CASA on the Go podcast comes from our 2020 Distinguished Speaker Series, where we had the amazing opportunity to host conversations with trailblazers in equity and child welfare. In this episode, Kevin Campbell, developer of the Family Finding model, and Texas CASA CEO Vicki...April 6, 2021
- Texas CASA Testifies Before House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family IssuesTexas CASA Senior Public Policy Associate Sarah Crockett and Health Policy Associate Bryan Mares testified before the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee on March 29 to support top-priority legislation for Texas CASA, including; Texas CASA Champion Bill HB 2058 by Representative Stephanie Klick, which would require judges...April 6, 2021
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Texas CASA Champion Bill Spotlight: Better Preparing Youth for Life After Foster CareNow that the 87th Texas Legislature is well underway, let’s explore some of the legislation we’re championing this session. Today, we’re featuring HB 2632/SB 1084.HB 2632: IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH WHO ARE OLDER & TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE.Author: Rep. MinjarezCompanion: SB 1084About: Bill History/Bill SummaryEnsure youth and young adults have...April 6, 2021 - You Can Help Prevent Child Abuse & NeglectBy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEOApril is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Would you believe me if I told you that every single one of us can help prevent child abuse and neglect—and that many of you are already doing so?The fact is that stress in its many forms...April 5, 2021
- Fort Bend Leading the Way with a Trauma-Informed Approach to Child WelfareOp-ed by Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs"Many parents involved with the child welfare system may have previously experienced trauma in their childhoods and lives that led to their own children ending up in a neglectful or abusive situation.We often see this as a generational cycle.And we believe cycles can...April 5, 2021
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Engaging Young People in Conversation Using PoetryApril is National Poetry Month, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share some favorite poems that young people love and respond to.If you’re a CASA volunteer visiting with a child over video chat or in person, bringing a poem to read to or with the child and...April 5, 2021 -
Snail Mail Keeps Kids in Fort Bend County Connected & CreativeWe’re featuring a CASA program that is making an amazing difference for the children and families they serve using the original socially distanced communication medium… snail mail, or postal mail!For years, Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been going above and beyond for the children they serve by offering...April 5, 2021 - Conversations with CASA - Karyn ScottIn this episode of Conversations with CASA, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs talks with Care2Rock Founder and CEO Karyn Scott.https://youtu.be/7_aPlLE5z5sAs a former juvenile prosecutor and CASA volunteer, Karyn is passionate about connecting children in foster care to music mentorship. Care2Rock is an online music lessons platform that matches instructors...March 2, 2021
- CASA on the Go Podcast: The Impact of Gender Norms with Riki WilchinsThis special episode of CASA on the Go comes from our Distinguished Speaker Series, where we had the amazing opportunity to host conversations with trailblazers in equity and child welfare. This episode features Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs and Riki Wilchins, Executive Director of TrueChild, discussing gender norms and...March 2, 2021
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Texas CASA Debuts New Collaborative Family Engagement Explainer VideosThe very first video we did about Collaborative Family in 2016 featured cartoon bears and balloons to explain why searching for, and including, family members in the foster care and permanency planning process is so important. We’ve come a long from introducing CFE through those bears!https://youtu.be/m3J_Oe20FngWe are excited to...March 2, 2021 -
You Can Still Participate in CASA Day at the Capitol!Due to the historic Winter Storm Uri, CASA Day at the Capitol did not go the way any of us expected, but we are still making an impact and ensuring CASA’s voice is heard!Many who had planned to participate in our virtual Capitol Day on Feb. 16-17 were not...March 2, 2021 -
My Social Work Journey: Candice Dosman, Texas CASA Collaborative Family Engagement DirectorTo celebrate National Social Work Month, we sat down with Texas CASA Collaborative Family Engagement Director Candice Dosman to learn about her educational and professional journey. Candice is on track to graduate with her Master of Social Work degree this June.Candice the day of her interview for her position...March 2, 2021 -
#CASAintheCommunity: How CASA of Travis County Mobilized for Children & Families During the Winter StormIn the wake of a historic winter storm that pummeled Texas communities and left many people without power, water and other essentials, CASA of Travis County was able to swiftly mobilize their Austin-area volunteers and community partners to provide essential supplies to children and families suffering from cold, hunger...March 2, 2021 -
Texas CASA Champion Bill Spotlight: Expanding Medicaid Coverage for Peer Support Services for Older YouthNow that the 87th Texas Legislature is well underway, let’s explore some of the legislation we’re championing this session. Today, we're featuring HB 1413/SB 662.HB 1413: RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF RULES REGARDING THE PROVISION OF PEER SUPPORT SERVICES TO PERSONS OLDER THAN A CERTAIN AGE AND THE PROVISION OF...March 2, 2021 -
Stories of Change in Action: Part 3Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3Learn how legislative and policy issues translate to real-life, positive change for Texans.Meet DaShaun, Micah and Daniel!*7-year-old twin brothers DaShaun and Micah have moved foster homes four times in the past year. They’re stressed out and they need some stability!One day, DaShaun...March 2, 2021 - Strength, Solidarity & Community During Winter Storm UriBy Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEOMy Dear Community,As I greet a gorgeous, sunny day here in Austin, I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that just two weeks ago, I was battling intermittent power outages during freezing temperatures and boiling my drinking water.Last month’s winter...March 2, 2021
- New Podcast: Special Episode of CASA on the Go Featuring Dr. Jessica PryceThis special episode of CASA on the Go comes from our Distinguished Speaker Series, where we had the amazing opportunity to host conversations with trailblazers in equity and child welfare. This episode features Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs and Dr. Jessica Pryce, Executive Director of the Florida Institute for...February 22, 2021
- Conversations with CASA - MiShon Landry, CDPIn the latest episode of Conversations with CASA, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs talks about diversity, equity and inclusion with MiShon Landry, CDP, CEO of the Inclusive Leadership Institute and Texas CASA Board Member.https://youtu.be/ill1damgWpMMiShon is a Certified Diversity Professional with over a decade of experience in people, program, project...February 22, 2021
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5 Recommendations for Allies Who Want to “Do the Work” During Black History MonthFebruary, Black History Month, is a time when we honor and recognize the accomplishments and history of Black Americans.How can those of us who are not Black, but who strive to be allies to this community, meaningfully and respectfully celebrate Black history? As CPS Disproportionality Manager Tanya Rollins put...February 2, 2021 -
Read Texas CASA’s 2020 Impact ReportWe could not do the work we do without each and every one of you. Your courage and dedication continue to push us closer to ensuring our vision of a safe and positive future for all Texas children and families. The challenges of this past year inspired the CASA...February 2, 2021
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