Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs chats with Delia Martinez, co-founder of the San Antonio nonprofit Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Martinez has led the organization since it was created in 2016 to help grandparents obtain the information and resources they need most. Nationally, many grandparents like Martinez are stepping in to raise their grandchildren due to various circumstances and situations. The organization … Read More
Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs chats with Delia Martinez, co-founder of the San Antonio nonprofit Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Martinez has led the organization since it was created in 2016 to help grandparents obtain the information and resources they need most.
Nationally, many grandparents like Martinez are stepping in to raise their grandchildren due to various circumstances and situations. The organization focuses on:
- Advocating for systemic change to create policies and procedures to support grandparents raising grandchildren,
- Providing training and education to grandparents,
- Organizing community engagement and outreach, and
- Hosting monthly support groups for grandparents.
Conversations with CASA is an online series from Texas CASA that explores current issues and trends affecting child welfare, our children in care and our network. Follow the links below to see past episodes.
Felicia Mason-Edwards, Faith-based Division Administrator for DFPS
Jenny Haynes, Texas CASA Board President-elect
Tara Perry, National CASA CEO
Brandy Howard, Foster Youth Attorney at Disability Rights Texas
Kristene Blackstone, Associate Commissioner for CPS
Andrea Sparks, Director of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team
Richard LaVallo, Legal Director for Disability Rights Texas in Austin
Kristene Blacksone Part 2, Associate Commissioner for CPS
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Conversations with CASA – Kristene Blackstone Part 2
Associate Commissioner for CPS Kristene Blackstone is back for another installment of Conversations with CASA to talk specifically about the Department’s initiatives to respond to and protect youth in foster care who run away. In Fiscal Year 2017, roughly 1,700 youth ran away. The Department recovered 1,400 of the youth and is working to create wraparound support to prevent future … Read More
Conversations with CASA – Richard LaVallo
In this episode of Conversations with CASA, Vicki Spriggs speaks with Richard LaVallo, the Legal Director for Disability Rights Texas in Austin. The two discuss the work of Disability Rights Texas and their legal work for children in the child protection system, as well as ways CASA can advocate for the healthcare of the children and youth we serve. For … Read More
Conversations with CASA – Andrea Sparks
The Director of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Child Sex Trafficking Team joined Vicki Spriggs for a new installment of Conversations with CASA. The two discuss the high risk children and youth in foster care face of being victims of human trafficking and what CASA can do to prevent youth from being exploited. As Director of the Child Sex Trafficking Team, Andrea … Read More
Conversations with CASA – Kristene Blackstone
Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Services Kristene Blackstone sits down with Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs to talk about the department’s successes over the past two years under her leadership and areas where they are still working to improve. Blackstone has been associate commissioner for CPS in Texas since May 1, 2016, overseeing one of the largest CPS programs in … Read More