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MICHAEL BORE THE SCARS OF HIS MOTHER'S ABUSE 

young aa boy on swing

 

Five-year-old Michael came into protective care with small white circles dotting his back and legs--burn scars inflicted by his mother.

 

Child Protective Services first learned about the abuse in Michael's home when his mother attacked her boyfriend in front of her son. The couple got into a screaming fight heard by neighbors. Someone called the police, and the boyfriend ended up in the emergency room for stitches after Michael's mother attacked him.

 

When police arrived, they arrested Michael's mother and called CPS. Caseworkers found the scars on Michael's body, removed him from his home and placed him with his paternal grandparents. Dianne was appointed as his CASA volunteer.

 

When Dianne first met him, she was jarred by the contrast between 5-year-old Michael and her own 5-year-old grandsons. Michael was developmentally delayed. He suffered from night terrors, still sucked his thumb and stuttered as a manifestation of the abuse. Dianne got right to work--she recommended speech and occupational therapy to help him catch up to other children his age and to heal from night terrors. Within six weeks of Michael's removal from his mother's home, the stutter disappeared. Once he understood he was safe with his grandparents, he could finally sleep.

 

During the year Michael was in protective care, more details of his life came to light, which illustrated that his mother valued drugs more than her son. She frequently used crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana in front of her son. As punishment for misbehavior, she locked him in the refrigerator. She showed no remorse, only cruelty. Dianne knew that Michael's mother was too caught up in the drug lifestyle to care for him.

 

Dianne recognized that Michael's grandparents were committed to loving him and providing him with a safe and secure home. She recommended that the court terminate his mother's parental rights so they could adopt Michael. Because of Dianne, he is now living safe and secure with his grandparents, where he is a thriving, happy little boy who is ready to start kindergarten in the fall. 

CONGRATULATIONS NEW CASA VOLUNTEERS 
June training class
The May/June 2013 training class with the Hon. Cheryl Lee Shannon. 

  

Congratulations to the 28 committed individuals who completed the 30-hour training class in June to become Dallas Court Appointed Special Advocates.

 

The group will soon be assigned to cases involving children who've been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. More CASA volunteers are desperately needed to help abused children find permanent, loving homes where they can thrive. These volunteers will make a critical difference in children's lives.

 

Dorothy Blome * Dawn Butler * Patrick Capetillo * Amber Collins-Shofner * Pamela Craig * Anna Lisa de Boisblanc * Vanita Easterling * Sara Ege * Jessica Gardner * Susan Gilmartin * Nancy Hafner * Marie-Noelle Holmes * Martha Huckaby * Peggy Kiger * Robin Lightstone * Pedro Lopez * Linda Lyles * Stephanie Mirshak * Karen Modlin * Jackie Parenti * Chelsea Parker * Ana-Maria Ramos * Judi Ratner * Brittany Redden * Martha Russo * Scott Stevenson * Terese Stevenson * David Williams                  

CHERISH THE CHILDREN RAISES $160,000 
Victor autographs
Author and violence intervention advocate Victor Rivas Rivers autographs a copy of his memoir, A Private Family Matter, for Dr. Anu Partap of Children's Medical Center.  

  

Dallas CASA's special events are critical to raising awareness about the plight of abused children and funds that support the work of our volunteers. The sixth annual Cherish the Children luncheon in May raised an astounding $160,000 to help abused children. 

 

These special events would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and friends. We wish to thank the following for their support of the 2013 Cherish the Children event.

 

Honorary Chairs

: Junior League of Dallas Past Project Chairs for Dallas CASA 

 

Event Chair

: Lauren Maggard 

 

CASA Protector: Ericsson; Nancy Ann Hunt

 

CASA Keeper: AT&T; Glazer's Distributors; ORIX Foundation; Jim and Angela Thompson Foundation

 

CASA Patron: Susan Hoover

 

CASA Friend: Anonymous (2); Bank of Texas; Fran and Mark Berg; Karen Carney; Judy and John Donovan; Niklas Heuveldop; Tess Kinsler; Carmen McMillan, Jan Harbour and Jane Pierce; Junior     League of Dallas; Nine-Eighteen; Kay and Bob Schleckser; Rachel Stienke; Linda and Rob Swartz; Phyllis Viola

 

CASA Guardian: Kay and Elliot Cattarulla; Penny Tower Cook; Margie and Ray Francis; Kerwin Testing and Therapy; Sarah Losinger; T.C. Lupton, Jr. Family Foundation; Lauren and Scott Maggard; Cynthia Reardon; Katherine and Eric Reeves; Kathi and Scott Shuford - Dallas Auction Gallery; Mira Small; Marianne and Roger Staubach

 

CASA Hero: Anonymous; Arkay Foundation; Lisa Bhattacharya; Debby Buchanan; Meredith Clinton; Margo and Bill Goodwin; Randi and Edward Halsell; Jennifer Heath; Cynthia Miller; Kim Moots; Margaret and Jonathan Neubauer; Carolyn A. Newham; Stephanie and David Quinn; Mr. and Mrs. William T. Solomon; Nancy and Rex Spivey; Kathy and Lamar Tims; Myrna Vance; Kristina and Phil Whitcomb

 

In-Kind sponsors: Bare Roots Landscape Solutions; Branching Out Floral & Event Design - Debby Jewesson; The Container Store; Digital 3 Printing - Greg Nieberding; Fashionomics; Mary Kay; Nothing Bundt Cakes White Rock; The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas; Total Wine & More; TycherStein LLC; Uber; Write Selection

 

Chairs Artistically Designed By: Amy Gibbs Interiors; Lorien and Isabella Anderson; Fran Berg; Heidi Couchman; Crafty Texas Girls; Creative Room Arrangements; Erin Sander Design; Fossil; Chelsea Green; Whitney Robbins Holley, Modern Day Memory Keeper; J. Austin Design; Lauren and Wyn Lesch; Liz Conrad Graphic Design; Blake McElroy; Minicrafts; Paula Rayer Nemec, Designs from Paula; Nancy Newbern of Rare Assets, Inc.; Carolyn A. Newham; Nicolas Villalba - COUTURE; Cecy Turner; Cachet Weinberg; Zooty's - Amy Thomas

NEW VOLUNTEER TRAINING

Dallas CASA is accepting applications for the September volunteer training session. The first step toward becoming a CASA volunteer is attending a new volunteer information session. 

 

Upcoming Info Sessions:

 

July 12, 12-1:00 p.m.

July 18, 6-7:00 p.m.

July 26, 12-1:00 p.m.

August 1, 6-7:00 p.m.

 

Register online.  

VOLUNTEER HOURS

14,905 volunteer hours advocating for children in court so far in 2013!

 

Submit volunteer hours

ABOUT DALLAS CASA

When kids can't speak for themselves, CASA can.  

 

Dallas CASA is a nonprofit organization of community volunteers who serve as voices in court for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are trained and supervised to advocate for the best interests of abused children in protective care and to make recommendations that help judges decide what is best for each child. A CASA volunteer is often the one constant during a frightening, uncertain time in a child's life.

Sadly, Dallas CASA can serve less than half of the children who need CASA volunteers. You can help. A child is waiting for your voice.

To learn more about helping abused children, please visit dallascasa.org.

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CASA and Court Appointed Special Advocates are registered trademarks of the National CASA Association.