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YOUNG CHRISTOPHER KNEW ONLY NEGLECT AND FILTH

 

Christopher was underweight and in poor physical health. Family members were concerned for his safety and alerted Child Protective Services workers. 

 

Christopher's home was so overrun with trash that there was no place for him to sit without being enveloped by waste and debris. After selling the pipes under their house for scrap, his parents began using the outside of their home to dispose of their waste. They soon faced eviction. Instead of his parents' care and attention, Christopher knew only neglect and filth. 

 

Concerned for Christopher's physical health and well-being, someone called Child Protective Services. CPS removed Christopher from his home and placed him with a foster family. Soon, he was moved to a relative's home. A few weeks later, he was moved again, this time to the home of a family friend. In less than six months, Christopher had lived in three temporary homes. Eventually, his parents were able to get their lives together enough that Christopher returned home.

 

Through all of this, Christopher had a CASA volunteer looking out for him. His volunteer David asked that the return to his parents' home be monitored for Christopher's safety. David hoped Christopher's parents would care for their son, but he wanted to make sure Christopher was not in danger during the transition time. Sadly, it wasn't long before David learned that Christopher was back in foster care, this time with his younger brother.

 

For four and a half years, David was the only constant adult for Christopher. David observed how Christopher regressed when he went home the first time and told the judge that Christopher would be in danger if he returned home again. Because of neglect, Christopher was developmentally behind other children his age. Though he was 3 years old when he was removed for the second time, he functioned at the same level as his 18-month-old brother. He also suffered from a condition known as failure to thrive, meaning he was underweight and in poor physical health. In more than 10 years as an advocate, David said he had never recommended that parental rights be terminated, but he knew the boys' lives would be in danger if they returned home.

 

During their time in foster care, Christopher and his brother received so much love and attention from their foster parents that they were able to catch up to other children their age. Christopher grew taller and stronger. David advocated for the boys to be adopted by their foster parents. On National Adoption Day, Christopher and his brother were adopted by their original foster family. They are thriving today in a safe, healthy home. Christopher would like to be a firefighter when he grows up. He is a playful, imaginative child who loves to be outside in his backyard playhouse.

DALLAS CASA MOVES INTO NEW HOME
Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, Beverly Levy, Executive Director & President 
and Greg May, Board Chair

The Dallas CASA board of directors and staff were joined by Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones for a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of our new 25,020 office facility east of downtown Dallas.  Also attending the celebration were Dallas County government and judicial officials and area business and civic leaders.

 

The new building houses The Rees-Jones Center for Children's Justice.  The space will be used to train more than 300 new CASA volunteers each year and provide continuing education for the more than 1,400 volunteers needed to serve all abused children in Dallas County. The facility also will be a center for collaboration with the child welfare community to help facilitate systemic change to transform the lives of abused children.

 

Board president, Greg May, The Hon. Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge, Jim Lozier, Campaign Chair, and Beverly Levy, Executive Director & President hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony.  Following the celebration, the Dallas CASA staff held an afternoon open house for CASA volunteer advocates, Children's Council auxiliary members and other community supporters.  Guests toured the new facility and heard plans for Dallas CASA's future growth.

2014 DALLAS CASA CLASSIC CONTRIBUTES $1.7 MILLION 
A check for $1.7 million was presented to Beverly Levy, Executive Director & President, 
pictured here with Bill Smith, AT&T. 

 

Pioneer Natural Resources, Goldman Sachs and AT&T joined forces to host the Dallas CASA Classic golf tournament, benefiting Dallas CASA. The three hosts presented a check to Dallas CASA for $1.7 million, the largest proceeds to date from a one-day charity golf tournament in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

 

Scott Sheffield, Chairman and CEO of Pioneer, said, "We are honored to co-host this golf tournament for such a worthy cause. Pioneer has been a champion of Dallas CASA for many years. By teaming with Goldman Sachs and AT&T, we have been able to expand the tournament to involve more participants and provide greater funding for CASA to increase their trained volunteer base with a goal of serving all abused children in Dallas by 2019. We are very grateful to our generous business partners for their participation and to the hundreds of employee volunteers who made this tournament a success, thus providing hope for children in foster care." 


Beverly Levy, Executive Director & President of Dallas CASA, commented, "Every day we see firsthand the terrible impact of abuse and neglect on children. The Dallas CASA Classic is the single largest source of support for our program and it provides critical funding to recruit and support the volunteer advocates who help ensure that abused children are safe and protected. Pioneer Natural Resources, Goldman Sachs, AT&T and their business associates are evidence that there are good people willing to make sure that no child will have to face an overwhelmed child welfare system alone." 

 
The Dallas CASA Classic was held at the Tournament Players Course and Cottonwood Valley Course at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas and at the Masters and Championship Courses at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas.

 

Dallas CASA thanks our generous supporters: READ MORE

DELIGHTFUL CHILDREN'S CHAIRS AUCTIONED TO RAISE FUNDS


 
Ellen Terry


Retailers and manufacturers designed and donated delightful children's chairs and furniture which were auctioned at the Cherish the Children Luncheon.
  

 

The Cherish the Children luncheon raises critically-needed funds for Dallas CASA to recruit and train volunteer advocates who will help ensure that abused and neglected children are safe, healthy and protected with loving families.  Over 320 guests attended the benefit luncheon and were treated to a dynamic and moving speaker, Donovan Campbell, New York Times best-selling author and decorated military officer.

 

Campbell is now a Fortune 500 executive and author of The New York Times bestselling Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood.  In his most recent book, The Leader's Code: Mission, Character, Service and Getting the Job Done, Campbell applies his military principles of humble servant-leadership and the willingness to shoulder responsibility for the greater good to civilian life. During the luncheon, Campbell told of his commitment to helping our most vulnerable citizens and improving our communities through servant-leadership. 

 

We wish to thank our generous supporters READ MORE

LONG SERVING DALLAS CASA STAFF RETIRE

Mary Timmons and Terri Fleischer
 

Program Director Mary Timmons retires after 25 years

  

In 1989 Mary Timmons started with FOCAS (Foster Child Advocate Services) now Dallas CASA as an office manager.  Over the next four years she transitioned to roles as volunteer liaison, CASA supervisor and senior supervisor before becoming program director in 1993.

 

Program director Ben Wilkins stated, "Mary is one of the most truly kind and gracious people we know and she always had the strength to help volunteers and staff get what they needed to serve children."

 

Mary and her husband Lynn are both retiring this year and look forward to spending time with family.  They plan to embark on an extended tour of Texas best BBQ, travel through New England in the fall to see the autumn colors and visit the Northwest and Vancouver Island. 

 

Program Associate Terri Fleischer ends a 23 year career 

 

Terri Fleischer was hired as the 7th employee at Dallas CASA and has done almost every job on staff. Terri's special skill is a photographic memory.  She knows most of the faces, dates and stories of the children served by Dallas CASA since she joined the agency. 

 

Program director Ben Wilkins said, "for 23 years Terri has known every child and every volunteer.  She cares deeply about what we do and has been a volunteer advocate for several children herself. We are going to miss the passion she brings for the mission of Dallas CASA." 

 

After retiring, Terri is moving immediately to upstate New York to be with her family.  Her daughter, son-in-law and two wonderful grandchildren are anxiously waiting for her to live nearby.

CASA INFO SESSIONS

Spread the word about Dallas CASA to help abused and neglected children.  Tell your friends, family and colleagues how they can become volunteer advocates.

 

Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions:

* July 11, 12-1 p.m.

* July 17, 6-7 p.m.

* July 31, 6-7 p.m.

* August 8, 12-1 p.m.

 

Click here for session schedule and registration.

SAVE THE DATE

Parade of Playhouses

Presented by

ORIX Foundation

NorthPark Center

August 1 - 17

VOLUNTEER TIP

Remember all Dallas CASA volunteers are required to have 12 hours of continuing education annually. 

 

Click here to see upcoming training classes and webinars listed on the Advocates page of our website.

VOLUNTEER HOURS

15,651 volunteer hours advocating for children 

so far in 2014!

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, 3 out of 5 abused children in protective care are waiting for a CASA volunteer.

 

You can make all the difference in the life of an abused child.


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.