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THREE BROTHERS LIVED IN SQUALOR

 

Three young brothers lived in chaos and squalor. Their disabled teenage mother was unable to care for them properly, their grandmother left them home alone while she worked all day and their three different fathers had all relinquished their parental rights. Their apartment had no furniture, toys or beds and smelled strongly of urine.

 

Child Protective Services became involved when the boys, 3, 2 and 1, were found wandering around their apartment complex alone in search of food. The oldest boy had an untreated broken arm, and all three had intractable diarrhea and long, dirty fingernails. They needed extensive dental work, medication for treatable illnesses and therapy for speech delays, behavioral problems and trauma. READ MORE

HOLIDAY GIFTS
AT&T Pioneers, a group for retired AT&T employees, delivered gifts Nov. 25.

Dallas CASA's angel tree supporters are working to make Christmas dreams come true for abused and neglected children.

In the coming weeks, generous corporate and individual donors will be dropping off thousands of gifts for children in protective care. Earlier in the fall, volunteer advocates gathered Christmas wish lists, along with practical things like clothing and shoe sizes, from their CASA children. CASA angel gift tags were distributed to our holiday gift-givers who enjoyed shopping to make children's wishes come true. After delivery, the gifts are wrapped by dedicated members of Dallas CASA's Children's Council, and then advocates deliver them to their happy and surprised CASA children.
CHILDREN'S COUNCIL FALL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Dallas CASA Children's Council president Jenny Reynolds welcomed speaker Dianna Smoot to the fall general membership meeting.

November has been a busy month for members of Dallas CASA's Children's Council.

Members learned at the fall general membership meeting Nov. 3 about the ways Dallas Children's Advocacy Center serves many of the same children as Dallas CASA but with an emphasis on criminal proceedings. When a child has been witness to or victim of a crime, law enforcement or Child Protective Services can refer them to Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC), where they will have a forensic interview in a safe, child-friendly environment by a trained interviewer, saving the child the additional trauma of repeated retelling. Dianna Smoot, DCAC's director of community education, told the group how DCAC's mission of improving the lives of children and reducing trauma is a first step in helping the abused and neglected children Dallas CASA serves.

And at the Children's Council holiday gift card party, members donated gift cards of varying amounts to benefit abused and neglected children living in foster care during the holidays. The party, co-hosted by Karen Carney and Kristy Robinson, was attended by about 70 members and brought in $7,000 in gift cards.
GREG MAY NAMED NONPROFIT BOARD LEADER OF THE YEAR
Dallas CASA Board Chair Greg May received the board leader of the year award from PwC Director Sarah Rodriguez, Deloitte Director Roberto Cortez and Ernst & Young Senior Manager Shakeya McDow.

Greg May, Dallas CASA board chair since 2014, received CNM Connect's Board Leader of the Year Award at a ceremony Nov. 12.

One of three finalists out of a pool of 50 nominees, Greg has overseen a transformation at Dallas CASA. When he joined the board in 2010, Dallas CASA provided an advocate for one in every five abused and neglected children in Dallas. Today, Dallas CASA serves more than half of children and is working toward a goal of serving all children.

"The beauty of Greg's leadership is that he has an uncanny way of working through important ideas with a broad constituency and signing them up for Dallas CASA's mission, but in the end they didn't even realize he did it," past board chair Mark Berg said. "He has successfully congealed the board of directors into a strong, cohesive group that is the envy of any nonprofit organization."

Created in 2001, CNM Connect's A Night of Light brings together nonprofit leaders, staff and volunteers along with our region's most noteworthy corporations and community advocates to celebrate the individuals and organizations positively impacting our community.
NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY
Diane and Jeff Stanley adopted five children on National Adoption Day, growing their family to 11 children.

Eighty-two Dallas-area children are truly home for the holidays after National Adoption Day, held Nov. 21 at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center.

Each year, judges and court officials donate their time to expedite adoptions of children in foster care. Each family's story is unique, but tears, hugs and love were universal. Shawn Osowski and his wife, Carmen, adopted siblings Magali, Jazmin and Briseidy. As they waited for their turn in court, Shawn said "we feel like we're finishing a race, but the real marathon is about to begin."

Hosted by Dallas CASA, the event transforms the courtrooms with teddy bears, family photos and balloons. District court judges Jim Jordan, Phyllis Lister Brown and Ken Molberg presided over the day's adoptions.
WELCOME NEW CASA VOLUNTEERS
The October day class was sworn in by Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon on Nov. 9.

Dallas CASA had two classes of new volunteers complete training in October. These new advocates have completed 30 hours of training and are ready to give voices to children in need.

Jorge Abreu * Angela Adamson * Sandra Aland * Erina Alvarado * Eric Beasley * Chris Bimschleger * Richard Bourne * Kelly Bowker * Sarah Braithwhite * Albert Buitron * Sarah Campbell * Carol Castellano * Ann Christman * Rick Christman * Lizbeth Contreras * Faith Curry * Katharine Daly * Shirley Dixon * Carrie Donaldson * Adrienne Donoho * Robert Ellis * Susan Emert * Adriana Escontrias * Danielle Eubanks * Jocelyn Franklin * Amy Free * Troy Grant * Arliscia Harris * Jody Head * Lori Herbst * Lane Hollingsworth * Nnedi Iwuchukwu * Karrell Johnson * Yvonne Jones * Rebekah Juneau * Claire Kainer * Judy King * Caroline Kustu * Lena Lahoud * Brandee Lewis * Kim Locus * David McCoy * Gayle McCoy * Dwayne McNeil * Marc Milord * Mike Murawski * Brooke Nelson * Katie O'Neil * John Page * Colleen Reidy * Denise Renter * Randy Renter * Tonya Reyna * Amy Scanio * Joicele Schneider * Shelby Stanley * Terri Thornton * Margery Tolbert * Tish Troutman * Nancy Warder * Zach Watson * Leslie Wayne * Latricia Williams * Tijuana Williams * DeDe Willis
The October evening class was sworn in by Judge Andrea Martin on Nov. 20.

 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT


Alex, five years old and medically fragile, was dropped off on Child Protective Services' doorstep after family members decided they could no longer care for him. He needed an injection in his abdomen every day to stave off fatal kidney disease, and he had been left with no insurance information, no money and only three days' worth of medication.

That's when Dallas CASA volunteer Jessica Glitz stepped in. READ MORE

IN THE NEWS

WFAA ran a piece about two Dallas CASA volunteers and their unique bond.

 

The Dallas Morning News wrote about the Champion of Children award dinner.

 

KRLD featured Sleep Experts' blanket drive, benefiting Dallas CASA.

 

My Sweet Charity wrote about the Champion of Children award dinner.

 

Univision covered National Adoption Day.

 

WFAA's Daybreak covered National Adoption Day.

 

The Dallas Morning News wrote about National Adoption Day.

SAVE THE DATE
The holiday Volunteer Appreciation Party is 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10. Join Dallas CASA as we celebrate our volunteer advocates, Children's Council volunteers and others who make a difference in the lives of abused children.

Join Dallas CASA's Young Professionals for the first ever CASABlanca event 8 to 11 p.m. Jan. 30, 2016. The party will include casino games, food, drinks, prizes and lots of fun.

Attorneys Serving the Community sponsors the Heart & Sole 5K race, benefiting Dallas CASA, at 9 a.m. Saturday Feb. 13 at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake.

Dallas CASA's Children's Council hosts the Cherish the Children luncheon 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5, 2016 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Laura McBride, author of "We Are Called to Rise," will be the guest speaker.
VOLUNTEER  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 and help us achieve our goal of serving every child in protective care in Dallas by 2019.

Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions:

* 12 to 1 pm., Dec. 4

* 12 to 1 p.m., Dec. 11

* 6 to 7 p.m., Dec. 17

* 6 to 7 p.m., Jan. 7

* 12 to 1 p.m., Jan. 15

For session schedule and registration, click HERE.

ABOUT DALLAS CASA

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

On an average day in Dallas County, more than 2,000 abused and neglected children live in foster care because they cannot live safely at home. These children need powerful voices to speak for them. Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who are voices for abused children in court. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in protective care.


Sadly, Dallas CASA can only serve about 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 Dallas CASA.

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