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GEORGE NEEDED TO KNOW HIS MOTHER WAS ALL RIGHT IN PRISON
 
George, 16, was removed from his home after his mother was arrested for theft and his father deported. With no other family to care for him, he was placed in foster care.

When George's CASA volunteer, Diane, met him for the first time just days after his mother's arrest, his primary concern was not where he would live or go to school. His first thought was his mother. Because he was in protective care he was not permitted to visit her in prison. But he needed to know where she was and how she was doing and if she was missing him.

Diane realized the best comfort she could provide George was to visit his mother in jail. READ MORE
PARADE OF PLAYHOUSES IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY FOR THE BUTSCHERS
Amy and Reed Butscher with their 2014 "Up" house.

Siblings Amy and Reed Butscher have made Dallas CASA's Parade of Playhouses a family affair, turning the process of designing and constructing a playhouse into an annual family reunion.

This year's Parade of Playhouses will feature the Butschers' tenth house built together. And both say the little sister/big brother team isn't stopping anytime soon.

Dallas CASA's 21st annual Parade of Playhouses event will be held July 15-31 at NorthPark Center. The annual awareness and fundraising event for Dallas CASA features creative and unique playhouses on display and available to win by purchasing raffle tickets. READ MORE
DALLAS CASA VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY
Fran and Mark Berg with Jenny Reynolds, Children's Council president.

Thank you to Fran and Mark Berg, who hosted the May 12 volunteer appreciation party for volunteer advocates, Children's Council, Young Professionals, board members and staff.

With members of the Children's Council on hand, staff and volunteers mingled with board members, who expressed thanks and appreciation for the work of each volunteer serving abused and neglected children in Dallas. Guests snacked on handmade pizzas and salad and mingled outdoors on the lovely evening. Children's Council President Jenny Reynolds welcomed everyone to the party and reminded all of the critical role an advocate can play in the life of a child. In 2015, Dallas CASA's 921 advocates served 2,680 children in Dallas. We thank every one of our volunteers!
MI CASA SU CASA EVENT BRINGS NEW FRIENDS TO DALLAS CASA
Mary O'Connor, Kathleen LaValle and Liz Byrd

Thank you to all Dallas CASA volunteers and other supporters who brought their friends to the Mi CASA Su CASA event May 17.

Current advocates were encouraged to flatter a friend and invite them to learn more about becoming volunteer advocates. More than 60 people attended the reception catered by Anamia's followed by a volunteer information session. Board chair and volunteer advocate John Gibson welcomed the group. Current Dallas CASA volunteer and former CASA youth Sky Harrison moved the crowd to tears with the portrayal of how her CASA volunteer made such a difference in her life as a teen and inspired her to later become a CASA volunteer.

Several volunteer applications have already been received since the event, with interviews and training classes beginning soon.
HIGHLAND PARK CASA CLUB SUPPORTS DALLAS CASA
John Gibson, board chair, Ben Kroencke and Rosie Johnston, Highland Park High School CASA Club, and Kathleen LaValle, executive director and president.

Members of Highland Park High School's CASA Club delivered a check for $3,100 to the Dallas CASA board meeting on May 10.

Club members Ben Kroencke and Rosie Johnston along with their club sponsor Mindy McMinn delivered the results of the club's annual door to door fundraising day in the spring. Funds raised by club members will help Dallas CASA recruit, train and supervise more volunteer advocates to serve children in need.

In addition, members of Highland Park's Acts of Random Kindness Club, collected summer toys, including coloring books and markers, so that foster children in protective care will have something to call their own.
WELCOME NEW DALLAS CASA VOLUNTEERS
April training class with Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon.

We welcome our new volunteer advocates will serve more than 75 abused and neglected children this year.

The following individuals have completed the 30-hour CASA volunteer training course. Many accepted their first volunteer assignment shortly after graduation and are already on their CASA journey, speaking for the best interests of their CASA children. They join more than 900 assigned Dallas CASA volunteer advocates serving the children of Dallas. Congratulations to all our newest volunteer advocates and thank you for your compassion and generosity in volunteering to become advocates for vulnerable child victims.

Jennifer Alexander * Andrea Bertrand * Sister Mary Brian Bole * Christina Burns * Tiffiney Cottledge * Karen DeGraffenreid * Lori Delahunty * Edna Diaz * Amanda Dunn * Sandra Ferguson * Lindsey Fisher * Gemma Galeoto * Abril Goforth * Julie Hamilton * Lacy Hanlon * Lena Hilbert * Shanier Hoover * Lucy Horton * Cyndi Hutchings * Elizabeth Jones * Kim Kelly * Christina Lage * Becca Leonard * Doug McMaster * Kathleen Moore * Manoela Munhoz * Brian Murawski * Michelle Northcutt * Dianne Peniston * Tim Ringa * Caron Robinson * Danielle Rucker * Deb Secrest * Mary Sean Thornhill * Arreale Turner * Alicia Warren Johnson * Ambere Webber * Michael Wilson
 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Through 12 placements and three years, volunteer Glorias Dixon has stuck by the child she's been assigned to advocate for. Glorias says she sees potential in a child who doesn't see it in herself and Glorias is prepared to wait until the child sees the potential, too. READ MORE
VISIT DALLAS CASA'S BLOG
Dallas CASA has a brand-new blog, and we invite you to follow along as we explore issues related to child welfare, child abuse prevention and effective advocacy.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Dallas CASA is the 2015-16 Attorneys Serving the Community beneficiary. The organization's final fundraising event of the year is a luncheon featuring former foster child Steve Pemberton, now Walgreen's vice president and chief diversity executive Steve Pemberton. The luncheon will be noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday June 10 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Don't forget to visit Dallas CASA's 21st Parade of Playhouses. The houses will be on display July 15 to 31 at NorthPark Center.

The Mattress Firm Foster Kids program, which aims to provide support needed to help foster kids beat the odds, benefits Dallas CASA. Throughout the year, the program is conducting donation drives at select stores. From now through June 26, Mattress Firm locations are accepting donations of new clothing for foster children.

KATS Making Tracks, a 5K race hosted by Southern Methodist University's Kappa Alpha Theta chapter, is scheduled for 9 a.m. September 25. Hope to see you there!
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.

Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions:

* June 9, 6 to 7 p.m.

* June 10, noon to 1 p.m.

* June 24, noon to 1 p.m.

* June 30, 6 to 7 p.m.


For session schedules and registration, click HERE.

ABOUT DALLAS CASA

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

On an average day in Dallas County, more than 2,700 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, two out of five abused children in protective care are waiting for a CASA voice in court. You can help. A child is waiting for you.

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.

Dallas CASA | 2757 Swiss Avenue | Dallas | TX | 75204