Wear Blue Day - April 8th, 2016
ISSUE # 2232
NOVEMBER 2016
FLATS, CONDOS, AND MORE.
Kansas CASA
OUTREACH
March 2016
BREAKING THE CYCLE Jill Lepore, in her article about child-welfare services, describes many of the social, financial, political, legal, and bureaucratic problems that make child abuse and neglect apparently intractable (“Baby Doe,” February 1st). But there are interventions that have proved effective, such as the nine hundred and forty-nine Court Appointed Special Advocates agencies throughout the country, which train lay volunteers and pair each one with a child or a sibling group in the child-welfare system. (I head one such agency, in Kansas City.) CASA volunteers advocate for the children, assuring that the judges who make decisions about medical, therapeutic, and educational services, as well as home placements, are presented with firsthand information about each child. Last year, more than seventy-six thousand CASA volunteers worked on behalf of some two hundred and fifty thousand abused and neglected children. CASA programs, by training and supporting citizens to help at-risk children, bring significant assistance to a terribly overburdened system. Martha Gershun Kansas City, Mo.
February 2016 Jill A. Hayden CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties " I enjoy being a constant source of attention, care and understanding to children who may experience limited exposure to those qualities. I love being able to give hope to children, their families and other workers involved in these children’s lives."
January 2016 Ray Coffey with Sunflower CASA Project, Inc. has been involved with CASA since May 2014. "CASA gave me an opportunity to help kids that did not have the support and opportunity that my sons had." (below)
As a CASA volunteer, Melanie Brewer has been advocating for more than two years for a little girl in a Child in Need of Care (CINC) case. The experience of building trust, listening and observing, and then championing the needs of her child has been rewarding both personally and professionally. "Serving as a CASA gives you experience with skills that can’t be taught," Brewer writes. "You learn to listen, not just with your ears. And you walk away knowing you make a difference — even if only to one child." On the KU Law Blog: http://bit.ly/1SfuA4a
http://www.kansascasa.org/program/district-2-21
Welcome new Executive Director, Jeannie Herrin! Jeannie holds an MBA from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and an undergraduate degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her most recent job venture was in 2010, when she started a CASA program from the ground up. She held the position of Executive Director of CASA of Harrison County in Gulfport, Mississippi, until 2014. It was at this time that she made the decision to move back to Kansas in order to be closer to family. She joins the Sunflower CASA team in advocating for children and families in Riley, Clay, and Pottawatomie counties.
#catchthecasabug Coming Near You! March 17th - St. Patricks Day Parade Lawrence, KS April 13 - 14th - Crime Victims Conference Topeka, KS April 26th - Woman's Show Hutchinson, KS May - June TBD - Riverfest Wichita, KS
The Kansas CASA Association welcomes Sandra Bradley and Sara Rust-Martin to the KCA Board. Sandra is the Executive Director for A Voice for Children, CASA of the 9th Judicial District in Newton, KS. (left) Sara is an educator in the Social Work Department at Kansas University. Both bring CASA experience and more to the roles as board members! Thank you for your service with CASA!
2016 Mary Hammond, President Thomas B. Wuerfele, President Elect Susan Escareno, Secretary Theresa Westphal, Treasurer David Whetstone, Assistant Treasurer Juliene Maska, Past Prsident
KCA Board News
Kansas CASA's phone # WILL remain the same: (785) 625-3049
Around the Office
New Location - Kansas CASA's office will now reside in Emporia, KS: 611 Merchant Emporia , KS 66801 (Office will open March 21, 2016) Mickey Edwards statedirector@kansascasa.org Samantha King outreach@kansascasa.org
*Please Join Us* Ribbon Cutting Emporia, KS April 22, 2016 11:30am
Kansas CASA Information & Resources
Board of Directors Mary Hammond, President Insurance Planning Hays Thomas B. Wuerfele, President Elect Manager/Underwriting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Topeka Susan Escareno, Secretary Executive Director Finney County United Way Garden City Theresa Westphal, Treasurer CPA and Partner Varney & Associates Manhattan David Whetstone, Assistant Treasurer Westar Energy Wichita Jayme Morris-Hardeman Circles Manhattan Manhattan Diana Frederick Executive Director Douglas County CASA, Inc. Lawrence Brandon Towns Vice President of Marketing Creative Golf Marketing Manhattan Carol Miller Executive Director North Central Kansas CASA, Inc. Concordia Honorable Rebecca Crotty District Court Judge Topeka David Seely Attorney Wichita Sandra Bradley Executive CASA Director Newton Sara Rust-Martin Kansas University Lawrence Juliene Maska, Past President Maska & Associates Consulting, LLC, Hays Staff Mickey Edwards State Director statedirector@kansascasa.org Samantha King Outreach Coordinator outreach@kansascasa.org (785) 625-3049