DeKalb County CASA Beacon

DeKalb County CASA is thrilled to announce that Judge Temika Murry has been named the new Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Juvenile Court!

Judge Murry has been a dedicated servant of justice and has tirelessly advocated for the well-being of children and families in our community. With a strong commitment to improving outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile court system, she has long been a champion of collaboration, fairness, and reform.

As Chief Judge, Judge Murry will lead the court with a focus on ensuring that every child and family who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping policies and practices that prioritize the best interests of children, many of whom are served by CASA volunteers. She will also swear-in each or our new CASA volunteers who complete Volunteer Training.

We are excited to work alongside Judge Murry as she continues to inspire positive change for the youth and families of DeKalb County.

At DeKalb County CASA, we’re joining the nationwide effort to raise awareness about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) in February. TDVAM is a time to shine a light on the importance of healthy relationships by empowering teens to recognize and address unhealthy or abusive behaviors.

Teen dating violence affects millions of young people every year, but together, we can work to end it. Below are resources and events to help our community learn, engage, and take action:

Helpful Resources

• Love is Respect: A resource to empower young people to build healthy relationships. Their website includes tips, a 24/7 helpline, and educational materials. Also see the Continuing Education section of this newsletter for an upcoming Love Is Respect webinar.
• CDC Dating Matters: A comprehensive program providing strategies to promote healthy teen relationships and prevent dating violence before it starts.

10th Annual Love Run 5K

Join DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston for the 10th Annual Love Run 5K in honor of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This event brings the community together to raise awareness about teen dating violence and support prevention efforts. All proceeds will benefit the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence

🗓 Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
📍 Location: The Gazebo on the Decatur Square, 1 Court Square, Decatur, 30030
💛 Information and Registration here: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Decatur/LoveRun5K

We encourage our DeKalb CASA community to review these resources and participate in these efforts while spreading awareness about the importance of healthy relationships among teens. Together, we can make a difference and ensure our youth are supported, informed, and safe.

DeKalb County CASA is proud to recognize Barbara Haan as our Volunteer of the Month!

Barbara was sworn in as a DeKalb County CASA volunteer in August 2018 and was assigned to her first—and only—case shortly after. More than six years later, she is still advocating for the same children, remaining their steadfast and unwavering support. Despite recent challenges, she has continued to zealously advocate for the children she serves.

Barbara was nominated for this honor by her Senior Advocacy Coordinator, Karmell Zimmerman, who shared: "Barbara must have a real superhero cape tucked away somewhere—in her car, closet, or purse! She is an amazing advocate who has gone above and beyond her call to serve. She has remained dedicated to a very difficult case that many would have walked away from, but she is in it for the long haul. Through it all, she has been the one constant in these children's lives, fighting battles for them every day that are indescribable.

"Barbara is a phenomenal CASA—determined, smart, strategic, compassionate, and professional. She is a fighter, a fierce advocate, and a true Super Shero! But most importantly, she does not play when it comes to the children she serves. That’s why she is and always will be one of our greatest champions."

Congratulations, Barbara! We are incredibly grateful for your dedication, heart, and relentless advocacy. Thank you for making a lasting impact in the lives of the children you serve.

This month, we’re celebrating the birthdays of some amazing members of our DeKalb County CASA team!! Your dedication, passion, and hard work continue to inspire us. We hope your special day is filled with joy, laughter, and everything that makes you happy.

Greg Wieder - February 9th

Tobey Sapiano - February 12th

Erin Daniel - February 21st

Camille Pendley Hau - February 21st

Sonia Darden - February 29th

Mariette Meijaard - February 29th

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.

This month, we are thrilled to honor the incredible dedication and commitment of our volunteers who are celebrating their CASAversaries in February! Each of you has made a profound impact on the lives of children and families in our community, and we are so grateful for your service.

20 Years

• Desiree Hicks

5 Years

• Mariette Meijaard

4 Years

• Tom Underwood

3 Years

• Taylor Thompson
• Jennifer Kessling
• Rachel Avrunin

1 Year

• Nicole Stearns
• Michael Andreas
• Pakysha Jackson

To our amazing volunteers, thank you for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and advocacy. Whether it’s been 1 year or 20, your contributions change lives, and we are so grateful to have you as part of the DeKalb CASA team. Here’s to many more years of making a difference!

Happy Birthday to Our Amazing Executive Director, Tara Daniels!

Join us in celebrating the birthday of our incredible leader, Tara Daniels, on February 5th!

Tara, you are an inspiring leader who goes above and beyond to support your staff and our mission. Your guidance, compassion, and dedication make a difference every day, and it’s truly a pleasure to work with and learn from you.

We hope your special day is filled with joy, laughter, and all the things that make you happiest. Thank you for being such a shining light in our DeKalb CASA family!

Happy CASAversary Dasha Burgess!

This month, we are excited to celebrate the 1st CASAversary of our amazing Advocacy Coordinator, Dasha Burgess!

In just one year, Dasha has made a remarkable impact on our program. Her unwavering commitment to our mission, exceptional advocacy skills, dedicated support for her volunteers, willingness to assist her team, and talent as a phenomenal event organizer are just a few of the many qualities that make her invaluable.

Dasha, we are so grateful to have you as part of the DeKalb CASA team and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll continue to accomplish! Here’s to you, Dasha—thank you for all that you do! Happy CASAversary!

Happy Birthday, Vickie Thomas!

Join us in celebrating the birthday of our wonderful Senior Advocacy Coordinator, Vickie Thomas, on February 27th!

Vickie is an amazing co-worker and a true team player. Her skills as a child advocate, willingness to lend a hand at all DeKalb CASA events, her unwavering support for her volunteers, and the thoughtful guidance she provides to the interns she oversees are just a few of the ways she makes a difference every day.

Vickie, we are so grateful for your dedication, kindness, and all that you bring to the DeKalb CASA family. May your special day be as incredible as you are! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays and a year filled with joy and success!

Per National CASA guidelines, all DeKalb County CASA volunteers are expected to fulfill 12 hours of annual continuing education. To meet this requirement, volunteers have the flexibility to engage in various educational opportunities such as conferences, workshops, webinars, reading books, watching relevant movies, and utilizing other educational formats. Topics encompass a wide range, including child welfare, child abuse, neglect, cultural awareness, domestic violence, substance use, mental health, medical conditions, food insecurity, poverty, and more. For further details or assistance in accessing educational resources, please don't hesitate to reach out to Justine Ferreira via email. We're here to support your ongoing learning and development as a CASA or Education Advocate volunteer.

"Having Difficult Conversations with Children: Healthy Relationships"

Stephanie V. Blank Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Free, Live Webinar

Thursday February 11, 2025, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

This insightful webinar focuses on helping teens and tweens identify vulnerabilities, build safety plans, and differentiate between healthy and unhealthy relationship characteristics. Learn strategies for navigating these important conversations and effectively communicating the significance of recognizing red flags in all types of relationships. This session will equip you with tools to support youth in making informed, safe choices now and in the future. Click here to register and view other upcoming training sessions.

"QPR Suicide Prevention Training"

Guide, Inc.

Free, Virtual Sessions

Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 5:00-7:00 p.m. or Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

QPR—Question, Persuade, Refer—is an emergency response approach that empowers individuals to recognize and respond to someone in crisis. As the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the world, QPR provides participants with the tools to identify warning signs of suicide, offer hope, and connect individuals to the help they need. QPR is a simple yet powerful way to make a life-saving difference.

In this training, you’ll learn how to:

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide.
• Intervene with someone at risk.
• Persuade them to seek help.
• Guide them to appropriate resources.

Click here for more information and to register.

Amerigroup Georgia Families 360

"Q1 Community Forum: Understanding, Support, and Empowerment -Interview with a Teen Dating Violence Survivor"

Free, Virtual Session

Thursday, February 13, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

"Join Amerigroup Georgia Families 360° for the Q1 Community Forum as we support Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This impactful event is dedicated to raising awareness about teen dating violence and promoting healthy relationships among teens. We will have an opportunity to hear from one of our community partners located in Savannah, Georgia. Mary's Place: Sexual Assault Center of the Coastal Empire will provide information about the services they provide for victims and their children.

Our community forum will feature a compelling information session and an insightful interview with Mrs. Angela Hines, a courageous survivor of teen dating violence. Mrs. Hines will share her personal experiences and journey towards healing and empowerment. Following the forum, we invite you to participate in a lively Table Talk session, see details below to register for the table talk. For the forum, register here.

Amerigroup Georgia Families 360

"Table Talk: Teen Dating Violence Awareness"

Free, Virtual Session

Thursday, February 13, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Following the Teen Dating Violence Awareness webinar, we invite participants to join our Table Talk discussion. This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with our speaker, Mrs. Angela Hines, a survivor of teen dating violence. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and discuss pressing concerns related to teen dating violence. Whether you are working with, serving, or fostering teens, this open forum provides a safe space to share experiences and gain insights on supporting and nurturing healthy relationships for teens. Your voice and participation are invaluable in shaping a safer community for our youth. Register here.

"Building Resilience in Youth"

Mental Health America of Georgia

Free, Live Webinar

Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

"While a child is developing, their social-emotional development is just as important as their physical growth. Through this seminar, participants will learn about social emotional development and the impact of trauma, identify ways to build and strengthen resilience in children and demonstrate self-care practices to prevent caregiver fatigue." Register Here

"Breaking the Silence: Empowering Youth to Speak Up and Support Each Other

Love is Respect

Free, Live Webinar

Thursday, February 20, 2025, 2:00 p.m.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and we’re excited to share an incredible opportunity to deepen your understanding of this critical issue. Join Love is Respect for their upcoming webinar, Breaking the Silence: Empowering Youth to Speak Up and Support Each Other.

This impactful session will feature a diverse panel of speakers, including the director of Love is Respect, youth council members, and Miss Kansas 2024, who will provide valuable insights into addressing teen dating violence. The discussion will focus on empowering young people to recognize unhealthy relationships, speak up for themselves and their peers, and build a supportive community. This webinar is a must-attend for CASA volunteers, advocates, parents, and anyone passionate about equipping youth with the tools to foster healthy relationships and prevent dating violence. Click here to register.

Teen Summit 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Gas South Convention Center, Duluth, GA

Free, In-Person

Did you know that most abusive relationships that end in homicide begin when the victim is between the ages of 13 and 24? This statistic underscores the importance of early intervention in preventing domestic violence.

Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) invites you to the 15th Annual Teen Summit, a powerful event designed to educate teens and adults about teen dating violence, how to address it, and the role we all play in fostering healthy relationships.

Over the past 15 years, PADV has reached more than 2,000 attendees through this impactful program. The 2025 Teen Summit promises to continue this tradition by equipping youth with the tools to build safe and empowering relationships.

This FREE event includes lunch, prizes, giveaways, and interactive workshops. Join to stand together to promote safety, empowerment, and positive change in our communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference!

Register for the event Here or visit https://www.PADV.org/events/

"The Shadow in Our Lives: One Family's Recovery from Child Sexual Abuse" by Tracey Wilson Heisler

In The Shadow in Our Lives, author Tracey Wilson Heisler offers a deeply personal and powerful account of her family’s journey through the darkness of child sexual abuse and into the light of healing and recovery. This courageous memoir not only shares their story but also provides valuable insights into the long-lasting impact of abuse on families and the steps needed to rebuild trust, hope, and resilience.

Heisler’s narrative is both heartbreaking and inspiring, shedding light on the complexities of navigating the legal, emotional, and interpersonal challenges that come with such trauma. The book also serves as a testament to the strength of survivors and their families, as well as a call to action for advocacy and education around this important issue.

This book is a meaningful read for anyone looking to better understand the impact of child sexual abuse, especially those working with children and families in foster care or child advocacy roles.

As CASAs, we are reminded of the critical role we play in supporting children and families who have endured similar hardships. The Shadow in Our Lives was chosen as a National CASA Book Club selection. The book can be found wherever books are sold.

"Grief is a Mess" by Jackie Schuld

Grief is complicated, unpredictable, and often overwhelming—and that’s exactly what Jackie Schuld explores in Grief is a Mess. Through a combination of heartfelt honesty, humor, and whimsical illustrations, this book provides a refreshingly candid look at the ups and downs of grieving.

Unlike traditional grief books, Grief is a Mess acknowledges that healing isn’t a straightforward process. It reassures readers that grief doesn’t follow a set timeline, that emotions can be messy and unexpected, and that there’s no "right" way to grieve. With a mix of lighthearted and poignant moments, Schuld offers comfort to anyone who has experienced loss, making this book an accessible and relatable resource.

For CASA volunteers supporting children and families who have faced loss—whether through separation, trauma, or the foster care system—this book is a valuable reminder that grief looks different for everyone. It encourages empathy, patience, and understanding for those navigating their own unique healing journey. A quick but meaningful read, Grief is a Mess is perfect for anyone looking for a compassionate and visually engaging take on an often-difficult subject.

Recommended by Kate's Club for all ages.

by Cathy Bacon, Senior Education Advocacy Coordinator

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 11431-11435 was first enacted in 1987 as a subsection of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. It was reauthorized in 2015 as Title IX, Part A of Every Student Succeeds Act. The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that children and youth experiencing homelessness can enroll in and attend school without barriers.

Changing schools may greatly impede the academic achievement and social development of students experiencing homelessness. Students who transfer to a new school often experience educational discontinuity and, as a result, lose academic credits. Moreover, the mobility experienced by these students separates them from their social network and from teachers and school staff who know their academic strengths and weaknesses. Coupled with the distress caused by the loss of housing, and the economic strain that often accompanies this, changing schools puts homeless students at risk of academic failure. Research studies have demonstrated a link between high mobility due to homelessness and poor school performance.

School of Origin Transportation

To counteract the educational disruption caused by mobility, the McKinney-Vento Act provides students with the right to continue attending the school of origin or enroll in any public school that students who live in the same attendance area are eligible to attend, according to the student’s best interest. When determining a student’s best interest, the U.S. Department of Education suggests considering the following feasibility factors in its 2004 Guidance (U.S. Department of Education [ED], 2004, G-4):

• The age of the child or youth.

• The distance of a commute and the impact it may have on the student’s education.

• Personal safety issues.

• A student’s need for special instruction (e.g., special education and related services);

• The length of anticipated stay in a temporary shelter or other temporary location; and

• The time remaining in the school year. It also is important to consider the wishes of the parent/guardian and student himself or herself. If the local liaison and student’s parent/guardian determine that it is in the student’s best interest to continue his or her education in the school of origin, then the local educational agency (LEA) must provide or arrange transportation to and from the school of origin, at the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied homeless youth, at the request of the local liaison).

The Angel Wings project aims to provide essential supplies, uniforms, and other necessary items to children we serve, enabling them to participate in extracurricular and enrichment activities. To request assistance through the Angel Wings project, please obtain the request forms from DeKalb County CASA Program staff via email at dekalbcasa@dekalbcasa.org. These forms must be completed by a referring source and include the child’s name, age, gender, grade, and specific needs, along with the contact information of the individual making the referral. Once completed, please return the form either by mail to P.O. Box 768, Avondale Estates, GA 30002, or via email. Our team will ensure that the information is passed on to a member of our Angel Wings Crew for fulfillment, if possible.

We want to update you on our current operational status. The DeKalb County CASA Program staff will continue to primarily operate virtually and remotely but will be in the office as well. Rest assured, all DeKalb County CASA staff members remain available and accessible via their direct email addresses. You can find the email addresses of our staff listed on our website or by clicking the link provided at the bottom of this newsletter.

Our Advocacy Coordinators are committed to maintaining their support for volunteers and cases. They will continue to meet with volunteers through virtual platforms, collaborate with case teams, and diligently work on all assigned cases to ensure the best outcomes for the children we serve.

Additionally, our volunteer recruitment efforts remain ongoing. We will continue to host Volunteer Information Sessions, conduct interviews, and provide training sessions virtually throughout 2024. If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming a CASA volunteer, please encourage them to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together. Your commitment to our mission is truly appreciated.

• Alecea Quintyne, Chair
  
• Norman Pitts, Vice-Chair
• Ketiwe Zipperer, Secretary
• Tara Daniels, Executive Director
• Dr. Tabitha Carney, Member
  
• Jill Davis, Member
• Dr. Freda Hammonds, Member
• Christian Mitchell Murphy, Member
• Dr. Jeanne D. Williams
  

Email: dekalbcasa@dekalbcasa.org
Website: www.dekalbcasa.org
Location: 4309 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404 378 0038
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dekalbCASAGA/