Every day in DeKalb County, over 800 children navigate the challenges of foster care. CASA volunteers play a crucial role in supporting and guiding these children as they journey toward safe, permanent homes. In this video, our Executive Director, Tara Daniels, highlights the vital work of CASA and how our volunteers make a lasting difference in the lives of children in foster care. Take a moment to watch and learn how advocacy transforms lives—one child at a time.

The DeKalb County CASA Program will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The CASA office will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

As we kick off the new year, January reminds us to focus on one of the most essential aspects of our well-being: mental health. Mental Wellness Month is an opportunity to prioritize self-care, reflect on our emotional health, and make mental wellness a daily practice.

In the work we do as CASA advocates, balancing the needs of others with our own can be challenging. However, taking time for self-care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether it’s practicing mindfulness, connecting with your Advocacy Coordinator, or simply carving out time to rest, these small actions can have a big impact on our overall well-being.

This month’s issue of The Beacon features a special Staff Article with insights and tips on maintaining mental wellness. Be sure to check it out for practical strategies to help you stay grounded and refreshed as you continue your important work in advocacy.

Let’s start the year with a commitment to caring for ourselves, so we can continue to care for others.

January marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the growing issue of human trafficking, its devastating impact, and the steps we can take to prevent it. Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for purposes such as labor, sex, or other forms of abuse. It is a global issue, but its effects are felt deeply within our communities, including among children and youth in foster care.

Children in foster care are especially vulnerable to trafficking due to factors like instability, a lack of protective family networks, and exposure to unsafe environments. Many traffickers prey on these vulnerabilities, offering false promises of safety, love, or financial security. In some cases, children may be manipulated into trafficking without fully understanding the circumstances. CASA volunteers, through their advocacy, play a crucial role in helping identify at-risk children, supporting them through trauma-informed care, and ensuring that they are connected to resources for safety and healing.

There are several resources available to help combat human trafficking and support victims:

1. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 – A 24/7 confidential service that connects individuals to local resources and support.

2. U.S. Department of Justice (DHS): The Department of Justice supports a broad range of victim assistance resources, technical assistance and training, and funding to support anti-trafficking stakeholders across the United States. Click here to visit their human trafficking resources page.

3. Polaris Project: A leader in the fight to combat human trafficking, Polaris provides tools, training, and support for law enforcement, social workers, and the public. Click here to visit their website.

Be sure to check out the Continuing Education Opportunities section for Human Trafficking training opportunities.

During this important month, let us remain vigilant in our efforts to protect vulnerable children and raise awareness about the ongoing fight against human trafficking. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the issue of stalking and its profound impact on victims. Stalking is defined as a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, harassment, or contact that causes fear or distress.

There are several resources available for victims of stalking and those supporting them:

1. National Stalking Resource Center (NSRC): The NSRC provides a wealth of information on stalking prevention, legal protections, and safety planning for victims.

2. Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC): SPARC offers resources and trainings for service providers, and advocates to better understand and respond to stalking cases. Click here to visit their website.

3. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) – This confidential service provides support to individuals experiencing abuse or stalking by connecting them with local resources and services.

Be sure to check out the Continuing Education Opportunities section for Stalking Awareness training opportunities.

By raising awareness during National Stalking Awareness Month, we can work together to support children who may be at risk, ensure they receive the protection and care they deserve, and help break the cycle of trauma. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children who need it most.

Congratulations to Dr. Pakysha Jackson, January 2025 Volunteer of the Month!

We are thrilled to recognize Dr. Pakysha Jackson as our January 2025 Volunteer of the Month! Dr. Jackson was nominated by her Advocacy Coordinator, Vickie Thomas, who praised her exceptional dedication and advocacy efforts.

Sworn in as a CASA volunteer on February 26, 2024, Dr. Jackson has already made a tremendous impact. She is currently advocating for two cases and is doing amazing work on both. Dr. Jackson conducts regular visits with the children, maintains communication with their foster placements, and stays in close contact with collaborative partners, ensuring all voices are heard and all needs are addressed. Additionally, she maintains strong and consistent communication with her Advocacy Coordinator to keep everyone aligned.

“Dr. Jackson is doing a fantastic job,” said Vickie Thomas. “Her dedication to her cases and her willingness to go above and beyond for the children she serves is truly commendable.”

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Pakysha Jackson for her outstanding contributions to DeKalb County CASA and the children she so passionately advocates for. Thank you, Dr. Jackson, for your tireless commitment to making a difference!

Happy Birthday to our amazing volunteers celebrating this month! Their dedication and compassion make a difference every day, and we are so grateful for each of them. Join us in celebrating the following volunteers who are turning a year wiser in January:

Katie McAdams - January 7th

Nicole Stearns - January 9th

Ale'cia Harden - January 14th

Sharanda Ross - January 17th

Jordan Beiter - January 25th

May your birthday and the year ahead be filled with joy, love, and all the things that bring you happiness. Thank you for all that you do!

Happy Birthday, Carol Jordan!

Join us in celebrating Carol Jordan, one of our incredible Advocacy Coordinators, on her special day! Carol celebrates her birthday on January 22nd! Carol has been a dedicated member of the DeKalb CASA team for almost 8 years, and her journey began as a CASA volunteer for several years prior to becoming a staff member. Her passion for advocacy and unwavering commitment to the children and families we serve make her an invaluable part of our Program.

Carol, we hope your birthday is as amazing as you are! Thank you for your hard work, compassion, and the difference you make every day. Wishing you a fantastic year ahead!

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.

"QPR Suicide Prevention Training"

Guide, Inc.

Free, Virtual Session

Wednesday, January 15, 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.

"Stewards of Children by Darkness to Light"

Jessica Blackrick, Director of SE Georgia CASA

Free, Live Webinar

Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, award-winning two and a half hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Through interviews with a very diverse group of people with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.

Registration details:

· All participants must pre-register to have access to the virtual workbook.

· Follow this link and Register Here

· Click on “Register” and use discount code “GACASA” for free cost

· Please note that this virtual training will be held via Microsoft Teams

· Participants will receive a survey via email after the completion of the training. Once the survey is complete, they will receive their training certificate.

"Compassionate Caregiving for CSEC Survivors"

The Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Free, Live Webinar

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

This training module equips you with the skills to provide trauma-informed care to young survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). You’ll gain research-backed tools and best practices to enhance your caregiving approach while fostering a compassionate and supportive environment. Learn how to become a safe, trusted adult who can play a vital role in a survivor’s healing journey. Click here to register and view other upcoming training sessions.

Mandated Reporter Training

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

Free, Live Webinar

Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

"Child serving professionals and volunteers may suspect child abuse or have a child disclose abuse to them through their work with children. However, barriers such as fear of reporting, the inability to recognize all forms of child maltreatment, and vague organizational policies may prevent professionals from making a report of child maltreatment. Mandated Reporter Training Objectives:

• Recognize factors associated with abuse and neglect prevention
• Understand how the laws around mandated reporting affect you
• Define types of abuse and related indicators
• Describe the process for handling a disclosure of abuse
• Follow the basic procedure for reporting suspected child abuse
• Discern between the community’s role to support family wellbeing and DFCSs’ role to investigate suspected abuse and neglect"

Click here to register.

Understanding Human Trafficking Training

Office for Victims of Crime, Training and Technical Assistance Center

Free, Self-Paced Training, 5 1-hour sessions

This interactive online training series consists of five modules designed to provide foundational knowledge on trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches to addressing human trafficking. This training equips participants to critically analyze human trafficking using reliable, evidence-based resources from both local and national perspectives. Skills covered include:

• Recognizing and implementing trauma-informed approaches for victim identification and support.
• Assessing victims' comprehensive service needs.
• Building collaborative service delivery models through local partnerships.
• Accessing accurate data and research on human trafficking.
• Exploring and analyzing laws, policies, and strategies that impact victims, services, and advocacy.

Whether you’re a professional, advocate, or community member, this training provides the tools needed to make a meaningful impact in addressing human trafficking.

Learn more about this training by clicking Here If this is your first time using OVC TTAC's Learning Management System, you will need to click the "Create an account" link to register for a FREE account.

Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC)

Stalking E-Learning Courses

Free, Self-Paced Training, 3 30-minute sessions

This series of interactive, multimedia courses provide essential knowledge for identifying and responding to stalking victimization. This training is for anyone looking to build their awareness and response skills in supporting those who have experienced stalking, these short, engaging modules are:

• Concise: Each module takes just 30 minutes to complete.
• Interactive: Features videos, voiceovers, quizzes, and other engaging content.
• Resourceful: Includes valuable links and next steps for continued learning.

The three modules include:

1. What is Stalking? An introduction to the definition and key concepts of stalking.
2. Identifying Stalking Behaviors: Learn to recognize the behaviors and tactics commonly used by stalkers.
3. Stalking Prevalence and Relationships: Explore the prevalence of stalking and its impact on various relationships.

Click Here to visit the e-learning courses page.

Reaching Teens Summit 2025

Wellroot Family Services

Thursday, January 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church 1795 Old Peachtree Road, Duluth, GA

FREE, in-person

Space is limited, registration is now open

Come together for a day filled with insightful discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities focused on empowering and supporting today's youth. Led by renowned expert Dr. Ken Ginsburg, this summit provides strength-based strategies to address behavioral risks and mental health challenges in youth. The summit will provide practical tools to enhance resilience in youth and focus on how to be a supportive adult in a young person's life. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn how to make a positive impact on the lives of teenagers.

Click here to learn more and to register.

Teen Summit 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Gas South Convention Center, Duluth, GA

Free, In-Person

Registration is now open

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 Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City " by Andrea Elliott

The Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City by Andrea Elliott is a compelling and deeply moving account of one family’s struggle with poverty, homelessness, and systemic injustice in New York City. At the center of the story is Dasani, a young girl with extraordinary resilience and dreams, navigating the challenges of growing up in a world that often feels stacked against her.

Through meticulous reporting, Elliott weaves Dasani’s personal journey with a broader exploration of the social and economic forces that perpetuate cycles of poverty. The book sheds light on the impacts of homelessness, inadequate access to resources, and generational trauma, all of which resonate deeply with the work we do as CASA volunteers.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning book is not only a call to action but also a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It offers valuable insights into the systemic barriers children in foster care and similar situations often face, encouraging us to deepen our understanding and advocacy for the children we serve.

We highly recommend The Invisible Child to all CASA volunteers. It is an eye-opening and inspiring read that will leave you more informed, empathetic, and motivated to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

The book can be found at the DeKalb County Public Library and wherever books are sold.

"Always and Forever" by Alan Durant

Always and Forever by Alan Durant is a beautifully illustrated and heartfelt children’s book that explores the themes of love, loss, and healing. The story follows a group of woodland animals—Fox, Mole, Otter, and Hare—who are deeply affected when Fox passes away. As they navigate their grief, the animals find comfort in sharing memories of Fox and realizing that his love and wisdom will always remain with them.

This book is a valuable resource for CASA volunteers to include in their Advocacy Toolkit, particularly when working with children who have experienced loss or trauma. Its gentle, age-appropriate language and warm illustrations by Debi Gliori create a safe space for children to process complex emotions. The story offers an opportunity to discuss feelings of sadness, anger, or confusion, and helps children understand that it’s okay to grieve while also finding ways to move forward.

By sharing Always and Forever with a child, CASA volunteers can encourage open conversations about loss and provide reassurance that love, and memories endure, even after difficult changes. It’s a compassionate tool to support children on their journey toward healing and resilience.

Recommended by Kate's Club for elementary school aged children. The book can be found at the library and wherever books are sold. See video of reading below.

by Justine Ferreira, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator

As we begin a new year, January’s focus on Mental Wellness Month serves as an important reminder to take care of ourselves. Advocating for children in foster care and assisting families navigating child welfare and court systems can be deeply rewarding, but it can also bring stress and emotional challenges. Balancing your personal well-being with the demands that life brings is key to staying effective and fulfilled in this vital role.

Managing Stress and Staying Healthy

The winter months can add additional challenges to maintaining wellness with shorter days and colder weather impacting energy and mood. Here are a few tips to help you manage stress and stay healthy:

• Stay Active: Even if it’s cold outside, make time for movement. A brisk walk, yoga, or a simple home workout can boost your mood and energy levels.

• Prioritize Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for emotional regulation and overall health. Create a bedtime routine that helps you wind down and get sufficient rest.

• Eat Well: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole foods supports both physical and mental health.

Self-Care Ideas

Taking time for self-care isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for anyone in a caregiving or advocacy role. Consider these practices to recharge and maintain your mental wellness:

• Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a powerful way to process emotions and reflect on your experiences.

• Meditation: Even just a few minutes of meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness each day can help reduce stress and improve focus.

• Unplug: Take breaks from screens and social media to focus on hobbies or connect with loved ones.

• Set Boundaries: Balance your advocacy work with personal time to avoid burnout. Remember, it’s okay to say no when you need a moment for yourself.

Keep Learning and Growing

Don’t forget to check The Beacon for upcoming trainings designed to support both your mental wellness and advocacy efforts. These sessions not only provide valuable tools and resources on a wide array of topics but also help you stay on track to complete your required 12 hours of annual continuing education. You can even curl up on the couch and watch a couple of movies or read a book that is related to child welfare, or the case you are working, and it will count towards your requirement.

We Are Here to Support You

Your Advocacy Coordinator and the entire DeKalb County CASA Program staff are here to support you every step of the way. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are committed to ensuring that you have the tools and resources to succeed in your role while maintaining your well-being.

Thank you for the incredible work you do for children and families in our community. As you advocate for others, remember to also advocate for yourself. Wishing you a happy, healthy start to 2025!

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/