DeKalb County CASA Beacon

We are overjoyed to share that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we exceeded our goal of raising $1,500 in just 15 days! Together, we raised an amazing $2,375—nearly 60% more than our original goal.

These funds will go directly toward making the holidays brighter for the children we serve. Your donations will help us purchase meaningful gifts from the wish lists of our CASA children, ensuring they feel special and remembered during this festive season.

Your support means the world to us and the children we advocate for. Every gift you’ve helped provide is a reminder to these children that they are cared for, valued, and loved.

Thank you for standing with us and helping to create moments of joy and hope this holiday season. You are truly making a difference!

The DeKalb County CASA Program will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th for the Christmas holiday. The CASA office will resume normal hours on Wednesday, December 26th. We wish you, and yours, a wonderful holiday season.

The season of giving is here, and we’re excited to announce that the DeKalb County CASA Program will be participating in Georgia Gives on Giving Tuesday which falls on Tuesday, December 3rd!

This is a special opportunity to support our mission of advocating for abused and neglected children in foster care. Every dollar raised will help us recruit, train, and support dedicated CASA volunteers who ensure that these children have a voice and receive the care and attention they deserve. Your donation is tax-deductible and will go directly toward creating brighter futures for the children we serve. Together, we can make a powerful impact in our community.

📅 Save the date and visit https://www.gagives.org/organization/Child-Advocate-Network to make your donation. You may also donate on our website at https://www.dekalbcasa.org/donate.

Thank you for being part of this vital work. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday one to remember!

We are excited to announce Blair Cofield as our December 2024 DeKalb County CASA Volunteer of the Month! Blair was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer on October 10, 2022, and since then, she has been a dedicated advocate for the children she serves.

Blair was nominated by her Advocacy Coordinator, Stacia Emmett, who shared, “Blair has been assigned to two precious young girls. For two years, she has provided phenomenal advocacy for them in their home, through her precise court reports, and verbal recommendations. Blair dedicates her time visiting the girls to ensure their needs are met, helping them navigate challenging situations, and being a supportive presence.

Blair’s warmhearted nature has uplifted the girls and their foster parent, especially during court processes, and she continues to advocate strongly on their behalf. Thank you, Blair, for your outstanding commitment and compassion. You are making a lasting impact!"

Please join us in congratulating Blair. We are so grateful to have you as part of our DeKalb County CASA team!

Please join us in wishing these amazing volunteers, who are celebrating Birthdays in December, a fantastic birthday and year ahead!

Adrienne Avery - December 9th

Evelinn Mikkelsen - December 29th

Happiest of birthdays to you both!

8 Years

Rahkiya Armstrong

Samuel Chiles

Over the past eight years, their unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy have made a profound impact on the lives of the children and families we serve. Their compassion, commitment, and steadfast support embody the heart of our mission.

Thank you for being an integral part of our CASA family and for your lasting contributions to the well-being of children in foster care. We are so grateful for you and look forward to celebrating many more milestones together!

Celebrating Vickie Thomas' 14-Year Anniversary with DeKalb CASA!

This month, we are thrilled to celebrate Vickie Thomas and her incredible 14 years with the DeKalb County CASA Program! Vickie serves as our Senior Advocacy Coordinator and Intern Supervisor, bringing her deep dedication and expertise to every part of our program. Vicki is known for her unwavering dedication to our mission, for being a fierce advocate, and for providing a wealth of knowledge and resources for her volunteers and interns. Additionally, Vickie is always willing to lend a hand to staff and plays a key role in making each DeKalb CASA event a success from attending group gatherings to participating in trainings, conferences, information sessions and even CASA Day at the Capitol, her commitment shines through in all that she does.

Thank you, Vickie, for 14 remarkable years of service and leadership. We are so grateful for your impact and the difference you make every day!

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.

"Providing Concrete Support in Times of Need"

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

Free, Live Webinar

December 5, 2024, 10:00 a.m.

"This Strengthening Families Georgia workshop explores barriers to meeting families’ basic needs, assessing crisis situations, and linking families to resources through concrete support. Participants will:

1. Explore basic needs and how they affect parent-child interaction.

2. Discuss stereotypes and inequalities that contribute to economic hardship.

3. Discuss strategies and resources for aiding a variety of family needs.

4. Explain how helping serves everyone by creating a 5 Step Action Plan.

Click here to register.

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

Guide, Inc.

Free, Live Webinar

Tuesday, December 11, 2024, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

"QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. The QPR Online Gatekeeper Training is taught in a clear, concise format using the latest in educational technology and practices." Click here for more information and to register.

"Community Resiliency Model"

Guide, Inc.

Free, Virtual Session

Tuesday, December 11, 2024, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

"The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® trains community members to not only help themselves but to also help others within their wider social network. The primary focus of this skills-based, stabilization program is to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system. CRM’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach." Click here for more information and to register.

"Community Wellness Seminar: Managing the Impact of Trauma"

Silence the Shame

Free, Recorded-On Demand Session

This 60-minute seminar addresses the impact of mental health stigma, explains how to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, and explores effective treatment and recovery options. Click here to view session.

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

On Demand Webinar Series

Free, virtual training

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Stephanie V. Blank Center offers several free, on-demand, virtual training opportunities that you can do at your own pace. The current sessions include:

Child Protection On-Demand Series

• Mandated Reporting

Child Trafficking On-Demand Series:

• The Fundamentals of Child Sex Trafficking
• The Medical Evaluation of Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
• Moving Forward After Victimization: Helping Victims to Survive and Thrive

Learn more about each session and register by clicking here.

All Children-All Families: Online Learning Archive

Free, virtual training events

This archive provides a wide variety of recorded online sessions covering best practices in serving LGBTQ+ children, youth and families. Some topics covered include:

• Introduction to LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency
• Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ+ Youth
• How You Can Make a Difference - Panel Discussion with LGBTQ+ Foster Care Alumni
• Advocating for LGBTQ+ Youth with Disabilities: Supporting LGBTQ+ students with an IEP or 504
• And, more....
• Click here to view recordings and register for live sessions.

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

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.

The Social Work Stories Podcast

Leaving Violence - Finding the Power of Choice Ep. 18

36 minutes

This episode highlights the story of an amazing woman, her children, their social worker, and the incredible rediscovery of self, choice, freedom and joy. The story focuses on the impact that domestic violence has on the relationship with the mother and child.

Join Mim & Lis as they investigate this experience of a woman leaving violence and the mountains climbed to safely continue life, and the story of one social worker's attempt to walk along her side.

Listen to the Podcast here

"Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America" by Beth Macy

Beth Macy’s Dopesick is a deeply researched and compelling exploration of America’s opioid crisis. Tracing the epidemic from its origins in the aggressive marketing of painkillers to its devastating impact on families and communities, the book weaves together personal stories, investigative journalism, and expert analysis to provide a comprehensive look at one of the most pressing issues of our time.

For CASA volunteers, Dopesick offers invaluable insights into the complexities of addiction and its far-reaching effects on children and families. It delves into the social, economic, and systemic factors that contribute to substance abuse, as well as the stigma and challenges surrounding recovery.

Understanding addiction is critical for advocating effectively for children in foster care, many of whom are affected by the consequences of substance abuse in their families. Macy’s empathetic storytelling helps readers grasp the human toll of this crisis while emphasizing the importance of compassion and informed advocacy.

The book can be found at the DeKalb County Public Library and wherever books are sold. A limited series based on the book can be viewed on Hulu.

"Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss" by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen, Illustrated by Taylor Bills

In Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss, authors Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen present a heartfelt and comforting story that explores the grieving process. The book follows Grandy, a wise woman who has experienced a significant loss, as she lovingly prepares a symbolic pot of "tear soup." Each ingredient in her recipe represents the unique emotions and steps involved in mourning, offering insight and validation to readers of all ages.

With its gentle tone and beautiful illustrations by Taylor Bills, Tear Soup provides a relatable and compassionate framework for understanding grief. The story emphasizes that healing looks different for everyone and that it's okay to take the time needed to process loss in your own way.

We highly recommend this book for CASA volunteers as a tool to better understand and empathize with the complex emotions children and families may experience during times of change or loss. It’s also a wonderful resource to share with children or families who may find comfort in its message.

Recommended by Kate's Club for all ages. The book can be found wherever books are sold. See YouTube video of reading below.

by Chasity Rogers, Advocacy Coordinator

The holidays are a time of warmth, joy, and family. For many others, it can be a time of worry, loneliness, and uncertainty. For you, the CASA volunteer, this can take a lot of time management to balance all of your personal obligations during this time.

The following strategies can help you deal with stress throughout the holidays:

Set Boundaries: Put self-care first and set boundaries to prevent burnout.

Seek Help: Talk to other CASA volunteers about your experiences and coping mechanisms for dealing with challenges related to the holidays.

Remind yourself of the impact you're having by keeping your attention on the goal. A child's life can be profoundly impacted by even the smallest act, which can offer perspective during hectic or stressful times.

This is a wonderful opportunity to bring joy to a child in need. As we celebrate the spirit of giving, let us remember that sometimes, the greatest gift we can offer is our time and compassion.

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
• Tabitha Carney, Member
  
• Jill Davis, Member
• 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/