UPCOMING EVENTS
TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING
WINTER EVENING Training
LOCATION: Prince George's Community College, Largo Campus in the High Technology Building (Formerly the Center for Advanced Technology) ROOM 133
DATES: January 19, 21, 26, 28, February 2, 4, 9, 11, 16
Training is held from 6-9pm
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill-out an online application, download the application here or contact the CASA office to have an application mailed to you.
Want to become a CASA, but can't work the training dates around your schedule? Contact us to learn about our independent study program!
______________________________________________________
NEWS
Volunteer Newsletters: Spring 2009 Summer 2009 Fall 09
LGBTQ Resource Guide!
CASA is a proud founding member of the Prince George's County LGBTQ Youth Task Force. The Task Force has created a guide to resources in the Prince George's County area. Click here to view the guide! If you have any suggested additions, please email kfranks@pgcasa.org
CASA Volunteer Malca Giblin Featured in Beacon Article: Advocates Help Neglected Children Thrive.
August 2009
Malca Giblin, a more than five year veteran volunteer working on her third case, has been featured in article published by the Beacon, a local newspaper. Malca skillfully (and modestly) explains the impact a CASA volunteer can have on the direction of a child's case. Read the full article (beginning on page 40) here: http://seniorb.md.newsmemory.com/
CASA/Prince George's County partners with Fairfax CASA to launch www.speakforthechildren.org !
May 2009
With the generous support of the Freddie Mac Foundation, CASA/Prince George's County and Fairfax CASA have teamed-up to launch a metro area public relations campaign. As part of this effort to spread the word about CASA, an informative website, www.speakforthechildren.org, has been created to provide interested volunteers and community supporters with more information about the important role CASA plays in the lives of the children we serve. This website also includes a short video, so followthe link and learn more about CASA!
CASA Executive Director named Community Bridge Builder!
April 2009
CASA is proud to announce that our fearless leader, Ann Marie Foley Binsner, has been honored as a “Community Bridge Builder” by the Prince George’s Community Foundation. The Community Foundation works to foster positive change throughout the county and supports Prince George’s County nonprofits. Ann Marie was honored at the 2009 Civic Leadership Awards gala was held on April 23rd. These awards were established in recognition of individuals and nonprofits who have made a difference in the lives of their neighbors and community through their service and commitment “at the ground level.”
Ann Marie was honored for her innumerable contributions that have directly influenced the continual advancement of Prince George’s County. She is an exemplary servant leader who has proven her dedication to creating the best possible community for all citizens. Ann Marie has led CASA/Prince George’s County since the beginning, nearly 8 years ago. Under her leadership, CASA has served more than 300 children and trained more than 400 volunteers.
CASA Case Supervisor, Eric Lulow, featured in Prince George's County's Gazette!
April 2009
Our newest Case Supervisor was recently featured in an article in the Gazette. As a former foster youth, Eric explained the difference one caring adult can make in the life of a child and encouraged more people to become CASA volunteers. Read the full article!
CASA Partners with Local DSS to Form LGBTQ Youth Task Force
On any given day, more than half a million children and youth nationally are living away from their families and in the custody of foster care or juvenile justice systems. Quantifying the number of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning youth in out-of-home care is difficult because many of these youth hid their sexual orientation and gender identity from adults and peers whom they perceive as rejecting or unsupportive. Research has shown that these fears are wellfounded. In a survey of 400 homeless LGBTQ youth in San Diego, for example, 74% of youth surveyed believed they had received prejudicial treatment, including harassment or threats, after disclosing their secual or dender identity to providers. (Taken from the Child Welfare League of America's Best Practives Guidelines, citing H. Berberet's 2004 paper, "Living in the shadows: An Assessment og housing needs among San Diego's LGBTQ youth living outside the home").
Recognizing the need for education on LGBTQ issues among the child welfare professionals in Prince George's County, CASA has partnered with the Prince George's County DSS to form the Prince George's County LGBTQ Youth Task Force, also known as "YEP," the Youth Equality Project. This is a group of public and private citizens who are working to make life better for youth in Prince George's County. Some of their accomplishments to date include:
- Creation of a Group Home Bill of Rights which has been adopted in Prince George's County and proposed as a state-wide initiative;
- Published a Resource Guide of community-services and programs with sensitivity and services oriented to LGBTQ youth in the Greater Washington metropolitan area;
- Hosted two focus groups and a listening session of LGBTQ youth in Prince George's County to hear their stories and suggestions for our coalition's future work; and
- Offered a professional presentation at the Maryland Association of Resources for Families nad Youth (MARFY) annual conference to bolster social work practices and improve residential care of LGBTQ foster youth in Maryland.
To learn more about the Task Force, click here!
_____________________________________________
Raise money for CASA when you shop - http://pgcasa.maatiam.com/Default.aspx (formerly Free Pledge)!
Help raise money for CASA just by shopping! Simply go to http://pgcasa.maatiam.com/Default.aspx and search for your favorite online retailer using the tools on the website. Then shop! The retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to CASA at NO COST TO YOU!
Be sure to check it out - participating retailers include Amazon.com, Overstock.com, OfficeDepot.com, Orbitz.com, Target.com, Shutterfly.com, and many others that you know and love!
