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Yolanda Johnson Celebrates First Anniversary as CASA Executive Director

photo of Executive Director, Yolanda Johnson

As we celebrate Yolanda Johnson’s one-year anniversary as the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County, take a moment to learn more about her experiences in her first year and her strategic priorities. With her wealth of experience and dedication to improving the lives of children and young people, Ms. Johnson is poised to lead CASA into a new era of impact and growth.

One-Year Reflections from CASA’s Executive Director: 

At CASA/Prince George’s County, we center our work around providing advocacy for the very best interest of the child. Over the past year, I’ve thought quite a bit about what this means. What does it look like to provide “best interest advocacy” for children?

Here is what I have concluded:

Best interest advocacy is peeling back the layers that often hinder children in foster care from thriving-unaddressed trauma; limited resources; unstable living conditions; or a lack of self-efficacy. Through our supportive partnerships with both the Prince George’s County Juvenile Court and Department of Social Services, I’ve watched our staff peel back those layers to expose our young people to endless possibilities such as therapeutic resources; educational supports; workforce readiness programs; crisis interventions; financial supports; and emancipation. I am grateful for CASA’s team members for their tireless commitment.

Best interest advocacy is volunteering your time as a community citizen to be an advocate for children experiencing foster care. At any given time each year, we have over 100 volunteer advocates who strengthen the voice of children at a time when they may feel like they have no voice. They know that our volunteers believe in them, which helps them to believe in themselves. This energizes me. I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude whenever I think of our volunteer contribution.

I have met with many donors, partners, and potential partners. They are dynamic individuals and organizations that are committed to finding solutions and resources to ensure that youth experiencing foster care can succeed. This is collective impact; this is crucial to providing best interest advocacy for a child.

I want to highlight a few important accomplishments over the past year, based on our six strategic priorities:

  1. Refresh the CASA brand and increase foster care awareness.
  • We reignited and revamped our organization newsletter to over 2,000 contacts.
  • Invested in new headshots for staff to support a website refresher.
  1. Reposition CASA as an attractive employer and partner to current and future staff, board, and volunteer talent.
  • Enhanced our employee benefits package with two new CASA-supported benefits.
  • Re-engage volunteers through in-person activities post-pandemic to include a CASA supported appreciation event.
  • Created position of CASA’s first Chief Operating Officer to ensure an additional level of executive-level oversight of operations, development, and communications.
  1. Ensure that CASA’s services are equitably aligned with the current demographics of foster care youth in Prince George’s County.
  • Continued and explored new translation services for Spanish-speaking youth
  • Sought out and received funding to support 50 emancipated young people with guaranteed basic income to increase economic justice over a two-year period.
  1. Adapt to a changing funding landscape.
  • Sustained current funding relationships and established potential funding relationships to raise awareness about CASA/Prince George’s County and youth experiencing foster care.
  • Provided approximately $50,000 in financial support to young people who have touched foster care related to housing, living expenses, healthcare, or immigration support, through a fund supported by an anonymous donor.
  1. Elevate CASA’s presence in Prince George’s County to strengthen partnership building.
  • Launched “Breakfast with the ED” as a platform to engage partners and community leaders.
  • Joined the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce to form new partnerships and expand CASA’s reach.
  1. Develop and implement a DEI framework and plan.
  • Finalized a staff and volunteer assessment with an external consultant.
  • Executed a staff and board retreat to strengthen relationships.
  • Implemented ongoing DEI-related workshops.

I am humbled by everything that we have been able to accomplish within the past year and curious to discover unique approaches to catalyze this next chapter of CASA/Prince George’s County.

Thank you to the Board of Directors for choosing me and to my team of colleagues for supporting me on this journey.

Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director

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CASA/Prince George’s County Celebrates Legacy of our Founders

In late 2023 and early 2024 we lost two members of the CASA family who had an indelible impact on Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County: Judge David Soukup, the founder of the CASA program, and Florence “Betsy” Burian, the founding Executive Director of the program in our jurisdiction. We are so grateful to these two individuals for the role they each played in building the foundation upon which we work every day to make a difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care.

Judge David W. Soukup, the founder of the court-appointed special advocate/volunteer guardian ad litem (CASA/GAL) movement, was a giant of a man in the CASA/GAL network and around court and child welfare innovation. When he started the first CASA program in King County (Seattle), Washington in 1977, the number of children in foster care topped half a million nationally and a new phrase, “foster care drift”, became a way to describe the increasingly long time many children spent in foster care.

Concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information, Judge Soukup conceived the idea of using carefully screened and trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of children in court. In 1977, he created a legacy that continues to flourish today throughout the country and with the dedicated efforts of almost 100,000 volunteers, serving nearly a quarter of a million children annually. Click here to read more about Judge Soukup and here to watch a video of him describing how he came to begin the first CASA program. 

Florence E. “Betsy” Burian was the founding Executive Director of CASA/Prince George’s County when it was initially incorporated in 1992. Along with a team of collaborative stakeholders, Betsy, oversaw the initial founding and incorporation of CASA in Prince George’s County and returned to champion the mission when we began full operations in 2001. She continued to be a supporter and ambassador for CASA throughout her life and we thank her for her dedication to making a difference in the lives of children. A special thanks to her family for their support of CASA/Prince George’s County to honor her legacy. Click here to read more about Betsy’s life and legacy.

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Court Appointed Special Advocate to Partner with Prince George’s County’s first Guaranteed Income Program

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is proud to announce that we will be a partner in Thrive Prince George’s, a two-year, $4 million guaranteed-income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and mobility for families in the region. The program, which is spearheaded by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Prince George’s County Executive and Council, and the Meyer Foundation, will provide monthly payments of $800 to 50 youth (age 18-24) who are aging out of foster care and 125+ seniors (age 60+) for a 24-month period with no strings attached and no requirements tied to employment.

“Studies have shown that modest guaranteed basic income pilots can decrease poverty by as much as 40%,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We strongly believe that this program will improve the lives of many in Prince George’s County and will reduce the racial wealth gap in a way that makes it viable for the county to consider providing guaranteed basic income for years to come.”

While several pilots are currently operating around the region – including in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, DC, and Montgomery County – this is the first guaranteed income program to exclusively serve residents of Prince George’s County. The $4 million pilot is funded using both public and private philanthropic resources, with participating partners each contributing $1 million to the program.

“This initiative is an innovative example of how we find solutions through public-private partnerships,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “Thanks to this collaborative pilot program, we’re weaving a stronger social fabric and empowering people to pursue their aspirations with dignity and resilience.”

Guaranteed income programs have proven to be one of the most promising approaches to increasing financial stability. The positive impact of guaranteed income has been studied for decades, with evidence indicating that monthly cash payments can reduce income volatility and support recipients in attaining full-time employment, greater housing stability, improved health outcomes, and more.

“I’ve championed the guaranteed basic income program for years because I know it provides an opportunity to tackle poverty and create better quality of life for our residents,” said County Council Member Krystal Oriadha. “My hope is with more jurisdictions moving to implement programs like this, we will see an investment at the state and federal level that will allow these pilots to become permanent.”

The Community Foundation will administer the pilot program as part of its Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice, which is focused on investing in economic strategies that will increase economic mobility to help close the region’s racial wealth gap. In addition to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County, it has also partnered with United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP). Our organizations will lead the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of participants, distribute cash payments, and provide optional benefits counseling to ensure existing safety net services are not compromised by participation in this income-boosting pilot.

For more information about Thrive Prince George’s, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org.

Please note that the application period has closed.

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CASA Announces Scholarship Fund

Woman sitting at computer

In partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, CASA is pleased to share the availability of a new scholarship opportunity available to youth who have lived in Prince George’s County Foster Care.

The purpose of the Retired Magistrate Ann Sparrough Scholarship Fund is to award academic scholarships to youth/adults from Prince George’s County who are now in, grew up in, emancipated from, or were adopted out of foster care after age 10 pursuing higher education at either the pre-college, undergraduate, graduate level or vocational training. Awards will be made without regard to their current age, citizenship status or academic standing in prior institutions of higher education.

Eligible youth and their team can access the application here.

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What Juneteenth Means to CASA

This year Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County will again close in observance of Juneteenth in response to the convergence of the reckoning with institutionalized racism and violence, the pandemic, and economic unrest; all of which disproportionately effect communities of color. In 2021, CASA added Juneteenth to our list of annual paid holidays. We made this choice for several reasons and want to share why Juneteenth matters to CASA.

  • Juneteenth is an important celebration (read here for history of Juneteenth) of the end of slavery that we want to honor
  • Juneteenth is a reminder that the struggle for freedom is far from over. The trauma of slavery has not been erased from our country and it is imperative that we understand our country’s complicated history to work together to achieve an equitable future.
  • On the heels of Mental Health Awareness Month and during PTSD awareness month, we must recognize the impact that racism and violence have on the mental health Black Americans, including youth in foster care.
  • Ongoing institutionalized racism is evident in the many ways in which the child welfare system disproportionately impacts Black families. As an organization that partners with the child welfare system, it is CASA’s responsibility to recognize and disrupt bias and advocate for culturally appropriate services.

Juneteenth is a time of joy and celebration while also a time to remember the loss and trauma caused by slavery and its ongoing impact. Much like social justice and advocacy were required to achieve the end of slavery, we must continue to use those tools to ensure the rights of the children and families we serve.

 

Events and activities httpsss://pgparks.com/juneteenth

History httpsss://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html

Nonprofit Prince George’s Statement httpsss://www.nonprofitpgc.org/recognition-of-juneteenth

Anti-Racism Resources httpsss://marylandcasa.org/we-stand-with-you-against-racial-violence/

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CASA Volunteer Interviewed in Podcast

Volunteer Advocate Tomika Holmes recently joined former CASA/Prince George’s County Board Member Dan Klotz on his ‘Surviving’ podcast. In the episode, Tomika shares her experiences in the foster care system and what continues to motivate her to show up for youth in care. Tomika first volunteered with CASA in 2008 and Dan served two terms on CASA’s Board of Directors. Listen to their conversation in this incredibly moving episode here: httpsss://lnkd.in/gfGmWXE

About “Surviving”

After getting through a recurrence of lymphoma that damaged the base of his spine, Dan Klotz is left pondering the concept of survival and how it’s not as easy as it seems. In a series of interviews with people who have experienced all kinds of life-changing disease and trauma, he explores what it means to survive and perhaps, at some point, live happily ever after.

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CASA/Prince George’s Named ‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy

Once again, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County is thrilled to be selected as one of the best local nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington.

The Catalogue for Philanthropy is the region’s only locally-focused guide to giving and volunteering aimed at creating visibility and growth for local nonprofits that have positive impact for our community. As a selected nonprofit, we have been vetted by 170+ local experts who have agreed that our work is creating real and meaningful impact for our youth in foster care & community at large.

To learn more about the Catalogue for Philanthropy, check out our profile on their page here and be on the lookout for the print edition coming later in the year.

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Executive Director Discusses Challenges to Transition Aged Youth in Podcast

CASA/Prince George’s County’s Executive Director, Ann Marie Binsner, was recently featured on the Aging Out Institute’s podcast. In the episode, Ann Marie and the host, Lynn Tonini discuss the challenges of preparing youth for adulthood and the role CASA volunteers play in supporting these young people.

65% of the foster youth CASA serves are older youth who are likely to age out of foster care to adulthood. In 2011 CASA created the Transition Aged Youth Program to improve outcomes for youth preparing for emancipation, particularly ensuring stable housing. Since the institution of the program, CASA has expanded to include a Job Readiness Initiative aimed at ensuring youth are not only employed but have a sustainable career path before aging out of foster care.

Click here to listen to the full episode. 

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CASA Executive Director Named “Champion for Children”

As the Child Welfare League of America celebrates its 100th anniversary, they have named CASA/Prince George’s County’s Executive Director, Ann Marie Foley Binsner, a “Champion for Children.” The Child Welfare League of America is a coalition of partners across the country that work together to protect vulnerable children and families. Champions for Children were nominated by their peers and selected to highlight their contributions to the field of child welfare. The CWLA says they are grateful to Ann Marie and the other nominees for  their role ” in contributing to our shared goals of improving outcomes for children, youth, and families and helping them all to succeed and flourish.”

To read the full announcement, go to the CWLA’s anniversary site.

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CASA Stands with You

We are hurting right now. During a time of a historic pandemic that has resulted in death, unemployment and suffering, which disproportionately effects African-Americans, there is even more trauma.

The senseless murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others highlight the injustices that were present before COVID, persist during lockdown, and will continue to plague our nation even after a vaccine is developed. Collectively as a community, we are watching the response to pain as many rise up against the oppression that has existed against African-American people for the entire history of our country.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County recognizes our role in addressing systemic racism by tackling disproportionality and disparity in our child welfare system. This has always been and will continue to be integral to our mission. We continue to stand in unequivocal opposition to racism, bias and prejudice in all forms.

Today, we pause to check in with our CASA community and recognize that we are hurt, tired and grieving. Please know that we at CASA are here to support you. We want our community to be one of support to each other during these difficult times. Please reach out to us for support, or even just to talk and grieve together.

The unprecedented national crisis can feel overwhelming and lonely, particularly when coupled with this moment of reckoning with the ever-present inequalities in our society. But you are not alone.
CASA stands with you.

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About us

Change a Child’s Story

Children in foster care who have aCASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. By getting involved with CASA, you can make all the difference for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in you community. Get involved, and change a child’s story.

Contact

Phone : (301) 209-0491
Email: staff@pgcasa.org

Address

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