CASA Connection

This week, Tracey and Jeff talked about men's mental health as we recognize Men's Mental Health Awareness Month here in June. Jeff shares some of his story growing up, and inevitably focusing on himself and his mental health, healing from the trauma he endured as a young boy. The overriding theme of this episode, talking to someone helps to heal. 

This episode features former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas Dilts who pulls back the judicial curtain within the realm of foster care. After having spent much of his career as a family court judge, he came to understand how valuable CASA and CASA volunteers were to children living in foster care within our communities. We discussed his time as judge, what CASA has meant to him, and how he continues advocating for children in our region. 

In this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about the very real condition of burnout and how we, in the social work profession, need to institute boundaries from time to time. The mental health of our CASA volunteers, staff, Board of Trustees, and every stakeholder is important.  We need to recognize what burnout might look like, and how to put up those boundaries when needed.

We spoke to our friends at CASA of New Jersey about the CASA Network Impact Initiative they have undertaken with the 12 CASA programs throughout the state. What is the goal of this initiative? How is being implemented? Inevitably, how will this help our CASA programs better serve children who are living in foster care? A great discussion about the progress our CASA programs are making.

On this episode, Jeff is joined by CASA SHaW Case Supervisor Lynn Kinkel as they discuss CASA's 20-year anniversary. Lynn was recently recognized at CASA SHaW's 20th Anniversary Gala as one of foundational pieces of our CASA program over the past two decades. Lynn discussed her many experiences, how she thinks we - as a society - can be better for children, and what our CASA nonprofit has meant to our region. It was a great discussion!

Within this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed healing-centered practices that are valuable for adults. We all want to interrupt children's negative behaviors, and one of the best methods to do this is to promote healing-centered practices. The strategies to do this are: self-care, co-regulation, and touch points. We hope this episode is valuable to you and those in your network.

In this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed the concerns and reality of about future CASA funding as there is much uncertainty coming from our federal government about how new policies may impact nonprofits and essential services to children and families in our community. Will our CASA nonprofit (and others throughout the state and country) be able to continue serving children in foster care appropriately in the future? 

On this episode, Jeff sat down and spoke to CASA SHaW's intern, Matthew Wickman, about his internship as a social work major, and how he dove into his work here at CASA. They spoke about how his internship provided him real world experience, the knowledge he has gained about CASA and the foster care system, as well as how he has grown both academically and personally. Plus much more great discussion points on this episode.

On this episode, Jeff talks with CASA SHaW Case Supervisor Wendy Parcell about her professional career, what led her to our CASA program, and how our CASA program has been making a positive impact for youth living in foster care, as well as their families. This is a great discussion that pulls back the curtain a bit and takes the listener inside CASA. 

On this episode, Jeff sat down with CASA SHaW advocate Karen Talbert to discuss her story about why she decided to become a CASA volunteer and how we can best be effective in our advocacy for youth living in foster care. Jeff and Karen discussed the learning curves after she became and advocate, and how that learning process created positive impact for the youth on her case. It was a great discussion!

As we embark on a new year of serving youth living in foster care in our region, we outlined and discussed in this episode our CASA goals for 2025. Tracey and Jeff discuss a number of avenues the CASA program will traveling, and endeavors CASA SHaW will be taking on to help serve more children and families.

As we end the 2024 year, our CASA program has accomplished much, and we wanted to share just a few of those accomplishments with you on this episode. From our recent CASA Holiday Shop to our trainings to our fundraising and events efforts to helping kids graduate from high school, we're so proud of what we've done here in 2024.

As the holiday season is here, we wanted to touch on what trauma means for children - and even adults - during this time of year. Cory Matthew, the Program Director from Middle Earth in Somerset County, NJ, talked to us about being more trauma informed. Plus, what is the best way for us to reach children, especially during this time of year when families get together and when there are people celebrating?  How can we best reach these kids? 

This is Part 3 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to children ages 13 to 18. These are the formative teenage years when parents and youth are challenged in many ways. What are the dos and don'ts in terms of discipline? What responses and communication can be of harm to teenagers, and how can we as adults be good stewards to them? We get into it and provide a lot of great information during this episode.

This is Part 2 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to children ages 6 to 12. What are the dos and don'ts in terms of discipline as these formative years are so critical for children. What responses and communication can be of harm to them, and how can we as adults be good stewards to them? We get into it and provide a lot of great information during this episode.

This is Part 1 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to infancy to children to are 5-years-old. What are the dos and don'ts in terms of discipline as babies and children start to grow? What responses and communication can be of harm to them, and how can your mannerisms and demeanor help them? We get into it during this episode.

What is the future of healing? How can we better understand and embrace that process of healing from trauma? The healing-centered engagement model and C.A.R.M.A. principles shows us how we can do this as a community and society overall. Culture, agency, relationships, meaning, and aspiration are the principles we can utilize. We discuss this in detail during this episode with Tia Sanders from the New Jersey Office of Resilience under the Department of Children and Families. 

Based off our previous podcast upload (episode 55), we dove into how we can build rapport with parents who have suffered from trauma and repeat the cycle. How do we reach more folks? Trust is a huge aspect of this. We also look at how we can better understand others and build stronger relationships with those who have suffered abuse.

Within the world of foster care, abuse is tragically common. However, what we do not talk about enough is how we should be interacting with abuse victims. Everything from facial expressions to using supportive language are important in how we communicate with victims. How can we get better in terms of this communication? Tracey and Jeff outline some thoughts on this topic.

On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discuss how we can go about asking the right questions in terms of our CASA advocacy - essentially making sure that everyone is on the same page. Everyone from educators to caseworkers to doctors to caregivers, and more. If we're just rubber stamping what the child welfare system wants, are we doing our best advocacy?  How can we dig in with collateral contacts to give the judge the best report possible? We've got a great discussion about it this week!

This week, Tracey and Jeff discussed how we can support academic success in foster care. Our CASA program is proud that four of our CASA youth graduated high school this past school year, and two are going off to college! How can we continue to be a voice for youth and families through our education system, and what are some of those best practices? We discuss it in detail in this episode.

When we look at the foster care world as a whole, parents bear the brunt of so much. Whether they are dealing with internal struggles, addiction, or need more knowledge about what's best for children, we still need to have respect for parents. That's what this episode is about and coming to a greater understanding about what parents go through within the world of foster care.

This week, Tracey and Jeff discussed CASA SHaW's core values: C.H.I.L.D. It's an acronym that's critical to the foundation and work of the CASA SHaW program. What does each letter stand for? At the end of the day, what do the core values mean to us and the children and families we serve?

This week, one of our amazing CASA volunteers, Ashley K., joined us for a great discussion and dive into how to advocate for babies who are in foster care. Ashley's case was very unique. Not only did she navigate a system that wasn't always easy - especially when her CASA child couldn't speak - she learned a lot along the way. She provided some great insight on how to get through the challenges of advocating for a baby.

It's Pride Month here in June! Jeff and Tracey talk about how we can support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members even more in the future. Plus, it's a great time to recognize, celebrate, and open up channels of communication to our LGBTQ+ community within our neighborhoods and beyond. While our society as a whole here in the United States has become more accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout our communities, we still can and must do a better job of providing inclusive support - especially in the foster care world.

Over the years, the CASA training model has evolved. This week, our Volunteer Trainer at CASA SHaW joined us to discuss our pre-service training program. What's the very first step folks need to take to become a CASA volunteer? What subject matters are focused on during the 30 hours of training? All of this and much more this week as we dove into one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities in America.

As we recognize Foster Care Awareness Month, we dove into topical shifts in foster care. Programs like CASA have experienced changes within the foster care world since 2018 due to federal legislation and laws that were implemented. Has this benefitted children and families? What resources are available as we continue to witness the shifting landscape of foster care? Tracey and Jeff discussed it during this episode.

We continued our discussion on this episode of what sexual assault look like for youth in our community as we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month here in April. Lauren Lia, Vice President of Clinical Services at Safe + Sound Somerset, joined us to talk about why is it important to talk about child sex abuse, even though it's so uncomfortable as well as red flags and resources that are available for children - and others - who have gone through sexual abuse trauma.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and a time for all of us to become more aware of this tragic phenomenon that permeates throughout our culture and society. We consistently see cases of sexual assault within the foster care world, and it's important to discuss why this happens, and how we can get better and curb this horrible action in our communities. This week, Joelle Piercy from Safe + Sound Somerset joined us for a discussion in this Part 1 podcast episode and provided great information for our community to digest.

How can we better support LGBTQ+ youth in our homes and within our local communities? That's what we dove into on this episode. After the recent murder of a youth in Oklahoma and countless other less publicized incidents throughout our state and nation, it's important for our CASA program to continue letting our region know that we support inclusivity. Tracey and Jeff talked about how we can better understand LGBTQ+ youth, and how we can support this community.

Here at CASA SHaW, Tracey and Jeff recognized Women's History Month and discussed pioneers who helped pave the way for a better world in terms of child advocacy. We also mentioned a couple of our amazing staff members who have been dedicated to helping foster youth for many years. Why are women predominantly drawn to child advocacy professions? It's a question we dove into on this episode as well.

Our CASA volunteer, Laura P., has been very dedicated to her case and her CASA child - a teenager who is finding her way. After going through the CASA training and getting her first case, Laura dove into the world of resources for her foster youth. The foundation of Laura's story in this episode is: it never hurts to ask a question. You never know where it may lead.

How can we continue to embark on compassionate advocacy within our CASA program and beyond? Tracey and Jeff talk about what compassionate advocacy means in this episode. They discuss how having the compassionate foundations within our staff and CASA volunteers have laid the foundation to truly help those who are vulnerable in our community. It's a core and common belief for our CASA program, and we dove into it during this discussion.

Every year, we recognize National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January. On this episode, Gina Cavallo from the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking and also author of the book "A Survivor's Secrets" joined us for a dive into this issue. How do youth in our communities get involved in human trafficking? What are some signs for us to look for? How can we do better when it comes to human trafficking? All of this and much more within this discussion.

As we embark on 2024, we discussed what new beginnings mean for children who enter foster care. New beginnings extend to just about every facet of what we do at CASA.  If a child is removed from their home, it's a new beginning. If a child is reunited with their family, it's a new beginning. If a child is adopted, it's a new beginning. How should we be looking at new beginnings, and what is that transition like for children?

With the holiday season up on us, and as we get ready to close 2023, we wanted to share some CASA impact stories in this episode. Jeff and Tracey talk about how our CASA volunteers and their persistence make a difference and generate positive impact for foster youth in our region and communities. In fact, one of our amazing CASA volunteers "crashed" this podcast episode and made a brief appearance!

Building trust-based relationships with youth is what CASA is all about. Our volunteers understand that it takes time to build trust with foster youth who have been abused and neglected. But how do we go about doing that? What are the strategies? We discuss in more detail in this week's episode.

How can we better advocate for equity within the foster care world and our local communities in general? Tracey and Jeff discuss the path CASA SHaW has embarked on, as well as their personal stories about learning what equity means, and how we can apply it into the mainstream. In the end, it's about serving our foster care youth the best we can.

On this episode, Tracey and Jeff dove into mental health during the holidays. The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can also be stressful and especially challenging for those impacted by mental illness. How can you look after your mental health during this time of year? We provided some strategies and tips.

It's important to recognize and discuss the ongoing work that's done here at CASA behind the scenes. There are so many moving cogs that help to provide foster youth in our community an advocate to be their voice as they navigate their way through the child welfare system. With that being said, what's behind the fund development curtain here at CASA? Our Director of Development, Ellen Davis, joined us on this episode to talk about the importance of the CASA mission and the many amazing stories we share with those who seek to fund our good work.

On this episode, our extraordinary CASA volunteer, Mary Grossman, joined us to talk about how CASA is a team and how various relationships lead to the success and outcome of a case. Not only did Mary talk to us about how and why she became a CASA volunteer, but she also dove into her advocacy and what the relationship building through our CASA program has meant to her.

Often, we focus on our CASA volunteers and how they're handling their cases for foster youth. However, we wanted to take you behind the scenes and discuss how important our CASA Case Supervisors are, and the critical role they play for our CASA program. Marnie Carrick, one of our Case Supervisors, joined us on this episode to talk about the world of foster care, CASA advocacy, and what it's like from her perspective as she helps to manage cases and her assigned CASA volunteers.

On this episode, Jeff and Tracey discuss the need to help foster youth who age out of the foster care system. What happens when a foster youth with no home, food, or a job ages out of the system? What resources are available to them? How can we help and provide assistance during this unimaginable time in their lives? We had a great discussion about this issue.

It's that time of year where foster youth will begin another school year. For many in foster care, it's an uncertain time due to the instability within their lives outside of the classroom. What kind of resources are available for foster youth to help them succeed in school? How can we best advocate for their education? These are just a couple of the topics we dove into on this episode.

On this episode, we talked to CASA SHaW's Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Amanda Gilliam, about our CASA program's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and why they're important for the work we do. Amanda tells us about her story, the benefits of DEI initiatives for our CASA program, and how we're progressing in this realm. We also embarked on some DEI myth debunking as well. 

Over the past few months, we have been generating an exciting new initiative called the CASA Family Video Series! We understand that resource homes and biological families don't always have valuable information at their fingertips when trying to learn about the challenges and needs that their children may have. How does an infant's brain develop? How do you care for textured hair? What resources are available within our public education system for children who may have academic challenges? Thanks to a grant that was provided to us, we have been producing and uploading to our YouTube channel videos that will help resource and biological families. On this episode, we dive into this video series, what it means to us, and those we serve.

On this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about how and why community resources and partnerships are so important to the work we do. Whether it's partnering with other nonprofits, clubs, businesses, or larger corporations, our collective community within our region continues to be a tremendous partner in the important work we do for foster children.

June is a time where we recognize and celebrate Pride Month at our CASA program. As advocates and supporters of our LGBTQ+ community, it's important for our CASA program to be visible within our community.  Whether it's setting up a Pride Day booth or helping to educate people with an open mind, to listening to LGBTQ+ community stories, we support our LGBTQ+ community. Listen to what Pride Month means to us, as well as the conversation, our Executive Director had with her trans daughter, Alex!

We recently spoke to Davon Woods, the founder of Foster Kids Matter, about his and his twin brother's journey across the United States. The Woods brothers are raising foster care awareness by walking in all 50 states and spreading the word about how we can all help children who are going through the foster care system. Davon spoke to us about his story, thoughts on the foster care system, and how he wants to inspire others to become more educated about the system he and his twin brother grew up in.

It's May! So that means it's National Foster Care Awareness Month! Here at CASA SHaW we like to celebrate and talk about our positive impact stories. Through these stories we are able to highlight how our CASA volunteers, one step at time, truly make a difference in the lives of the abused and neglected foster children they serve. This episode contains three stories: The Wrestler, The Readers, The Nurse. Let's keep spreading the word about how we can make a positive impact in the world of foster care!

This episode takes you into the world of a parent's journey. Kristen had her baby taken from her due to substance abuse addiction. She battled and came out on top. Thankfully, she is here and healthy today, telling her story to our CASA program in the hopes that her story will inspire others.