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C A S A O F T R AV I S C O U N T Y, I N C .

CASA connects two young sisters with their familyFelicia and her baby sister Noemi have smiles that could melt your heart, in spite of having gone through a lot in their young lives. When Felicia was two, the girls were removed from their young mother’s home when her immaturity and inability to care for her children proved too unsafe for them. The girls were far behind in their development, and Felicia displayed aggressive behavior and had not yet begun talking. At first, the little girls went to live with relatives, but this home quickly proved unsafe as well and the children were placed with a foster family.

CASA volunteer Sue Johnson visited Noemi and Felicia in their foster home often to see how they were doing. She saw they were thriving with a foster family interested in adopting them, but she also knew how important maintaining a strong bond with their mother and their biological family was, especially early in their developmental years. “I wanted to make sure they had ties to their family history and their culture,” Sue recalls. She worked hard to preserve the girls’ relationship with their mother, but that connection proved unsuccessful. Sue was having a difficult time finding appropriate family members who could provide a good home.

Finally, a paternal cousin was found who was excited to care for the girls. After the prior disappointments, Sue wanted to ensure this would be a protective and healthy home. Sue attended the cousin’s visits with the girls in their foster home. She was very open with the cousin’s family about her concerns. Fortunately, the family was willing to go beyond what was required to show they could provide a safe and loving permanent home.

With Noemi and Felicia living with their cousin’s family, Sue stayed in close contact with them, observing positive growth for the girls during her visits. Felicia was calming her aggressive behavior and was learning to talk. Noemi glowed with all the attention she got from her new family and they were receiving support from the entire extended family. Sue felt confident this was the right home.

Sue proved a strong advocate for the best interests of Noemi and Felicia throughout the case. She knew it was in their best interest to remain connected to their biological family, if possible. “I told the judge how well-cared for Felicia and Noemi were by this warm and welcoming family,” Sue recalls. A few weeks ago, Noemi and Felicia were officially welcomed into their new family during the joyous Adoption Day celebration, and their sweet smiles lit up the room.

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The Voice

Tina Acosta-AmeyWendy AlexanderTiffany AmoreNicole AndersonDoreen BalbuenaMichelle BatiseValerie BauhoferBrandy BoldenBarbara BoutetteDavid ButcherRebecca CanterJuliet CastanedaSandra CatlettJennifer ChesserJennifer ClayAriana ColemanMakeisha CunninghamKimberly Danforth

Cynthia DanielsonLaMeca DavisSamantha DeanJulie DeesCarol DentonLibby DentonAlix EstradaKristin FirthJaime FordFadi GabraKatie GaideJennifer GeorgKathleen GrigsonKatie HangJill HokansonJessica HunleyBonnie HuskeyStephanie Iwabuchi

Tanya JohnsDustin JohnsonMaxi JonesRobin KampermanBianca LangfordSue LeeJennifer LingvaiRobin LittlePatrick MarottaJames McAllisterJesse McBayMichael McClendonBetty McCrearyJeannette McGowanLaura MilesCJ MillsMary MitchellJulian Moriarty

Melissa MuñozStephanie MuthDanna NelsonMarsha NicholsKaren NorrisBenjamin NowakAdiah OreyomiBethany PerezLorena PesantezRebecca PhillipsBryan PotterHannah PottsNikki RampickBeverly RayBelinda RobertsCarolyn RogersRoman RosasJessica Scott

Alice SessionsLynn SouthardJanice StefanusGeri StewartEmily SwinsonDani TimmSherri UnderbrinkKim VodickaAngie Von PagelerMike WatsonNicholas WhiteLisa WhitworthMarvin WoffordGina Wood

As of October 31st, CASA of Travis County has:

Served 464 new children

Closed cases for 450 children

Advocated for 1,342 children Already 51 more children than in all of 2010!

with 538 volunteer advocatesAlready 41 more volunteers than in all of 2010!

Meet the newest CASA volunteers!

“Felicia was calming her aggressive behavior and was learning to talk. Noemi glowed with all the attention she got from her new family...”

“I wanted to make sure they had ties to their family history and their culture.”

Learning and growing in my work with CASA’s youngestBy CASA Volunteer Lisa Rosenbaum

As a CASA volunteer, I passionately pursue my mission of ensuring children are placed in safe and loving homes with a promising future. I know that with physical, mental and emotional health children can heal, flourish and thrive. To better understand children’s needs, I have completed several trainings based on creating healing environments for children coming from difficult places and based on the work of Dr. Karyn Purvis, author of The Connected Child. I have learned that if children don’t get the care and support they need in their earliest years of development, ages 0-3, they’re less likely to develop the emotional skills one needs to thrive in life as a child or adult.

Research has shown that the emotional bond that normally forms between infant and caregiver, called “attachment,” not only stimulates brain growth but promotes personality development and the lifelong ability to form stable relationships. With healthy attachment, caregivers serve as external managers helping to regulate the child’s internal state of emotion. Children also develop their sense of self through interaction with their primary caregiver, establishing a sense of “felt safety” and well-being as opposed to being paralyzed by fear.

Therefore, it’s extremely important that the children CASA advocates for have a primary relationship with a responsive caregiver who is sensitive to their needs and committed to meeting them. Children who are removed from their first or usual caregiver, or those who haven’t had a responsive caregiver, are at risk of not developing adequate feelings of attachment and healthy behavior. These children can suffer from a compromised level of brain development and have less ability to regulate their nervous systems. Their physiology is off kilter, their developmental trajectory derailed.

A child who can’t sit still in school may suffer from an inability to self-regulate but is at risk of being diagnosed and medicated for ADHD. The child who is overwhelmed and tuned out, refusing to interact, could be considered autistic but may actually be severely traumatized and can rebound as his life normalizes. The “good baby” who doesn’t cry is at risk of languishing in the corner of a busy day care because she hasn’t learned to trust that her needs will consistently be met.

In my experience volunteering with CASA, I have seen two children considered autistic have their diagnosis downgraded to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after being placed in structured predictable environments with nurturing caregivers. Knowledge of attachment theory and early childhood development helps me better understand each child I work with and gives me confidence that my final recommendation to the judge is sound.

Improving advocacy for our littlest childrenHere at CASA, we value innovation that improves our advocacy and focuses on the specific needs of the children we serve. Lately, we’ve put a lot of attention on the littlest children who depend on us.

Over the past year we’ve listened as experts at national and statewide CASA conferences, including Dr. Karyn Purvis, Holly Schlaak and Dr. David Arredondo, have shared research on the critical brain development that occurs during a child’s first three years. Our staff and volunteers have been delving into

attachment theory and have made recommendations to the court based on research about infant relationship needs and the link between a child’s ability to make human connections and healthy development. We recently welcomed staff from Austin Recovery’s CRADLES program to educate us on the developmental needs of very young children. We are pleased the Women’s Fund of Central Texas supported our focus on this age group this past year.

I hope you enjoy the success story of the young sisters, Felicia and Noemi, as well as the guest article from CASA volunteer Lisa Rosenbaum who has shown initiative in her advocacy work for this young age group. Above all, I hope you and your family enjoy a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

- Laura D. Wolf, Executive Director

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Volunteer leaves legacy for “outstanding kids”

Carolyn and Tom Nicewarner’s gift began with the desire to help just one child. “Terrence was graduating from high school and I knew he’d need financial help starting on his own,” Carolyn remembers. Carolyn got to know Terrence over the course of her five years as a CASA volunteer, during which she has advocated for 30 children. But when the Nicewarners’ financial advisor told the retired couple that there were ways they could give a more significant gift to help many children—they were inspired. Recently, the Nicewarners informed CASA that it is the beneficiary of their life insurance policy—a gift that will one day have a value much larger than what the couple could give today. “Our financial advisor explained all the different ways we could give,” Carolyn recalls. “Once we decided what we wanted to do it was extremely easy to set up.”

Carolyn and Tom are like many couples in their sixties. After a long career in the oil industry that took them to Russia, Venezuela and across the U.S., and after raising their three children, they now feel lucky to do what they love. For Carolyn, that means helping children. “We love that eventually CASA will be able to do something big with our gift,” Carolyn says. Carolyn hopes their gift helps CASA get closer to advocating for all children in Travis County who need a voice. “I’ve met the most outstanding kids volunteering with CASA,” she says. “I hope we inspire others to think about giving a legacy gift to CASA.”

If you have questions about including CASA in your estate or financial plans—or you already have included CASA in your plans—please contact: Robin Bradford, Development Director at 512.539.2670 or robin.bradford@casatravis.org.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & FeldAustin Community FoundationGarth Bates Jr. Memorial Fund

Paula K. BoonJuli and Everett CarmodyZita and Richard Cassizzi

Charfen InstituteBonita Griffith and David Chasis

ConocoPhillips CompanyConway & Associates, Inc.Jamie and James Cotton

Electric Transmission TexasHealthTronics, Inc.Ila and John Falvey

Bonnie and Jack FosterFulcrum Capital Holdings

Jeff GloverTracy and Matthew Hamilton

Kirk HighImpact Austin

The Junior League of Austin

Dana and Kemp KaslingKasling, Hemphill, Dolezal & Atwell

KPMGLisa and Todd Lewis

The Long FoundationLowe Foundation

Teresa and Matt McCartyMichelle and Darrel McCurdy

Meador & Jones, L.L.P.Kennedy and John Neff

NordstromJana and Rick Perkal

Kari and Lee PottsTina and John Recker

RGK FoundationLisa Robinot-BertrandRoger Beasley Mazda

Jacque SoptickThe Superhero Group, Inc.

Texas Capital BankTravis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation

Thank you to our major donors ($1,000 and up) between May 1, 2011 and October 15, 2011

More than 1,350 superheroes ran, walked or flew through The Domain on September 25, 2011, for the CASA Superhero Run! This event raised over $80,000 and tons of awareness for CASA. A super big thanks to everyone who supported or participated in this event, especially our Incredible Sponsors: HealthTronics and KLRU-TV!

If you feel you’ve been left off this list or we misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and kindly let us know so we can properly thank you.

Save the date for our special events

CASAblanca Gala - Saturday, February 11thJoin us for a powerful evening at the Hyatt Regency Austin and make a difference for children who’ve been abused or neglected. We’ll honor Gigi Edwards Bryant, community leader and fierce advocate for children in foster care, and enjoy exciting dining with a regional flair, a casino with a view of the sparkling downtown skyline, big band tunes, silent and live auctions, and other heart-felt surprises.

CASA Kids Golf Classic and Par-TEE Sunday & Monday, May 6th-7thEnjoy great company, fun competition and memorable prizes! Relax and join us Sunday evening at the University of Texas Alumni Center for delicious food and exciting live and silent auctions. Or take part in a great day of golf on The Hills Signature Course with a flighted scoring system that gives everyone a chance to take home first place.

To sponsor, donate to or register for a special event, please visit www.casatravis.org or call Events Manager, Liz Neff, at 512.539.2677.

Meet CASA volunteer Ben NowakFamily: Ben comes from Pennsylvania originally, where most of his family still lives including his two brothers, and his little sister who was adopted from Guatemala. He comes from a large family and reunions can include 300 people!

Career: Ben started working with IBM while he was getting his Master’s at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and now works at IBM’s Austin location as a Verification Engineer leading his own team.

Free-time: Ben enjoys working out and swing- and salsa-dancing with his girlfriend.

Why he volunteers: Ben enjoys the one-on-one work with youth that he gets to do as a CASA volunteer. “It’s one of the few roles where you can give your time and see the clear and obvious impact you’re having in someone’s life.”

Connecting CASA and his workplace: Ben got introduced to CASA through coworkers at IBM, and has since learned there are more than 70 IBM-ers across Texas who are also CASA volunteers. He decided to bring this powerful network together to raise money for CASA. Thanks to Ben, CASA recently secured a Community Impact grant from IBM to provide financial support and job training to teens in our Transitioning Youth Program.

Start making an impact in a child’s life today by volunteering with CASA!To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer visit www.casatravis.org or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Melia Graber, at 512.539.2656 or melia.graber@casatravis.org.

C A S A O F T R AV I S C O U N T Y, I N C .

www.casatravis.org 512.459.2272Want our latest news? S ign up for emai l updates on our webs i te .

Non Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1678

Austin, TX

CASA of Travis County exists to promote and protect the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected, by training volunteers to advocate for them in courts, in schools and in our community to help them find safe, permanent and loving homes.

Board of Directors: President - Lee E. Potts, Lissa Adams, Jessica Blacklock, Orlando Castillo, Jamie Cotton, Matt Hamilton, Albert Hawkins, G Herver, Debbie Holley, Kemp Kasling, April Kubik, Kirk Lewis, Todd Lewis, John Recker, David Rubin, Andy Valenzuela

A Project of

7701 N Lamar Blvd, Ste 301Austin, TX 78752

If you no longer wish to rece ive th is newsletter, p lease contact Sharon Spar l in at 512.539.2653 or sharon.spar l in@casatrav is .org .

Open House Drop by the CASA office

anytime from 10 am - 6 pm on the following dates to talk with us about becoming a

CASA Volunteer:

Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 6April 3, May 1, June 5

Development Director Robin Bradford and CASA Supervisor Veronica Forsyth with Ben on Adoption Day. Ben works with

Veronica on his cases, and recently worked with Robin on securing the IBM Community Impact grant for CASA.