Newsroom
The newsroom page has all of our recent announcements, newsletters and useful information about CASA. Please check here frequently for updates. Any questions regarding information on this page should be directed to Callie Langford.
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Recent CASA & CASA Related News:
January 2010-
CASA Day at Amy's Ice Creams and Phil's Icehouse - Texas CASA came out to support CASA of Travis County
December 2009-
Texas Tribune Reports: Removals of Texas children from abusive homes have reached their highest point since the 2008 polygamist sect raid - almost 1,500 children removed in September 2009.
CASA Executive Director Laura Wolf speaks on the topic of Youth in Crisis at the November I Live Here I Give Here Community Spotlight meeting
October 2009-
CASA launches the annual Children's Campaign fundraising drive
September 2009-
Check out event video and photos from the 2009 Speak Up for Kids CASA 5K!
August 2009-
CASA Volunteer featured in September-October 2009 issue of AARP Magazine
Thelma Harris, a CASA volunteer in Fulton County, Georgia, is profiled this month in AARP's People Helping People article. You can find her story in the third section of the first page.
Choose CASA in the Christie Cookie Co. Contest!
The Christie Cookie Co. is donating a total of $25,000 to charities. From now through October 15, you can nominate your favorite charity to win. The most nominated charity will receive a check for $10,000. The runner-up wins $5,000, and the next 10 will receive $1,000 each. It takes less than 2 minutes to vote. If you have more than one e-mail address, it counts for each one you use to nominate CASA of Travis County in Austin, TX!
http://ilovechristiecookies.com/contest/
July 2009-
Get Creative for CASA - Update- Thanks to everyone who submitted their beautiful writings, we'll announce the winner soon!
Community Tech Knowledge has announced a $10,000 Heart and Soul Grant Award and you can help CASA win by submitting a 4-8 line poem that represents the “heart and soul” of the CASA mission. CASA will select the top poem, based on the quality and impact of the writing, which will then be entered into the grant contest to be judged by music artists and producers from around the country. The winning writer for CASA will receive a $50 gift certificate to Roaring Fork. The winning non-profit will not only earn a $10,000 grant, but the poem will be turned into a song to be performed by Los Lonely Boys. If your poem is selected by CASA and we win, you will join us at a gala here in Austin to see the premiere performance of your song!
Submissions are due by 5 pm, Friday, August 7th. Please email your writings to our Development Director, Elizabeth Hummer, to be considered. This is a great chance for you to get creative for CASA and help us fundraise and raise awareness for the important work we all do.
June 2009-
CASA’s Legislative Priorities Achieved in the 81st Legislative Session - Provided by Texas CASA
Strengthening CASA's ability to provide effective volunteer advocacy to more children in CPS custody
- SB 1 (Senator Ogden, Rep. Pitts) provides an additional $7 million in state funding in the next biennium to CASA programs to maintain our current level of service to children – over 20,000 children a year – and to serve an additional 4,000 children with volunteers in FY 2011.
- SB 1369 (Senator Lucio, Rep. Hunter, Rep. Rose) ensures that new CASA programs are eligible to receive state funding and emphasizes that CASA’s priority is serving more children with volunteers.
- HB 1462 (Rep. Pickett, Sen.Uresti) allows certain state employees to take 5 hours/month of paid leave to train with or volunteer with CASA.
Complete bill summaries available for download here.
Pasty Woods Martin discusses CASA and the lessons of jury duty on The Giving Blog
May 2009-
3M Donates to CASA to help Newborn Babies
The 3M ACO United Way team conducted a Newborn Baby Kit Drive for CASA at 3M Austin Center during the month of April and collected several packages of diapers, containers of formula, receiving blankets and stuffed animals. These donations will go to participants of the Travis County Drug Court Program whose very young children are CASA clients. Formula, diapers and blankets are very much in need and we are grateful for the support that 3M employees have given to CASA.
April 2009 -
House OKs state worker leave for CASA volunteering
The House today gave final approval to a bill that gives state employees paid time off to volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates, a group that advocates for abused and neglected children... Under the bill, state workers could take five hours of paid leave a month to work for CASA, which would not be deducted from vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit or state compensatory time. Read the rest of the article on Statesman.com
Hundreds of Abused Children Stand at Texas Capitol on April 14th During Child Abuse Prevention Month
Governor Perry proclaims April 14th to be Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates Day
March 2009 -
February 2009 -
The Four Seasons was filled with CASA Supporters for the 17th Annual CASAblanca Gala
November 2008 -
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Issues Surprise Thanksgiving Grants to Local Charities including CASA of Travis County
Adoption Day was a great success on November 20 at the Gardner Bett's Courthouse
October 2008-
CASA of Travis County part of Casey Family Programs' new media campaign- "Raise Me Up"
Raise Me Up will harness the vast power of individuals, families and communities who are willing to raise their hand to help improve the lives of the more than 500,000 children in America's foster care system.
Sponsored by Casey Family Programs, Raise Me Up connects people with meaningful opportunities in the Austin area to help children in foster care through volunteering, education and outreach.
Raise Me Up features powerful ads on television, radio and other venues that highlight difficulties children in foster care face and the difference people can make when they get involved. The ads and Web site - raisemeup.org - will show people that they don't have to raise a foster child to raise them up - they just need to raise their hand and say they'll help.
Casey Family Programs' mission is to provide and improve - and ultimately to prevent the need for - foster care. Established by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, Casey Family Programs is a Seattle-based national operating foundation that has served children, youth, and families in the child welfare system since 1966. The foundation provides direct services, and promotes advances in child-welfare practice and policy.
September 2008 -
Austin American Statesman's "A Closer Look at Child Protective Services" by Chuck Lindell, Featuring CASA Carolyn Nicewarner
News 8 Austin- "CASA 5K benefits organization to help kids" featuring Laura Wolf