CASA Connection Newsletter March 2016 #6 Notes from the Director: I realize by the time I get this newsletter sent out, the death of the 4 year old girl in Norfolk will be old news, and she may not even be our latest death of a child due to abuse in Nebraska. I did not know Caylee or her family, but like so many of you, I was deeply saddened and sickened by the news of her death. With April being Child Abuse Awareness month, it is stories like this, which serves as a reminder just how important it is to watch your neighbors, friends and maybe even a family member. If you suspect child abuse, DON T remain silent. Call 911 if an emergency exists for the child, or call the hotline if you have suspicions that abuse is occurring. You don t have to witness the abuse, just suspect it, and let the experts investigate. They can t investigate if they don t know about it. This is not only the right thing to do, but it is the law. Nebraska law requires any person who suspects that a child has been physically or sexually abused or neglected to report it promptly to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services~NDHHS website. I have heard all too often that people are afraid to call it in because they fear repercussions from the family. How are you going to feel if you don t make the call and the child dies due to the abuse/neglect? Make the Call: 1-800-652-1999 ~Susie~ PROGRAM STATISTICS FOR THE 1st QUARTER 2016 HOW DID WE DO? 23_ Children referred to our program 33_ Children served with an advocate 6 Served cases closed 47_ Cases on a waiting list 18_ Active volunteers 0 New volunteers sworn in Welcome spring 2016!!! Visit us at: www.casaconnectionne.com 1 P a g e
CASA Connection will once again be participating in the Columbus Big Give! Columbus Big Give is a 24-hour time of giving where Columbus area supporters are invited to give back to their favorite local charities and help them earn valuable matching funds. The goal of this community-wide giving event is to match Columbus area supporters passions and generosity with local nonprofit organizations already doing great work. Through the combined participation of all people who love and care about the Columbus area, we can significantly impact the future of our beloved community. Columbus Big Give will run from midnight to midnight on Thursday, May 19th 2016. For more information visit: www.columbusbiggive.org 2 P a g e
New Board Members Travis Hill joined the CASA Connection board of directors on 4/4/2016. Travis works at NPPD as the Continuous Improvement Program Manager. Travis and his wife Tara have lived in the Columbus area off and on for 5-6 years, and they have 4 children. WELCOME TRAVIS! Robbin Cutsor joined the CASA Connection board of directors on 9/28/2015 after her case as an advocate closed. Robbin is employed as an office manager at Schaecher/Prokupek Wealth Management. Robbin and her husband Joel live in Columbus and have one daughter. WELCOME ROBBIN! Lisa McFarland joined the CASA Connection board of supervisors on 12/21/2015. Lisa is employed at NPPD as a Staff Attorney II. Lisa and her husband Shane have lived in Columbus for 9.5 years and have 6 children. WELCOME LISA! 3 P a g e
What else have we been up to? These are just a few of the toys we have bought for the CASA children. CASA Connection was able to do this due to the 2015 Columbus Big Give and the Cornhusker Goodwill Grant. 4 P a g e
Meet our Volunteers Brenda Vermeire did her initial training in 2005 and has served 16 children so far. Brenda said she came to CASA Connection because she and her husband were mentoring some children and she felt the CASA experience would help her with the mentoring. Brenda also wanted to help other families stop the cycle of abuse passed on from one generation to the next. Brenda also volunteers for her church, Big Pals/Little Pals, the rescue mission, and relay for life. When she is not working or volunteering she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren as well as boating and camping. Brenda s wish??? That every child had a safe harbor, so there would be no need for CASA and other programs like it. Lisa Clausen joined the CASA Connection team 18 months ago. Lisa was assigned a case in Colfax County shortly after finishing her training. Lisa and is still working very hard on this case, involving 3 siblings. Lisa says she came to CASA Connection after she heard a presentation done by Susie and thought she needed to at least give it a try. When she is not busy with her CASA case, other volunteer activities, or busy on the farm she shares with her husband, Lisa enjoys reading, working on crafts and traveling. Lisa s one wish would be for everyone to experience Peace and Love. 5 P a g e
Michele with Board president, Doug Pauley Michele s daughter, Monica accompanied her to the luncheon. Michelle Gotschall was nominated by CASA Connection for the Peter D. Rush Spirit of Voluntarism Award for her dedicated work as a CASA volunteer. At a luncheon held by the Columbus United Way on 4/5/2016, Michelle was recognized for her nomination along with other nominees from various organizations. Michele has been with CASA Connection since 2009. Thank you and Congratulations Michele! Upcoming Events: 4/15/2016 CASA Staff Conference ~ Papillion 4/16/2016 Nebraska CASA Volunteer Conference ~ Papillion 4/19/2016 Columbus Big Give 7/21-7/24 enjoy the Colfax County Fair and visit the CASA Connection booth. 8/20/2016 I m a Little Cutie baby contest~casa Connection fundraiser 6 P a g e
Thank You!!! CASA Connection sends a huge Thank You to the following for all of their support, funding and in-kind donations! Platte County, Nebraska Colfax County, Nebraska Columbus Area United Way Nebraska CASA Association National CASA Association Cornhusker Power Goodwill Fund Walmart BD Medical ADM Cares Snow-Redfern Memorial Foundation To all of the individuals that participate in our fundraisers or send donations! If you know anyone that you believe would make a good advocate for CASA Connection please give them a call. We will be starting our spring training session very soon! 7 P a g e
In Memory of Caylee Hoehne CASA Connection was one of several recipients of donated stuffed animals from a recent Teddy Bear Run in memory of 4 year old Caylee Hoehne. Caylee died March 20 th, 2016 in an Omaha hospital. Caylee was from Norfolk, Ne. where she lived with her 21 year old mother, who has been charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death. After Caylee s death her uncle Grant Hurlbert, organized a motorcycle ride from Norfolk to Children s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. About 75 bikers participated in transporting the donated stuffed animals to Children s Hospital and Teddy Bear Hollow. Nearly 1,000 teddy bears were donated in Caylee s honor. Special thanks to Jeremy and Krista Freeman & Crystal Matthews, of Norfolk and Ruth Matthews-Mott of CASA of Northeast Nebraska, for their help in getting these toys to us. 8 P a g e
Board Members Doug Pauley ~ President Robbin Cutsor ~ Treasurer Sandy Seckman ~ Secretary Amy Blaser Shelley Stempek Harriet Berlin Lisa McFarland Travis Hill CASA Connection Office Location: 1465 27 th Ave. Mailing Address: 2610 14 th Street Columbus, NE 68601 Phone: 402-563-4944 Fax: 402-562-6178 Website: www.casaconnectionne.com Volunteer Advocates Rolaine Blaser Lisa Clausen Bonnie Hoffmeister Kandee Dorame Carol Willoughby Michele Gotschall Misty Lawrence Renee Held Chris Stamm Bonnie McPhillips Wendi Petersen Glynette Smith Peggy Thiele Brenda Vermeire Jeanne Quinn Jean Britt Leslie McCuiston No act of kindness, No matter how small, is wasted AESOP CASA Connection is affiliated with the Nebraska CASA Association and the National CASA Association. CASA Connection is an agency 9 P a g e