Wow! We are hosting our first golf event, the inaugural Cody Sublett Memorial Golf Tournament, on Monday, May 24 at Centennial Valley Country Club. And we’re sold out!
Thank you to all our dedicated supporters, especially the following sponsors:
PLATINUM
GOLD
What have you done in 2021 so far? If you’re like me, the answer is not much! While we’re still getting vaccines to everyone, many of our usual activities are canceled.
Unfortunately, for the children we serve, the opposite is true. Our cases have gone up significantly, 33% higher since January.
You know how you can make a difference? Give a donation! You can even set it up monthly, so you never have to worry about it again. Each gift we receive goes directly to providing services for the children in our care.
The Festival of Chairs was a huge success this year! We had well over 100 people participating in the auction, and we all enjoyed the LIVE event on Oct. 22, featuring many of our biggest fans. The First Lady of Arkansas, Susan Hutchinson, spoke eloquently about the work that CASA does every day to help abused children. Our Board President, Jennifer Morehead, along with the event chair, Justin Welter, spoke about their decision to help by supporting Children’s Advocacy Alliance. Kanga Studio provided great video services in putting it all together, especially the fashion show, organized by Michelle DuVall.
This year, 15 chair artists participated. Their chairs start the journey broken, tattered, abused, then they arrive at the Festival of Chairs as beautiful works of art. This is the visual representation of the path walked by the children served by the CAA daily.
At this year’s Festival we raised almost $60,000! That supports more than 30 forensic interviews, 20 medical exams, and 10 foster children receiving a CASA for the whole year.
Click Color of Hope 2020 to see the evening’s program, and learn even more about what we do.
The Central Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a safe place for kids who may have been abused to tell their story. We bring together a team of specially trained professionals who evaluate and investigate cases of child abuse and help children and their families through this hard time.
The Forensic Interview is the heart of our work. The child victim will speak with an interviewer who has special training in the many dynamics of child abuse. The goal is to make each child as comfortable as possible while gathering information in a neutral, objective way. Interviews are videotaped in an effort to reduce the number of times the child has to talk about the abuse. It is important to recognize that at the Children’s Advocacy Center the child victim is being interviewed, not interrogated. The child is the victim and is not in trouble.
Clinical Coordination – After the interview all child victims and their non-offending family members receive a clinical coordinator/family advocate who provides crisis intervention, support services, and case management.
Medical Exam – An on-site medical exam room staffed with trained staff offers child sexual assault victims a medical exam that collects evidence and document trauma, if present. Most importantly, it is performed to reassure the child and family that his/her body is okay.
Please click here to schedule a time to tour center.
What to tell a child about visiting the Children’s Advocacy Center?
A child may be nervous or worried about what will take place during their visit. It is okay to tell the child they will be going to someplace special where they can talk openly about their feelings. It is okay to tell the child that the people at the Children’s Advocacy Center are there to listen to them and that they want to make sure that the child is safe.
Our Team Approach
A multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is the key to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Professionals from a variety of agencies – child protection workers, law enforcement officers, mental health providers, advocates, and prosecutors – join forces to ensure child victims are receiving the essential services, referrals, as well as tracking the progress of the criminal case.
Central Arkansas CASA (court appointed special advocates) recruits and trains local advocates to stand up for abused and neglected children. They represent the child’s best interests in court, and help them find safe, permanent homes.
The CASA Volunteer provides consistency and stability in a time of turmoil. A CASA Advocate is more than a volunteer – they complete 30 hours of training and become a sworn officer of the court.
When a CASA is appointed a case, they explore the child’s background and assess their situation to make objective recommendations to the court. The child may be placed with parents, relatives, foster care, or available for permanent adoption. A CASA stays with a case until the child is in a safe, permanent home.
Please click here to learn about becoming an advocate
Together, these programs protect children from further harm and restore hope to their lives.
The CASA Way of communicating with the social workers, foster parents, family, teachers, and most importantly, the child allows
the advocate to provide the judge with comprehensive information that helps in providing a focused, personal and heartfelt understanding of what is in the best interest of the child. A CASA volunteer can be the difference between success and failure in a child’s life.
We are very excited to announce that we have recently received a large gift for our new building! Even better, they are willing to match any other gifts received for the capital campaign! Stay tuned for info on how you can help with that….
The forensic interview is the heart of our work. The goal is to make each child as comfortable as possible while gathering information in a neutral, objective way.
In a time of turmoil, CASA advocates provide consistency and stability. A CASA advocate is more than a volunteer – they complete 30 hours of training and become a sworn officer of the court.
A CASA VOLUNTEER IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO:
A CASA VOLUNTEER MUST:
A CASA VOLUNTEER’S RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
What is a CASA Volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of an abused and neglected child in court.
What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
A CASA volunteer provides the judge with carefully researched information about the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child’s future. The CASA volunteer makes recommendations about placement to the judge and follows through until the child reaches a safe, permanent home.
How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child- school, medical and case worker reports and other documents.
How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they are in court, and the roles of the judge, lawyers, and social workers. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers.
How many cases on average does a CASA volunteer carry at one time?
Volunteers can carry up to a maximum of two cases.
How much time does being a CASA volunteer require?
After thirty hours of initial training, volunteers typically work about 10-15 hours a month.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved in the case?
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved.
What children are assigned CASA volunteers?
Children who are victims of abuse and neglect who have become wards of the court are assigned CASA volunteers.
Click here to download a complete advocate application packet
