Children's Advocacy Alliance

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Children’s Advocacy Center
    • CASA 20th
    • Meet our Board
    • Meet our Staff
    • Stories of Hope
    • Resources
  • Corporate Support
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Community Partners
    • Volunteers
    • Seeds of Hope
    • Service Projects
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • Festival of Chairs
      • Festival of Chairs Sponsorships
      • Chairs
      • Tickets
      • Auction
    • Heroes for Hope Race
      • H4H Sponsors
      • Race Registration
      • Booth Registration
    • Christmas in July
    • Events Calendar
  • Contact
  • Donate Now

Give in 2021!

February 26, 2021 By casaadmin

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, to 32 children just in the first three weeks of February.

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.

Filed Under: Recent Posts

Festival of Chairs

July 28, 2017 By casaadmin

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.

Filed Under: Chairs, Recent Posts

Children’s Advocacy Center

January 27, 2017 By casaadmin

Children’s Advocacy Center

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.

Mental Health – On-site mental health services are available for child victims and their non-offending family members. Referrals can be made to local trauma based providers for children who live outside Faulkner County.

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.

Click here to schedule a tour of our center

Filed Under: Recent Posts

1. CASA 20th

January 27, 2017 By casaadmin

CASA 20th

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the 20th Judicial District 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 Advocate 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.

Filed Under: Recent Posts

1. New Building Campaign

January 27, 2017 By casaadmin

New Building Campaign

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….

Filed Under: Recent Posts, Uncategorized

6. Forensic Interview

October 28, 2016 By casaadmin

How do CACs and forensic interviewing help kids? 

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.

Filed Under: Recent Posts

4. CASA Advocate

October 28, 2016 By casaadmin

CASA Advocate

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:

  • Is at least 21 years old.
  • Successfully passes screening, background checks and a personal interview prior to starting training.
  • Has strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Is able to commit 15 hours each month.
  • Is willing to travel within the state depending upon child placement.
  • Successfully completes 33 hours of initial training provided by the CASA program. Any sessions missed must be made up before the applicant is assigned to case.
  • Is able to keep information confidential and can work within established program guidelines.
  • Respects a child’s inherent right to grow up with dignity in a safe and nurturing environment.

A CASA VOLUNTEER MUST:

  • Have the ability to keep all information confidential.
  • Be able to deal with hostility, anger, and other emotional attitudes.
  • Be able to communicate effectively and relate to people from various backgrounds in a variety of settings.
  • Be able to maintain objectivity.
  • Maintain professionalism in behavior and appearance.
  • Be willing to report any incidents of child abuse or neglect.

A CASA VOLUNTEER’S RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Maintaining written records about the case.
  • Interviewing all parties involved in the case, including the child.
  • Remaining actively involved until the case is closed and no other services are needed.
  • Providing the CASA office with a court report 10 business days prior to all court proceedings.
  • Attend 12 hours of continuing education each year. Provided through monthly CASA In Service Programs.
  • Make visits to the child at a minimum of once per month.
  • Participate in the child’s planning and treatment program and ensure that essential needs are being met at all times.

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

Filed Under: Recent Posts

Mailing Address

PO Box 1202
Conway, AR 72033
www.hopeandjustice.org
info@hopeandjustice.org
   

Conway Center

574 Locust Street
Conway, AR 72034

Tel. 501.328.3347
Fax. 501.328.5507

Clinton Office

100 Success Dr., Suite 36
Clinton, AR 72031

Tel. 501.745.3038
Fax. 501.745.3242

Copyright © 2021 · designed by WinkCorp Concepts