PIEDMONT CASA ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 CHAIR’S MESSAGE Foster kids don’t see the world through rose-colored glasses. Julie Christopher They can’t afford to. n the past two years, we Ihave seen a 33% increase in the number of abused and neglected children we serve. I am grateful to say that thanks to the incredible devotion of the larger CASA Family, including retired Volunteers returning to emergency service, we have been able to keep up with this sobering rise in demand. Their inspiring support and dedication enabled us to serve 294 children in fiscal year 2017, more than ever before. And I am extremely proud to add that we did not stop there. We continued to improve our services in significant, n order to survive, abused and neglected boys and girls develop protective far-reaching ways. We fully Ifilters so strong that they screen out opportunities along with the pain. implemented Bridges to Success Who could blame them? When the world doesn’t show you its good side, for Older Youth in Foster Care it’s easy to conclude that side is not for you. by adding three new positions to our professional staff. It is So how do we show them that it is? too early in the program for statistics, but we are already Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care seeing changes that give us You show them by establishing a new program designed just for them: great hope for the long-term Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care. You show them by giving goal of getting these teenagers them a Bridges Coach in addition to their CASA Volunteer. Someone to on a path that leads to an act as their mentor and guide as long as they are in care, which could independent future that is safe, stable and productive. be up to age 21. You show them by giving them the time and attention The Greater Charlottesville needed to get behind those overprotective filters. Because when you open Trauma-Informed Community a teenager’s eyes to their own possibilities - horizons expand. Scales fall Network, founded by Piedmont away so that dreams can coalesce into tangible goals. Once teenagers CASA in partnership with believe in themselves and have long-term goals, Bridges Coaches guide ReadyKids, continues to grow, them in building the tools and making the connections they need to moving steadily toward its goal achieve them. Bridges Coaches show older kids in care how to build bridges to the other Continued on page 2 g side of the world. The side they thought was out of reach. From page 1 - CHAIR’S MESSAGE of providing our children and their families with of foster children in our community. trauma-informed care all across the community, On Friday, May 5, around 200 people carried 240 from schools to medical centers to neighborhoods. unique bluebird works of art - one for each foster In March, local author John Grisham joined us for child - in the Bluebird Parade. It received a lot of Jimmy Miller’s Bracket Breakfast at the Omni Hotel. media coverage as it wound its way from Piedmont As one of the panelists, Mr. Grisham traded stories, CASA to the Downtown Mall to The Haven. jokes and basketball insights with Ricky Stokes, It is very rewarding to conclude my term as Barry Parkhill, Rick Wampler, and Joe Harris. The Board Chair on so many positive notes. In January ballroom was packed and the hour flew by in record 2018, Vice Chair Tarpley Gillespie will assume the time. leadership role. Tarpley has been a member of We collaborated with area nonprofits to create Friends of CASA since 2010, serving as chair for the Bluebird Project, which was a resounding two years, and has been a member of the Board of success. In response to our call for artists, hundreds Directors since January 2015. I have no doubt that of bluebirds flocked into the Piedmont CASA her commitment to and passion for Piedmont CASA office. Beautiful, creative bluebirds were donated will ensure that it continues on its steady course of by an impressive cross-section of artists, families, improving lives for abused and neglected children all organizations, businesses, houses of worship, clubs, across the Greater Charlottesville area. and schools to help raise awareness for the number Meet our New Staff In FY 2017, our new initiative, Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care, was fully implemented with the addition of three new positions to our staff (Bridges Coaches). To ensure that we can continue to meet the sharply increasing demand for our services, we also added a fifth CASA Supervisor, while filling a vacancy for the fourth. BRIDGES COACHES Leah Cole Adam Crist Gwen Jones Leah brings wide-ranging experience Adam brings seven years of Gwen has always been in the teaching/ as a job coach and teacher. She experience working in therapeutic coaching field and is a long-time foster earned her M.Ed in Educational wilderness programs at the Discovery parent. She taught at the University Psychology from the University of School of Virginia. He graduated of Virginia and obtained her PhD. at Virginia. from UVA with a BA in History. Purdue University. CASA SUPERVISORS Cathy Eberly Alison Taravella A CASA Volunteer for three years, Cathy A CASA Volunteer for eighteen months, previously worked in communications Alison also worked as a Therapeutic with Woodberry Forest School and the Day Treatment provider and Family University of Virginia Law School. She Worker. She holds a BA in Psychology holds a BA in English from UVA. from the University of Virginia. 2 How important is it for abused and neglected kids to have CASA Volunteers? Just read these stories. Sam got a voice Todd won’t be in the system bullied anymore Eleven-year-old Sam sat outside the courtroom, When kids are burdened with major problems at home, sobbing. He’d just been told he couldn’t live with they can’t just slide them off like backpacks when they his grandfather - he was going into foster care. walk out the front door. They wear their hardships Then Sam got a CASA Volunteer. She interviewed everywhere, including school. Todd’s troubles made his grandfather and discovered that he was able to him withdrawn, socially uncomfortable, different. And take care of Sam - and very much wanted to. She being different made him a target. met with Sam’s therapist, who also considered this Todd was bullied so badly at school that he was to be in the boy’s best interest. hospitalized. With a growing consensus, Sam’s Volunteer began Everyone agreed he had to go to a different school this working closely with the guardian ad litem to gain year. But by late summer, his Piedmont CASA Volunteer support for the move. When the foster care worker was worried. Todd’s mother was supposed to do the also agreed, Sam was overjoyed. paperwork but she was too ill. Todd was scared and Today, Sam is still in DSS custody, but is living with running out of time, so his CASA stepped up to the his grandfather on a trial basis. His CASA Volunteer plate. She went to his old school and got his records. checks in regularly to help ensure that the transition She completed the paperwork and got his mother’s goes well. signature. Then she drove the application to his new school, where he was accepted. Because Sam’s CASA Volunteer got to know him, was thorough in her research, and was effective Even though this process was outside a CASA’s realm in getting others to support her position, Sam’s of responsibility, it was essential for Todd’s well-being. custody is going to be transferred to his beloved Todd’s CASA Volunteer paid attention - then she went grandfather. above and beyond to ensure that this year, Todd would not be bullied. For confidentiality, names and other identifying facts in these stories have been changed. Board of Directors Emeritus Staff Julie Christopher, Chair Board of Directors Alicia L. Lenahan, President and CEO Tarpley Gillespie, Vice Chair Carolyn Achenbach Randy Nolt, Program Director Frank Winslow, Treasurer Stephanie Commander Lexie Boris, Advancement Director Bobby Parmar, Secretary Sarah Dandridge Leah Cole, Bridges Coach Kerry Abrams Kimberly C. Emery Adam Crist, Bridges Coach Rob Atherton Tracey Hopper Cathy Eberly, CASA Supervisor John H. Bocock Carol B. Hurt Annie Izard, CASA Supervisor Karen Kalsi Chapman Diane Long Gwen Jones, Bridges Coach R. Peter Kilburn Kathryn Parker Kati Naess, CASA Supervisor Rachel Lloyd Miller Julie Stamm Sherri Rosser, CASA Supervisor James F. Miller Edward M. Wayland Alison Taravella, CASA Supervisor Judy Smith Janet Williams, Office Administrator A. Benjamin Spencer 3 Special Thanks to Our Contributors GIFTS RECEIVED BETWEEN JULY 1, 2016 AND JUNE 30, 2017 $50,000+ $1,000 to $2,499 Charles Fund Charlottesville Radio Groupv Jess Achenbach Combined Federal Campaign Department of Criminal Justice Services James A. Amato Mr. and Mrs. Victor M. Dandridge, Jr. Victims of Crime Act Josh and Tracy Arbaugh Drs. John and Cindy Dent Victims of Crime Act - Bridges To Arnold F. Baggins Foundation, Inc. Stacey D. Diefenderfer Success Program Charles Axten Louise and Earl Dudley Bankers Insurance, LLC Albert and Donna Ernest $25,000 to $49,999 Better Living Foundation First Presbyterian Churchv Anonymous (2) Jennifer Brynev Claire W. Gargalli Charlottesville Newsplexv GE Foundation $15,000 to $24,999 Craig Builders Michelle Goodrich Mary and Mike Chinn Claire Cronmiller Mary Huey Douglas S. Hatfield Trust - Janet and Jeff Legro Cville Gives Linda and Don Hunt Elmo Foundation Mr.