Mar 28 2024
Meet Volunteer Advocate Dori
“It’s easy to see the things that aren’t working in our community and complain about...
Mar 28 2024
Strategic Plan Pillar: Safe Homes
In May 2023, the CASA of Travis County Board of Directors adopted a new strategic...
Feb 22 2024
Introducing Board Chair Mike Clifford
“Technically, I ‘retired’ ten years ago… clearly it didn’t stick,” says Mike with a laugh....
Feb 22 2024
Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! This year, CASA of Travis County is highlighting disproportionality in the...
Feb 22 2024
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
In the interest of our mission to advocate for children and teens who have experienced...
Jan 26 2024
CASA's Impact in 2023: A Snapshot
Read below to see how we worked toward CASA of Travis County’s vision in 2023: ...
Jan 26 2024
From CASA Staff to CASA Volunteer, Meet Volunteer Advocate Emily
“CASA is a very special place for me,” Emily shares. “It’s shown me the power...
Dec 19 2023
Adoption Day 2023
Each November, on National Adoption Day, CASA comes together with the rest of the child...
Dec 19 2023
Meet Volunteer Erin
"As a CASA volunteer, a lot of our work is about opening our minds to...
Oct 25 2023
Bullying: Addressing its root causes & prioritizing prevention
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can have a detrimental effect on a child’s...
Oct 25 2023
The Power of Just One Healthy Relationship
Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S....
Oct 25 2023
With every small win, a stronger foundation for children
CASA volunteer Margaret draws perspective from the complexity of advocating for children who have experienced...
Aug 31 2023
Providing School Supplies, Building Self-Esteem
What do school supplies and self-esteem have in common? For the children CASA serves, a...
Aug 31 2023
Why is CASA's Training a Unique Experience?
Do you ever wonder what happens once you get cleared to begin volunteer training? Allow...
Aug 31 2023
Cultural Understanding, Enhanced Advocacy: Meet our Spanish-Speaking Team
CASA has a pressing demand for additional volunteers who are fluent in Spanish to better...
Aug 24 2023
A Strong Commitment to Our Mission
Volunteer Jolene managed it all: a 60–70-hour work week, a Ph.D. program, musical activities, and sports...
Jul 27 2023
Going the Extra Mile
Anisah has a degree in neuroscience and loves painting nails. She is preparing to apply...
Jul 27 2023
Program Innovation: Bridge to Permanency
CASA's first goal, whenever it is safe, is to help keep children with their families....
Jul 27 2023
Shining a Light on BIPOC Mental Health
July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, which promotes mental health awareness in all communities and...
Jul 19 2023
Changing the Narrative
CASA volunteer Sara felt something was missing when she graduated from college and started her...
Jun 29 2023
A Heart for Advocacy, A Guiding Light for Volunteers: Celebrating Longtime Senior Child Advocacy Specialist Florencia
"One thing Florencia taught me is that there are always surprises," said Faye, a CASA...
Jun 29 2023
#CASAVolunteer, #CollegeStudent
Did you know nearly 20% of our volunteers are between the ages of 21 and...
Jun 29 2023
Why You Need to Know CASA Volunteer Jonathan
DEI advocate. World traveler. CASA volunteer ambassador. When he moved to Travis County from New...
Jun 29 2023
Celebrating the Power of Family
It's simple: children do better when they are connected to their family, community, and culture....
May 31 2023
Top 5 Benefits of Volunteering with CASA
You might know there are many benefits of volunteering. CASA is unique. Learn the top...
May 31 2023
Mental Health Awareness Month: How We Can Help Children Build Resilience in Challenging Times
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There's never been a more critical time to talk...
Apr 26 2023
Ben Mewis: Running for Children
Corporal Ben Mewis ran from the east side of Houston to Downtown Austin. It was...
Apr 26 2023
Volunteers in Action
CASA of Travis County has more than 600 active volunteers. Their stories are unique, but...
Apr 26 2023
"I've never seen it this bad."
Our work has always been hard, but right now the situations facing children are harder...
Mar 23 2023
Meet Volunteer Advocate Mike Cavazos
Mike Cavazos gets it. Addressing systemic barriers and injustices through volunteering is complex work, but...
Feb 23 2023
Introducing our 2023 Board Chair, Russell Valdez
“I want people to know we’re not complacent. We are not sitting still. We are...
Feb 23 2023
Meet Volunteer Advocate Rhonda Livingston
Rhonda Livingston is the definition of a vibrant, strong, and warm human being. This, plus...
Dec 26 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Bianca Bosque
“It’s not something we think about a lot — that some people don’t even have...
Oct 24 2022
Shining Light On Culture and Family: Diwali Celebrations Span Generations
While the words “Happy Diwali” might seem like a simple gesture from her neighbor, to...
Sep 28 2022
Meet our Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Children from underrepresented or marginalized communities are at greater risk of coming into the child...
Sep 28 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Mike Lapp
“In situations where there is no structure, and kids can’t rely on anyone else, I...
Aug 30 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Lynn Surrette
"It's a matter of persistence and asking again and again to make things happen," Lynn...
Jul 26 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Tori Boullion
"People think it’s a big commitment, but I don’t think it is," Tori said. "The...
Jun 28 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Senthil Nathan
“I told him, ‘I’m going to be here until you get adopted.’ He’s been in...
Jun 16 2022
What We're Into This Summer
Record-breaking heat means we’ll be looking for ways to stay cool all summer. For this...
May 24 2022
Let's Talk About Foster Care
In honor of National Foster Care Month, we wanted to do a deep dive into...
May 24 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Garrett Oliveira
"Being a constant presence in the kids' lives is so important."
Apr 30 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Linda Salomon
“Honestly, CASA has brought more meaning to my life. To know that I can play...
Apr 30 2022
What I've Learned as a CASA Volunteer
Most people go into their experience as a CASA volunteer hoping to change a child's...
Mar 30 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Courtney Macias
“CASA is truly individualized, relationship-based care. Everyone else involved in the case have huge caseloads...
Feb 23 2022
What We're Into: Black History Month Edition
In honor of Black History Month, we’ve compiled a list of books, ATX Black-Owned Businesses, films,...
Feb 22 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Lisa Grant Davis
“I believe a person’s lived experience adds real value to the bigger conversation. We all...
Feb 21 2022
Introducing our 2022 Board Chair, Bruny Rios
CASA’s 2022 Board Chair Bruny Rios is driven, talented, and busy. As the Chief Accounting...
Jan 28 2022
Advocating for Children with Disabilities at CASA
As if being in the child welfare system weren’t difficult enough, children with disabilities are disproportionately...
Jan 25 2022
Reflecting on CASA's Impact in 2021
The child welfare system as a whole continued to struggle in 2021, and kids’ situations continued to...
Jan 25 2022
Meet Volunteer Advocate Julie Long
“CASA is hope! I thought that I was volunteering to help someone else, and I am doing...
Dec 06 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Gloria Rodriguez
“When I’m talking to younger volunteers, I make sure they realize that they don’t have...
Dec 02 2021
Reflecting On National Adoption Month
Although National Adoption Month has concluded, it’s never too late to learn more about what...
Nov 30 2021
Advocating for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care: A Conversation with PFLAG
by Ashika Sethi LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care. In addition to abuse and...
Oct 29 2021
What We're Into: Halloween Edition
Happy (almost) Halloween! Today we’re sharing our updated list of movies, tv shows, books, and...
Oct 26 2021
What You Should Know About Disproportionality
Why is the demographic makeup of children in the Travis County child welfare system so...
Oct 25 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Scott Glenn
“The thing that drew me to CASA was that you can’t just show up, do...
Oct 25 2021
Coming Together for National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can take place in a variety of spaces...
Oct 25 2021
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: “No Survivor Justice Without Racial Justice”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “No Survivor Justice Without Racial...
Sep 29 2021
Celebrating National Kinship Care Month at CASA
September is National Kinship Care Month, giving us an opportunity to show gratitude to all of the kinship...
Sep 16 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Breier Mairena
“Volunteering with CASA has changed how I look at everybody,” says Breier. “No matter where they come...
Aug 24 2021
As Kids Head Back to School, It's More Important Than Ever to Advocate for their Educational Needs
Many of us thought this school year would bring a sense of normalcy and stability...
Aug 18 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Terry Walker
Terry encourages anyone who can to look for opportunities to focus on kids because there...
Jul 23 2021
Creating a Strong & Supportive Community in Honor of BIPOC Mental Health Month
Since 2008, July has been recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness...
Jul 21 2021
What We're Into This Summer
Summer is in full swing! For this season's edition of What We're Into, our CASA...
Jun 28 2021
How CASA Supports Family Reunification
At CASA, we’re passionate in our belief that children thrive when they’re surrounded by family...
Jun 22 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Jahnavi Muppaneni
“It’s easy to read about the case and make assumptions. But then you get to...
May 24 2021
A Brief History of Foster Care in the United States
Foster care and the child welfare system are convoluted subjects. These systems are pervasive in...
May 20 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Michaela Upchurch
“When someone truly sees you and believes in you; when they see something in you...
Apr 30 2021
Sexual Assault Awareness Month: How We Can Support Survivors Every Single Day
As Sexual Assault Awareness Month comes to a close, we're sharing thoughts from our Chief...
Apr 16 2021
Child Abuse Prevention Month at CASA: Supporting Thriving Families
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, giving us the opportunity to come together as...
Mar 26 2021
Celebrating National Social Work Month: A Conversation with Catherine Jones, CASA’s Senior Director of Community Engagement
"We at CASA value the connections that kids have with people that matter to them and people that love them. We have...
Mar 25 2021
Introducing a New CASA Workshop on Race, Equity, and Inclusion: CAPE
We at CASA are excited to introduce our new race, equity, and inclusion workshop for...
Mar 23 2021
Resources for Supporting the AAPI Community
The tragic events in Atlanta last week and the surge of Anti-Asian violence and discrimination...
Mar 23 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Ian Spechler
"Becoming a CASA was a natural fit for me—I knew it was where I belonged. The...
Mar 22 2021
What We're Into This March
Spring is finally here! For this month's edition of What We're Into, our CASA staff...
Mar 02 2021
Voices of CASA Part Five: A Series on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
"Voices of CASA" is a special series of blogs written by CASA staff and volunteers...
Feb 25 2021
Amplify Advocacy: 30 Children in 30 Days
On top of the anxiety and loss that many of us are experiencing in the...
Feb 25 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate David Sosa
“Honestly, I think being able to watch the kids enjoy themselves on visits, they’ve made...
Feb 19 2021
2021 Texas Winter Storm Resources
We at CASA of Travis County know that many in our community are continuing to...
Jan 30 2021
Meet Volunteer Advocate Marycarmen Ramirez
“I knew I wanted to make a difference, one kid at a time." Marycarmen Ramirez...
Jan 27 2021
Human Trafficking Prevention Month at CASA: How Everyone in Our Community Can Keep Kids Safe
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and we sat down with Emily LeBlanc, CASA of Travis County’s Chief Program Officer, to...
Dec 28 2020
Meet Fifteen-Year Tenured Volunteer Advocate Melissa Lorber
“Find something you care about that you’re interested in. I know a lot of people...
Dec 18 2020
Finding Holiday Cheer by Fostering Connections
“CASA volunteers can do a lot by just being supportive. Taking the time to have...
Nov 24 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Gabrielle Ommen
“When working on a case, I focus more on a family’s strengths rather than their weaknesses, and then I move forward from there. We have to recognize...
Nov 20 2020
Maintaining Safety and Connection: The Power of a Dedicated CASA Volunteer
I want to share a story with you from one of my recent cases. Every...
Oct 29 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Chuck Teague
“There are tremendous assets available for families that need support through CASA and the other...
Oct 15 2020
“Familia” & CASA: A Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month
A child thrives in a setting where they feel safe and comfortable. For National Hispanic...
Sep 23 2020
How CASA Focuses on Child Safety, Regardless of Placement
Judges appoint CASA to make recommendations to them that are in children’s best interest. Advocating...
Sep 10 2020
Voices of CASA Part Four: A Series on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
"Voices of CASA" is a special series of blogs written by CASA staff and volunteers...
Aug 28 2020
Meet Retiring Volunteer Advocate Karen Manson
After dedicating nearly two decades to CASA of Travis County as a volunteer, Karen Manson...
Aug 06 2020
Voices of CASA Part Three: A Series on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
"Voices of CASA" is a special series of blogs written by CASA staff and volunteers...
Jul 28 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Sofia Ojeda
“CASA opened my eyes to a lot of the causes and effects of the foster...
Jul 23 2020
Voices of CASA Part Two: A Series on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
"Voices of CASA" is a special series of blogs written by CASA staff and volunteers...
Jul 09 2020
Voices of CASA Part One: A Series on Race, Equity, and Inclusion
"Voices of CASA" is a special series of blogs written by CASA staff and volunteers...
Jun 30 2020
What We're Into: Pride Edition
At CASA, we serve many children who are members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, and we...
Jun 25 2020
CASA of Travis County 2019 Annual Report
Learn about everything you made possible for children in 2019 in our newly-released and fully-digital...
Jun 25 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Steph Dirden
“We have so many kids of color in the foster care system, and I know...
Jun 10 2020
Helping a Young Family Heal and Reunify
June is National Reunification Month, a time to recognize the people and efforts around the...
Jun 03 2020
What Matters Right Now
This month, instead of our regular blog of CASA recommendations, we’ve compiled a list of...
May 27 2020
Mental Health and the Pandemic: Navigating the Sea of COVID-19
In times of great strife, our lack of safety nets and the failure of the...
May 20 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Kimberlyn Barton
"Being a CASA volunteer just feels natural, like breathing. I think it makes me a...
May 13 2020
Resilience Lessons to Help us Through COVID-19
Across our state, country, and world, many people are confronting challenges like they’ve never faced...
May 06 2020
What We’re Into This May
From our home to yours, we want to welcome you back to our monthly blog...
Apr 23 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Keith Finley
“A lot of the happiest families/best situations have nothing to do with where people are...
Apr 14 2020
This Thank You is Not Enough
Traditionally each April we host a Volunteer Appreciation party to celebrate the dedication and hard...
Apr 07 2020
How We Can All Help Prevent Child Abuse During the COVID-19 Crisis
The CDC identifies a number of factors that could indicate an increased risk of child...
Apr 02 2020
What We’re Into This April
Welcome back to CASA’s monthly blog about everything we’re watching, reading, listening to and doing...
Mar 24 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Hazel McNeilage
"I see the hardships that many of these families [that CASA serves] have, and how...
Mar 17 2020
Find Growth & Connection During Self-Quarantine and Social Distancing
As our community, state and country are responding to COVID-19, CASA of Travis County is...
Mar 11 2020
CASA’s Powerful Voice Carries to the Texas Supreme Court
Last week at the Texas State Capitol we held our second-largest Swearing-In Ceremony ever, with...
Mar 04 2020
What We're Into This March
To get through our work from home time, we’ve rounded up a new list of...
Feb 27 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Mary Folse
Representation is a topic that matters deeply to CASA volunteer Mary Folse. She believes that...
Feb 17 2020
Introducing Board Chair Meghan Elwell
Both on paper and in person, CASA's 2020 Board Chair Meghan Elwell is indisputably impressive....
Feb 12 2020
A Look at CASA’s Internal Work on Race, Equity and Inclusion
I remember as a child wanting to go by the name Alex instead of Alejandro....
Feb 05 2020
What We're Into This February
And in the blink of an eye, it’s already the second month of 2020. Luckily,...
Jan 29 2020
Meet Volunteer Advocate Jon Drew
“Not having kids of my own and suddenly interacting with two kids on my case...
Jan 23 2020
Our Favorite Mentors in Town (and why CASA isn’t one of them)
January is National Mentoring Month, and we’d like to take this opportunity to let you...
Jan 20 2020
Where Is Pretty?: Experiences that Stick
I started doing my own hair around the age of 8 or 9—simple stuff, of...
Jan 15 2020
I’m With You
Every day of the week that we’re in the courtroom an email goes out to...
Jan 09 2020
New Year, New You
This time of year, you will notice an influx of New Year's Resolution content in...
Jan 02 2020
What We're Into This January
Happy New Year and welcome back to our monthly series of What We’re Into, an...
Dec 19 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocates John and Debbie Dulski
Co-CASA volunteers John and Debbie Dulski just celebrated 20 years of marriage by renewing their...
Dec 17 2019
Home for the Holidays
I remember driving back to New Orleans for the holidays to visit my family each...
Dec 05 2019
What We're Into This December
Welcome back to our monthly series of What We’re Into, an update on everything CASA...
Nov 26 2019
Celebrating Cultural Traditions: Food Edition
Some of my favorite memories have always included both food and people. With Thanksgiving just...
Nov 21 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Angela Duley
"The biggest thing that a CASA volunteer brings is their time," says volunteer Angela Duley....
Nov 14 2019
Celebrating the Relatives who Became Parents at Adoption Day 2019!
Last Thursday was Austin’s annual Adoption Day celebration, hosted by the Austin Bar Association. This...
Nov 06 2019
What We're Into This November
Welcome back to our monthly series of What We’re Into, an update on everything CASA...
Oct 24 2019
Challenging Assumptions About Domestic Violence
This blog isn’t easy to write. It’s taken me many years to finally reach a...
Oct 22 2019
Cultural Connections: Holiday Traditions Across the World
Holiday season has officially begun! While some of us are getting ready for spooky activities,...
Oct 09 2019
20 Years of Approaching Families with Curiosity and Wonder
In October of 1999, Lydia Garcia joined the staff team at CASA of Travis County...
Oct 03 2019
What We're Into This October
Welcome back to our monthly series of What We’re Into, an update on everything CASA...
Oct 01 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Juan Carrero
"When I was told about my first case, I was a little scared. I asked...
Sep 25 2019
Lost in Translation
Life can look a little different when you speak two languages, especially when you and...
Sep 11 2019
CASA Superhero Run Team Spotlight: John's Justice League
With this Sunday’s CASA Superhero Run being the 10th year of this annual race, we...
Sep 05 2019
What We're Into This September
Welcome back to our monthly series of things we’re into, an update on everything CASA...
Aug 22 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Elizabeth Marks
"The one question that comes to my mind most often is what if she didn't...
Aug 21 2019
The Power of Youth Philanthropists (and How to Inspire Them)
I love it when kids take saving the world into their own hands. Whether through...
Aug 14 2019
How to be an Awesome Advocate for Kids in the Classroom
Happy Back to School! Did you know that CASA volunteers are appointed by judges as...
Aug 09 2019
What We're Into This August
In honor of National Book Lovers Day and the passing of the esteemed Nobel prize-winning...
Jul 23 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Tina Hart
"It's what our trainers told us from the beginning—time and again, we are some of...
Jul 03 2019
What We’re Into This July
Check out what the team at CASA is into this July!
Jun 27 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Richard Allen
"The reward is having an impact on the life of a child," says CASA volunteer...
Jun 25 2019
CASA Staff Share Favorite Stories of Reunifying Families: Part 3
In our first two installations of family reunification stories this month, we celebrated dads and...
Jun 18 2019
CASA Staff Share Favorite Stories of Reunifying Families: Part 2 (Father’s Day Edition)
With Father’s Day this past weekend, we wanted to focus this part of our family...
Jun 12 2019
CASA Staff Share Favorite Stories of Reunifying Families: Part 1
June is National Reunification Month. Family reunification, or family preservation, is the most common outcome...
Jun 06 2019
What We’re Into This June
Here are some recommendations we at CASA are raving about right now.
May 29 2019
Partnering to Help Kids: Foster Angels of Central Texas
For the last two decades, Foster Angels of Central Texas has been a light in...
May 15 2019
International Day of (Redefining) Families
International Day of Families was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 to highlight...
May 12 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Claudia Hernandez
At 22 years old, giving back is already a big part of CASA volunteer Claudia...
May 06 2019
What We’re Into this May
Here are some recommendations we at CASA are raving about right now.
Apr 25 2019
Volunteering with CASA When You Have Kids of Your Own
“As a mother, knowing what you would give your children versus what kids in the...
Apr 17 2019
How CASA Staff Give Back to the Community
In addition to focusing their paid time on training and supervising volunteers, many of our...
Apr 10 2019
A Thank You to Volunteer Advocates
Today, some members of our staff would like to express gratitude and admiration for the...
Apr 09 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Dori LeBlanc
"As a Family Engagement volunteer, I find family members and friends who can be a...
Apr 03 2019
What We’re Into This April
Spring hath sprung upon us, and we can’t think of any better way to celebrate...
Mar 22 2019
How Tech Should Be (and is) Changing Child Welfare
Technology changes our lives a little bit more each and every day. We find more...
Mar 14 2019
Advocating for Kids in the Digital Age
With South by Southwest in full swing, this March we’re bringing you stories about digital...
Mar 06 2019
How to Take Care of Yourself While Doing Really Hard Work
I was making my way home from my first job in the social services field...
Feb 25 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Dionn Schaffner
CASA volunteer Dionn Schaffner is in the middle of her second "Year of Yes." "A lot...
Feb 21 2019
CASA Goes to the Movies (2019 Edition)
With the Oscars approaching, we’ve taken a look at of some of the movies nominated...
Feb 18 2019
Introducing Board Chair Ashley Wright
On Saturday, February 2, Board Chair Ashley Wright faced a big hurdle. She was giving...
Feb 13 2019
Creating Normalcy Through Culture
Imagine being removed from your home, your school, your friends and your family only to...
Jan 29 2019
What We’re Into This January
Welcome back to our monthly series of Things We’re Into, an update on everything CASA...
Jan 24 2019
Meet Volunteer Advocate Flor Castellanos
"When I was in middle school, I saw a family go through the adoption process...
Jan 21 2019
Turn a Day of Service into a Life of Impact
Each year, on the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Jr. is honored by...
Jan 18 2019
What National Thesaurus Day Can Tell Us About CASA
Yes. Even the thesaurus—a book that has sadly been supplanted by the Shift F7 keyboard counterpart—has its...
Jan 15 2019
Advocacy Across the Ages
Childhood can be a varied and tumultuous evolution in a person’s life. It’s safe to...
Dec 27 2018
What are CASA Volunteers Financially Responsible for?
While embarking on the noble journey to become a CASA volunteer, there are often some...
Dec 20 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocates Jennifer Deegan and Zach Richards
What makes Jennifer and Zach's relationship special is how they decided to use these differences...
Dec 13 2018
Lyft Boosts Up Families in Need
“This program has helped me and my children in so many ways. It’s been so...
Dec 10 2018
What We’re Into This Holiday Season
Welcome back to our monthly series of Things We’re Into!
Nov 15 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Paulina Artieda
Born in Ecuador and raised in Austin, CASA volunteer Paulina Artieda has always been passionate...
Nov 08 2018
Austin’s youngest still need CASA’s help!
Dear friends, Riley is a super smart little boy who loves school. Batman is his...
Nov 06 2018
Following the Yellow Brick Road to Adoption Day!
On November 1, 2018, 51 children were adopted by their forever families. Every year during...
Oct 31 2018
A Picture on a Fridge, Una Foto en la Ofrenda
During a recent meeting with fellow CASA programs from across the country, an Executive Director...
Oct 24 2018
What We’re Into This October
Welcome back to our monthly series of Things We’re Into.
Oct 18 2018
How Appearance Affects Kids in Foster Care
The way we present ourselves to the world shapes the way the world presents itself...
Oct 08 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Chukwuma Ogidi
Chukwuma Ogidi, or Chu for short, is one of seven boys. Born and raised here...
Oct 07 2018
Celebrating World Smile Day
by Ashika Sethi Happy World Smile Day! Our Child Advocacy Specialists are celebrating by sharing...
Oct 04 2018
Diving into CASA’s Family Finding Program
Earlier this year we were privileged to witness the adoption of a 17-year-old girl, who...
Sep 25 2018
What We’re Into This September
Hello and welcome to our inaugural series of Things We’re Into, a monthly update on...
Sep 20 2018
Finding Courage: Speaking up about race and ethnicity
by Ashika Sethi As we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to let you...
Sep 08 2018
Celebrating National Grandparents Day
Happy National Grandparents Day! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up some stories about inspiring grandparents and...
Sep 05 2018
Why We Ask for 39 Hours of Intensive Training
On occasion we’re asked about the rigor of our 39-hour training program for new CASA volunteers. Some...
Aug 28 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Alix Ramczyk
Growing up in a large extended family, some of whom are musicians, has influenced Alix...
Aug 23 2018
Super Crafter: How to make an armadillo superhero mask!
It's a bird...It's a plane...It's Super Armadillo!! With the CASA Superhero Run 5K and Kids 1K coming up...
Aug 21 2018
Weathering the Storm: CASA’s advocacy for kids during Hurricane Harvey
A grandmother left without a home, a family's life put on hold, and a teenager stranded....
Aug 16 2018
Surrogate Parenting: Next level educational advocacy
by Callie Langford “We become the special education decision maker. Any child with special education...
Aug 09 2018
National Book Lovers Day: CASA’s Top Reads
Today is National Book Lovers Day! In honor of the holiday, we at CASA have...
Aug 07 2018
Meet Our 2018 CASA Superhero Run Kid’s Council Members!
Small, but mighty. Meet our super Kid’s Council Members, helping us make sure the CASA...
Jul 30 2018
In Foster Care or on the Border, All Children Deserve Advocates
I’ve tried to start writing this article many times and have come up blank. It...
Jul 26 2018
Stepping Up to the Plate: Encouraging men to advocate for kids
At a recent CASA Volunteer Swearing-In Ceremony, The Honorable Darlene Byrne highlighted the obvious gender...
Jul 11 2018
Coming of Age: Strengthening the 50 and older volunteer experience
When asked why she has stuck with CASA over 17 years and 21 cases, Nancy...
Jul 05 2018
Daring to be Diverse: Why Representation in Superhero Pop Culture Matters
It goes without saying that diversity in pop culture is imperative, a notion that Hollywood...
Jun 26 2018
A Quiet Celebration: Understanding Reunification
In honor of National Reunification Month, we are taking a look at family reunification and...
Jun 21 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Madelyn Morey
Madelyn Morey has been a CASA volunteer for 13 years, but has been making an...
Jun 12 2018
How CASA Volunteers are Incredible for Kids!
It’s been 14 years since Pixar gifted us with The Incredibles, an awesome family of superheroes...
Jun 07 2018
Understanding Guardian Ad Litem
While embarking on the noble journey to become a CASA volunteer can be extremely rewarding,...
May 31 2018
A Different Kind of Graduation: Aging Out of Foster Care
Most of us probably remember high school graduation, from giddily chatting with the friends you’ve...
May 29 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Candace Cronin
As part of National Foster Care Month, our monthly volunteer spotlight focuses on a CASA...
May 24 2018
From Foster Care to CASA Volunteer: A Conversation with Logan Phelps
As part of National Foster Care Month, we spoke with CASA volunteer Logan Phelps, who...
May 22 2018
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Why CASA volunteers can’t be foster parents
It can be hard to choose which outlet you want to use to help children...
May 02 2018
Judge Byrne asks volunteers to speak proudly in kids’ best interests!
During our recent Swearing-In Ceremony, The Honorable Darlene Byrne shared her experiences travelling through another...
May 01 2018
CASA: Your Foster Parenting Prerequisite
May is National Foster Care Month. If you’re considering becoming a foster parent… thank you!...
Apr 27 2018
CASA’s Roundup of Superhero Summer Blockbusters
It’s already proving to be a great year for superhero movies with the release of...
Apr 24 2018
Can I volunteer with CASA while having a full-time job?
Many potential volunteers ask us, “What all is involved with being a CASA volunteer?” and...
Apr 19 2018
A Thank-You to CASA Volunteers
Here at CASA, we ask a lot of our volunteers. From maintaining their role as...
Apr 17 2018
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Know The Facts & Signs
One in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18. The magnitude...
Apr 05 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Jen Collins
“I don’t do anything. I just stay in relationships with people. The power of that...
Apr 02 2018
The Children’s Books That Shaped and Inspired Us
From Dr. Seuss to A Wrinkle in Time, everyone remembers their favorite books from childhood...
Mar 21 2018
Building Safety and Security for Kids and Volunteers
When thinking about becoming a CASA volunteer, you might take a look at the child...
Mar 15 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Krissy Osborne
Family has always meant a great deal to CASA volunteer Krissy Osborne, especially after moving...
Mar 13 2018
The Shared Values of Social Work and CASA
Recently, I was talking with a teen about her career aspirations. This teen had a...
Mar 04 2018
CASA Goes to the Movies! (2018 Edition)
With this year's Oscars behind us, we’ve taken a look at the themes of some of...
Feb 19 2018
Introducing Board President John Berkowitz
John Berkowitz believes that we all have superpowers, and among his own superpowers are the...
Feb 06 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Naphtalie Gbolahan
When Naphtalie Gbolahan first heard about CASA 11 years ago, she knew it was an...
Jan 29 2018
What is the Indian Child Welfare Act?
Being involved in the child welfare system means becoming familiar with a long list of...
Jan 25 2018
Opposite Day: From silly themed day to significant change for youth in foster care
I will never forget what a young woman who had a CASA volunteer for 8...
Jan 15 2018
A Lesson from Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s impact on philanthropy and social justice will be everlasting. His candor...
Jan 10 2018
A Voice that Trembles is Better than No Voice at All
At CASA of Travis County, we speak up for children who’ve been abused or neglected....
Jan 05 2018
Meet Volunteer Advocate Brendan Goodrich
Brendan Goodrich knew that his grandmother was a CASA volunteer, but it wasn’t until he...
Dec 19 2017
Creating Normalcy and Joy for Children during the Holiday Season
It’s that time of year: the tree is trimmed and the gingerbread houses have been...
Dec 07 2017
Meet Volunteer Advocate Sarvesh Rajasekaran
Sarvesh moved to Austin two and a half years ago for the live music scene,...
Nov 29 2017
A Month in the Life of a CASA Volunteer
Many potential volunteers ask us, “What all is involved with being a CASA volunteer?” and...
Nov 15 2017
Can you help CASA serve kids ages 0-4?
Today, there are more than 400 children in Travis County Child Protective Services who need...
Nov 09 2017
Meet Volunteer Advocate Jocelyn Lewis
Austin native Jocelyn Lewis has devoted her time to helping youth in more ways than...
Nov 07 2017
The Long and Winding (Yellow Brick) Road to Permanency
Forty-four children were adopted into thirty families Thursday morning. Though their journeys in the foster care...
Oct 30 2017
Cultural Connections: The traditions and lessons of Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos is a vibrant celebration of connection, of remembrance, of cherishing loved...
Oct 27 2017
CASA Volunteers Make a Difference Every Day and for Years to Come
Today is national Make a Difference Day, one of the largest days of service nationwide...
Oct 25 2017
The Undeniable Link Between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
"I was asked when I interviewed for the position of Chief Program Officer at CASA...
Oct 04 2017
Meet Volunteer Advocate Radina Boneva
Growing up in a small town in Bulgaria, Radina Boneva imagined a future working in...
Sep 28 2017
Trauma-Informed Advocacy: How to Make a Customizable Calendar
Every child deserves a sense of stability in a tumultuous environment. A child who has...
Sep 07 2017
A Day Full of Supertraditions
In traditional superhero comics, there are themes that recur, ideas or events we can count...
Sep 06 2017
Happy National Read a Book Day!
Happy National Read a Book Day! Whether you’re a diligent reader or an aspiring bookworm,...
Aug 31 2017
Super Outfits for Superheroes: DIY Costume Ideas
It’s almost September, which means our annual CASA Superhero Run is just around the corner!...
Aug 24 2017
Lucky Cantu Shares Her Secrets to 9 Years of Superhero Fundraising
So I have been a superhero fundraiser for going on 9 years, and I only turned...
Aug 17 2017
Educational Advocacy Tips to Start the School Year Right for Kids
Late August and over 100-degree temperatures usually means one thing to a child - the...
Aug 04 2017
Runners We Love: #BrianPartyOfFive
For the Brian family, being a superhero is a job that begins before you even...
Jul 25 2017
A Different Kind of Summer Travel
It’s summer in Texas and, as the temperature climbs into triple digits, many of us...
Jul 21 2017
Trapped Between: Managing cases in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems
“What I’ve noticed is I’ll go to Gardner Betts [Juvenile Detention Center] and see kids...
Jul 19 2017
Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer with CASA: 2017 Edition
Years ago former CASA volunteer Marissa Marquez shared her "Top 10 Reasons to be a CASA...
Jul 13 2017
Runners We Love: Christophe Ponsart and the Team at OnPrem
On September 18th, 2016, Christophe Ponsart put on a green and yellow body suit and...
Jul 03 2017
In Pursuit of “Independence”
We like to think of ourselves as independent. We wake ourselves up, drive ourselves to...
Jun 28 2017
Meet Volunteer Advocate Texanna Turner
Texanna Turner knew she would be a special education teacher ever since the second grade....
Jun 27 2017
Seeing the Whole Picture by Working with a Child’s Family
“Without understanding where a child comes from, you don’t see the whole picture of that...
Jun 18 2017
Bringing Men to the Table: An interview with SAFE’s Fatherhood Specialist, Jose Olazagasti
“The program gives you a different perspective on the way you’re parenting and the effect...
Jun 08 2017
Wild Things and Basic Needs
Where the Wild Things Are was always a favorite book of mine. As a child, I...
May 30 2017
From CASA Volunteer to Foster Parent
Amy Forget is a planner, through and through. So when, in her late 30s, she...
May 24 2017
The State of Foster Care in the 85th Texas Legislative Session
The 85th Regular Session ends on May 29th, and the legislature has precious days left...
May 18 2017
Using Your Past as Your Determination
Jeffier (Je-fear) Dawson entered foster care at age five along with her two older sisters...
May 11 2017
Six “I Can’ts” About Foster Parenting Debunked
In the face of something as daunting as foster care, it can be easy to...
May 04 2017
May the Fourth Be With You (and with all kids in foster care)
Star Wars. A saga of epic proportions. A story that encompasses a little something for...
Apr 25 2017
Child Abuse Prevention Tools from SAFE’s Strong Start Program
“I could use a little extra support, I’m having a hard time with my 3...
Apr 18 2017
Confronting Sex Trafficking in Our Community
In the state of Texas, there are nearly 79,000 victims of sex trafficking under the...
Apr 11 2017
Meet Volunteer Advocate Becky Dickson
"I've always felt called to be engaged and giving of support," said Becky Dickson. For...
Apr 06 2017
Appreciating the Little Things
We can’t possibly appreciate volunteers enough. Our volunteers selflessly give their time and seemingly endless...
Apr 04 2017
“You don’t get paid to be here. You want to be here.”
“I appreciate the work CASA does. Sometimes at the end of the day people are...
Mar 27 2017
Social Work Lessons for CASA Volunteers
At CASA, we don’t have a social work training or licensure requirement to be a...
Mar 23 2017
Reunifying Families Part 3: The reality of life in the child welfare system and how we address it
One of the reasons people are comfortable with the idea of removing children from their...
Mar 22 2017
Reunifying Families, Part 2: Bias and disproportionality in the child welfare system
On a cursory glance, it can be easy to ascribe ill will to parents who...
Mar 21 2017
Reunifying Families, Part 1: Realities of abuse and a belief in change
In 2016, 53% of the children's cases that CASA of Travis County helped close ended...
Mar 16 2017
Straight from the Source: Foster care alumni share experiences with CASA
What’s the most difficult thing about foster care? “Reconnecting with siblings later. I entered care...
Feb 26 2017
CASA Goes to the Movies!
With the Oscars approaching, we’ve taken a look at the themes of some of the...
Feb 23 2017
Disproportionality in the Child Welfare System: An interview with Tanya Rollins
When you hear the term disproportionality in terms of advocacy work, you are essentially talking...
Feb 20 2017
(Re)introducing Board President David Rubin
Our 2017 Board President, David Rubin, describes himself as a “serial tech entrepreneur” and has...
Feb 13 2017
Aligned Interests: Alpha Kappa Alpha and CASA
The Beta Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha has been supporting children in the...
Jan 26 2017
One More Kid in the System: Unpacking Refusal to Assume Parental Responsibility
The majority of cases in the child welfare system open when the state determines, through...
Jan 18 2017
Lessons from the Hundred Acre Wood
By Steven Olender
Jan 12 2017
Everybody Can Be Great Because Everybody Can Serve
By Steven Olender
Dec 06 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Bob Jefferis
By Steven Olender, Originally published in TODO Austin
Dec 01 2016
Thankfulness or (How CASA Volunteers Are Like Farmers)
By Chandler Farnworth
Nov 16 2016
A Memorandum of Understanding from the NPCMAT
CASA of Travis County recently had forwarded to us a memo from the union that...
Nov 15 2016
Are you always going to take care of me?
Dear friends,
Nov 01 2016
Keeping a Sense of Culture for Kids in Care
By Steven Olender
Oct 20 2016
Judge Byrne swears in 40 new CASA volunteers
The Honorable Darlene Byrne led the Swearing-In Ceremony for 40 new CASA volunteers on Tuesday,...
Sep 29 2016
Someone in their Corner: Bilingual volunteers needed to advocate for children
By Steven Olender
Sep 15 2016
Runners (and Singers) We Love: Tracy Hamilton
By Steven Olender
Sep 06 2016
Seven Principles to Unlock Your Fundraising Superpowers
By Nancy Pollard
Aug 30 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Fawn Jackson-Young
By Steven Olender, Originally published in TODO Austin
Aug 25 2016
Raise your voice with pride
By Alejandro Victoria, Teen Advocacy Specialist
Aug 23 2016
Fundraising as a Superhero Family
By Maria Wright, CASA of Travis County Board Member
Aug 18 2016
Making education a priority for kids, now and throughout the year
By Steven Olender Legally, there is no such thing as educational neglect. It is, quite...
Aug 04 2016
Runners We Love: Lucky Cantu
By Steven Olender When Lucky Cantu was two years old, she pointed to the television,...
Jul 27 2016
Welcoming Alisa De Luna as Senior Director of Community Initiatives
Alisa De Luna has recently joined the staff of CASA of Travis County as our...
Jul 21 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Jenni Jablonski
By Steven Olender, Originally published in TODO Austin
Jul 14 2016
Farewell Sonia
Today is happy-sad at CASA of Travis County as, after 10 years of dedicated service,...
Jul 12 2016
Runners We Love: Graham and Jessica Morgan
By Steven Olender He may have dressed as Thor for the 2015 CASA Superhero Run,...
Jun 23 2016
Online Classes and Shorter Training Cycle Equal Better Retention and Stronger Volunteers
By Callie Langford Since January 2016, the rate of volunteers completing the training process at...
Jun 09 2016
Court Ordered Services: Helping families heal together
By Steven Olender Ultimately, the goal of the child welfare system is to ensure that...
May 31 2016
My Favorite Child
During our May 24 Swearing-In Ceremony, The Honorable Darlene Byrne shared her own adaptation of...
May 26 2016
5 Things You Might Not Know About Foster Care (and 6 Ways You Can Help!)
Today, in honor of National Foster Care Month, we offer five things you might not...
May 24 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Karen Manson
By Steven Olender, Originally published in TODO Austin
May 19 2016
An Accidental Volunteer Info Session
By Steven Olender When Nancy Pollard shared an article on her Facebook page, she had...
May 17 2016
High Need for Austin Foster Parents
Like many communities, Austin faces a huge need for more local foster families, especially families...
May 12 2016
Helping Children Heal from Trauma: The Lessons of Dr. Karyn Purvis
By Steven Olender Now that April and Child Abuse Prevention Month has come to a...
Apr 29 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Luigi Gallicchio
By Steven Olender, Originally published in TODO Austin It took Luigi Gallicchio ten years to sign...
Apr 20 2016
Building a Community’s Resources: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in Your Community, Part 2
In the first installment of our prevention series, Breaking the Stigma, Ending the Isolation: Preventing Child...
Apr 07 2016
Breaking the Stigma, Ending the Isolation: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect Part 1
By Callie Langford At CASA, we step into a child’s life after alleged abuse or...
Mar 30 2016
Healthy Goodbyes: Why We Leave
By Steven Olender At the end of a case, once it is clear that a...
Mar 24 2016
Meet Volunteer Advocate Susy Soltero
"Doing this, I've learned to listen more to the children. I've learned to understand them...
Mar 15 2016
Building Permanency for Kids: Safety, consistency, normalcy and more
By Steven Olender From time to time, it is important for organizations to look at...
Mar 07 2016
What music means to CASA kids
By Steven Olender With SXSW and Amplify Austin rapidly approaching, it feels like everyone in our city...
Feb 25 2016
Donating Your Influence During Amplify Austin
By Steven Olender One of the most important concepts in creating a movement of donors...
Feb 15 2016
Introducing Board President Ben Rubenstein
By Callie Langford Last year Bloomerang published a list of “8 Attributes Of An Outstanding Nonprofit...
Feb 11 2016
We Love Our Volunteers!
By Steven Olender At its core, volunteering with CASA is an act of love, of...
Feb 04 2016
What is Advocacy?
By Steven Olender It can be difficult for us to define what we mean when...
Jan 21 2016
A Name Change that Matters: The Teen Advocacy and Permanency Project
By Steven Olender When we began the Transitioning Youth Project (TYP) in 2009, we did...
Aug 18 2015
What Spiderman, Superman, the X-Men and CASA kids have in common
We have always believed in the CASA Superhero Run motto – “Every child needs a hero but...
Jun 26 2015
What I’ve Learned in Four Years of Superhero Fundraising
By Steven Olender (Formerly known as Underdog, Super Grover, Darkwing Duck and Bowser) I'm a...
Jun 19 2015
A Father’s Day message from DFPS Fatherhood Specialist Kenneth Thompson
By Kenneth Thompson A young man called me who had heard me speak about the...
Jun 16 2015
High school graduation equals empty nests to fill
By Dawn Crane With the school year and high school graduation wrapping up, we asked...