One of the most rewarding things you can do in life
Our Mission:
is to step up and be a voice for an abused/neglected
To advocate for the best
child. Become a Guardian ad Litem and you can
interests of abused and
do just that. New Volunteer Training class in
neglected children in the
April. Contact James Washington at 576.1590 for Richland County Family Court by
providing quality volunteer and
instructions on how to apply. See “In The News”
legal representation to ensure
for details on our upcoming recruitment event.
From The Director’s Desk:
every child a safe, permanent,
and nurturing home.
Greetings Dear Friends ~ THANK YOU to all who
contributed and supported our Love A Child Bake
Sale this year ~ We had such a good time!
We have so many activities planned in the
upcoming months and hope you will be able to
join us. The Volunteers For Youth conference is
only 2 weeks away ~ please register today!!
We so appreciate all that you do for CASA and
the children we serve. But Remember ~ PLEASE
take care of YOU! Let us know if there is
ANYTHING we can do to assist you.
Thank you,
Paige
Children Served in February
New Children ~ 44
Total Children ~ 729
Children Dismissed ~ 40
Total Volunteers ~ 521
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Jutta Young
Jutta Young has been a Guardian ad Litem since September 2000. She is very
dedicated to ensuring children are safe in their placement and their needs are being
met. Jutta is always present for court hearings and makes sure her report is accurate
and very detailed. She establishes rapport well with families and is a great asset in
providing resources for the families she serves. Jutta is the epitome of the perfect
Guardian. She is always polite even when she is working under tremendous
stress. We truly thank her for all the work she has done and hope she will continue
to make a difference in a child’s life.
DATES TO REMEMBER!!!!
03.13.15
Volunteers For Youth Conference!
03.16.15
Courthouse Recruitment Event!
04.10.15
Child Abuse Awareness Walk!
04.15.15
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon!
04.17.15
Fostering Futures Retreat ~ Epworth Children’s Home
04.21.15
Guardian Training ~ CALL JAMES!!!
Volunteers For Youth Conference Registration
Deadline March 6, 2015
GUARDIAN AD LITEM
RECRUITMENT EVENT!
RICHLAND COUNTY COURT HOUSE
1701 MAIN STREET
1ST FLOOR LOBBY
MARCH 16, 2015
11:00AM-2:00PM
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
803.576.1720
Helping Youth Transition from Foster Care to Independence:
SC Education and Training Voucher (ETV)
By: Vicki Jackson
Last month we talked about scholarships and grants that are available to youth in foster care. This month
I would like to tell you about another resource for our youth: The South Carolina Chafee Independent Living
Program. This program “provides services and funding needed to enhance opportunities to learn independent
living skills necessary to become self-reliant” (Pathways to Success IL Guide, 2013, p.1). Chafee Independent
Living funds are federal funds that are allocated for youth in foster care ages 13-21. Below is a list of criteria for
Chafee and ETV Recipients as according to page 4 of the Pathways to Success Independent Living Guide.
• Youth in foster care (from ages 13 until the 21st birthday) are eligible for all Chafee funding and up to
$5,000 in ETV Funding for post-secondary schooling.
• Youth ages 18 and older in voluntary aftercare who have not yet reached age 21 are eligible for all
Chafee funding and up to $5,000 in ETV funding for post-secondary schooling (college).
• Youth who have emancipated out of care after age 18, but have not yet reached their 21st birthday are
eligible for all Chafee funding and up to $5,000 in ETV funding for post-secondary schooling (college).
An aftercare line must be opened and monthly contacts documented as long as aftercare youth are
receiving funds.
• Youth who leave care to positive permanency (adoption/ kinship/ guardianship) at or after age 16 are
eligible for ALL Chafee funding EXCEPT housing funds. They are also eligible for up to $5,000 in
ETV funding for post-secondary schooling (college)
• Youth who are in post-legal Adoption Preservation Placement (from age 13 until the 21st birthday)
and are case managed by SCDSS are eligible for ALL Chafee funding EXCEPT housing funds while
they are in Adoption Preservation Placement. They are also eligible for up to $5,000 in ETV funding for
post-secondary schooling (college) while in placement.
• Youth are eligible to receive ETV up to age 23 if the youth started receiving ETV prior to the 21st
birthday
• Youth who are incarcerated are not eligible for Chafee or ETV funding or eligible to sign the Aftercare
Agreement for Voluntary Placement for Young Adults 18-21 Years Old during the time they are
incarcerated (includes DJJ youth behind the fence).
For more information, the Pathways to Success Independent Living Guide is available at:
https://dss.sc.gov/content/customers/protection/fcs/ilg.pdf
IN THE NEWS
New GAL’s sworn in
February 5, 2015 by Judge McGowan
Emily Bailey, Emily Barnhill, Billy Baucom, Quinate Blassingame, David Colcough,
Melanie Colcolough, Dianne Dash, Victoria Jackson, Marian Kirk, Niara Mack,
Hilary Martin, Nancy Paul, Kim Peterson, Annabelle Robertson, Theresa Weldon,
and Jamie Wilson
IN THE NEWS
Nadine Burke Harris:
How childhood trauma affects health across a
lifetime
TEDMED 2014·15:59·FilmedSep 2014
Subtitles available in 2 languages
View interactive transcript
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician
Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents
struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on
the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those
who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and
lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and
treatment of trauma, head-on.
USC Upstate Hosting 6th Annual Conference on Ending
Child Abuse
Training to Focus on Advocacy and Education
University of South Carolina Upstate is hosting its sixth annual A Brighter Future: Ending Child Abuse Through
Advocacy and Education conference on March 27, 2015. The conference is designed for attorneys,
counselors, educators, the faith community, judges, law enforcement, nurses, physicians, psychologists, social
workers, therapists, victim service professionals and all other concerned community members.
IN THE NEWS
Report Outlines Success for Home Visiting
New Report Calls for Congress to Reauthorize MIECHV at Current
Funding Levels
Set to be reauthorized by Congress next month, the federal Maternal,
Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program has
supported high-risk families in communities across the country and in
South Carolina through intensive home visiting services since 2010.
Children's Trust is South Carolina's state administrator for MIECHV.
The successes, innovations and challenges of MIECHV home visiting
are outlined in a recently released report by the Center for Law and
Social Policy in collaboration with the Center for American Progress. An
Investment in Our Future: How Federal Home Visiting Funding Provides
Critical Support for Parents and Children discusses specific successes
including expanded services, retention of staff and families, systems
building, training and professional development, building data systems,
collaboration and expanded use of evidence-based models and
evaluation.
Children's Trust was highlighted in the report for their partnerships in South Carolina with local family support
service providers, enhancing communication between providers that allows families to receive services that
best meet their needs.
The full report and profile of home visiting in South Carolina are available.
A PDF fact sheet on home visiting in South Carolina created by the Association of State Home Visiting
Initiatives is also available.
GUARDIAN AD LITEM RECRUITMENT EVENT
RCCASA will be holding a recruitment event on Monday, March 16th
from 11:00am-2:00pm at the Richland County Courthouse in the 1st
floor lobby. CASA Staff will be there to give out applications and
answer any questions you may have about being a Guardian ad Litem
for Richland County. New GAL training class scheduled for April.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Staff: Paige Greene, LaQuista Peterson, Thomas Clark
GAL’s:
Alicia Smith
Annette Clinding
Annette Nehez
Anthony McClaine
Aubrey Carde’
Beverly Harris
Carlton Boyd
Chaini Demas
Chelsea Rikard
Chelsea White
Clarence Brigman Cole McNair
Deana Tillison
DuJuan Council
Elizabeth DeHart Erica Loudin
Evelyn Wratee-Woods
Gloria Moore
Frances Stevenson
Harriet Miller
Jacqueline Irizarry
Julia Spitler
Gail Evans
Hattie Green
George Cobb
Iris Turner
Justin Montgomery
Jutta Young
Keysha Reynolds Latrea Bellamy
Linda Bloedel
Marian Kirk
Matthew Byelich Michael Glymph
Michelle James
Mike Peterson
Patricia Ferreira
Pearl Robinson
Robert Clarkson
Sarah Assemany
Shambra Garvin
Patrick Schmeckpeper
Rosalyn Richardson
Sara Eadie
Shawna Asbell
Sheila McMahon
Stephany Snowden
Tony Clyburn
Tyeneisha Robinson
Wynne Andrews
Tashima Martin
Yvonne Corppetts
2015 CASA STAFF
Left to right
Back row:
Vicki Jackson, Fostering Futures Coordinator; Michael Watts, CASA Supervisor; James Washington, Program
Manager; Pamela Nipper, Program Manager; Marilyn Washington, CASA Supervisor; Matthew Perkins,
CASA Supervisor; Angela Kohel, Legal Manager; Christine Isler, CASA Supervisor; Roger Hoefer, CASA
Supervisor
Front Row:
Heyward Hall, CASA Suprevisor; Betsy Burton, CASA Attorney; Susanne Lyell, Administrative Assistant; Paige
Greene, Director; Melissa Bowman, Program Manager; Dee Dee Johnson, CASA Case Coordinator; Sharon
Walker, Program Manager; Delvin Alston, CASA Supervisor; Thomas Clark, CASA Supervisor.
Not Pictured:
Heidi Aakjer, PT CASA Supervisor; LaQuista Peterson, PT CASA Supervisor
RC CASA
1701 Main Street, Room 407
Columbia, SC 29201
803.576.1735