Newsroom

April 20-26 is Volunteer Appreciation week
CASA volunteers are the heart of advocacy, standing behind children in foster care and making sure their voices are heard. Their work helps to create brighter futures and lasting change for children and families in Colfax, Nance, and Platte counties of Nebraska. 
This volunteer appreciation week, and every week, 
we celebrate THEM.

Every year at their Annual Meeting, the Columbus Area United Way acknowledges the incredible volunteers who go above and beyond to help their partner agencies, including CASA Connection, do what they do best. This year, CASA Connection volunteer advocate, Julie Anderson, was one of the volunteers who were recognized. Julie has been a volunteer with CASA Connection since 2019 and has advocated for eight children. We appreciate all she has done for the children she's advocated for and for being part of our team of volunteers.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

APRIL TO FOCUS ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS
WEAR BLUE ON APRIL 4TH

Columbus, Nebraska- A statewide partnership that includes Columbus Area United Way (CAUW), Community and Family Partnership (CFP) and Bring Up Nebraska is working to color our communities blue in April. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and these groups are hoping to raise awareness on the importance of community-based support for all children and families.
            As part of these prevention efforts, the community is urged to wear blue on Friday, April 4th to show support for child abuse prevention month. 
            Gather your co-workers, friends, and family to post your BLUE photo to the local CFP Child Abuse Prevention Council Facebook group. The council will determine their favorites and award plaques to those chosen. This is a terrific opportunity to show your support for child abuse prevention.
               Another important piece of child abuse prevention month is the community-wide distribution of blue pinwheels in our four-county area of Platte, Colfax, Boone, and Nance. According to preventchildabuse.org, the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign began in 2008 and “symbolizes childlike lightheadedness and a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.” When you see a blue pinwheel in April, think of hope, hope for our community families and children to thrive.
         Engaged and supportive citizens and communities within Nebraska have the power to prevent many of the situations and conditions where child abuse and neglect occurs. Child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure each family has the knowledge, resources, skills and support they need to provide a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment for all of Nebraska’s children.
            Abbi Shanle with Faith Regional Health Services Child Advocacy Center shares the importance of focusing on prevention. “As we embark on another Child Abuse Prevention Month, it is important to recognize the impact this issue has on our communities and the resounding work that is being done to protect children. Children cannot protect themselves; it is therefore imperative that adults step up and intervene to protect children. This includes educating ourselves, having crucial conversations, and holding each other accountable when it comes to keeping children safe. While our investigators and prosecutors work to ensure justice for those who have endured child abuse, it falls on all adults to know the facts and reduce the risk of harm for children in our communities. You have the power to protect a child. Everyone in Nebraska is a mandatory reporter. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.”
Effective child abuse prevention activities succeed when families are supported before there is a need to call child protective service. Positive change and impact occur when a community is willing to listen and act on the wisdom and lessons that those with personal experience are willing to share and teach. These efforts also succeed because of partnerships created among state, regional and local health, and social service agencies, as well as those in the community including faith and medical communities, schools, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business sector.
       "When it comes to child abuse, we are very fortunate to live in a caring community where collaboration among teams and programs is plentiful. Every community has those that need help and those that are there to help. The issue lies between these two sets of people, and this is where every citizen can help” says Susie Jarecki from CASA Connection. “First, educate yourself on the needs around you, and the services being provided. Second, report…if you suspect something, call the police and/or the hotline. Let them investigate to see if there is an issue. If there is, you just helped that child, if there isn’t, no harm done.”
When you see blue pinwheels, jars, shirts, or signs in April, remember that it takes every person in our community to help prevent child abuse, one small action at a time.

New CASA Connection Advocate Sworn-in

Congratulations to Brandi Vrba, CASA Connection's newest volunteer advocate. 
Brandi was sworn in on February 18, by the Honorable Denise Kracl, Platte County judge. Brandi is now ready to advocate for the children in our community who deserve a big-hearted adult willing to be their voice in the juvenile court system. We are thrilled to have her on the CASA Connection team of amazing adults dedicated to helping foster children in Platte, Colfax, and Nance counties. 

Do you need a guest speaker for your group or organization? We can help with that: our staff would love to come be a presenter for you

CASA Connection is seeking adults, ages 21 and over, to volunteer with our program. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities.  These CASA volunteers are trained citizens who are appointed by a judge to speak in court for the safety and well-being of abused and neglected children.

No special background or experience is needed. You don’t need to know about court proceedings or have legal experience to become a CASA. Also: you don’t have to have a professional background as a caseworker or counselor to help a child. You will be able to rely on your training and the support of CASA staff members In the same vein, CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. More than half of all CASA volunteers are employed full-time.

Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care. Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.  CASA Connection staff provides all training our volunteers need and we set the training around their schedules. volunteers are well-trained and supported by competent and professional staff. 

• Children with a CASA volunteer spend an average of four fewer months in out-of-home care than children without a CASA volunteer.
• Judges, attorneys, child protective workers, and parents overwhelmingly report that CASA volunteers make a difference with the children they serve.
• Cases involving a CASA volunteer are more likely to be permanently closed. Fewer than 10% of children with a CASA volunteer re-enter the foster care system.

CASA Connection needs YOU to ​​​​become a CASA volunteer.
You can make a lasting impact a child’s life by
becoming a CASA volunteer. 
Volunteers in Platte and Colfax counties are especially needed. 
Call our office: 402-563-4944 
​​​​​​​or email Lisa Rosendahl: lrosendahl@plattecounty.ne.gov