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CASA Newsletter - April 2007 |
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CASA Newsletter - April 2007
"CASA gave me the chance to start my life abuse free"
Quote from a participant exit survey at the CASA Shelter
by Sue Nichols
Grants & Compliance Coordinator
For 30 years CASA has served the southern Pinellas community, working to stop domestic violence and empower the survivors of domestic abuse to begin safer, better lives. Each year CASA strives to expand its capacity and effectiveness. We think you should know about the standards CASA meets on a regular basis to provide the highest level of service both to the participants in CASA’s programs and to the community that benefits from those services.
Over twenty of our major funding sources annually conduct “on-site” monitoring reviews, in which they not only review service and personnel files, but also review financial records, each of CASA facilities, and interview the staff, volunteers and Board members. Good performance reviews and a “clean” audit conducted by an outside accounting agency each year enhance CASA’s chance to receive funds the following year.
Most importantly, program participants complete surveys regarding the services that CASA has provided them particularly in terms of providing them safety and assisting with their safety planning. The results of the surveys are compiled and reviewed twice annually to insure that the needs of survivors are being met.
CASA also has an agency wide comprehensive quality improvement process in which every full time staff and board members participates. This process ensures that CASA develops and maintains the best programs to meet the needs of the survivors, has the safest buildings and facilities, has updated policies and procedures, and maintains the accurate records and data required by funding sources.
CASA is proud to offer innovative, well managed programs that meet the multitude of needs that domestic violence victims and their children may have. When you contribute to CASA, you can be sure that your donation really goes to the families that you want to help. Your help means that CASA empowers the community to stop domestic violence. Please click on the Donate Now button below, or contact Katherine at (727) 895-4912 x 101 to find out how, with your help, CASA can continue to serve its survivors and children to the very highest standards.
CASA Volunteers Inspire by Example
by Amy Harcar
Volunteer Coordinator
This year volunteers across the country will be honored April 15-21 during National Volunteer Week. This year’s theme is “Inspire By Example” and at CASA, volunteers live out this vision with every task whether it is teaching children words to express themselves or sorting through donations in the CASA Thrift Store. CASA volunteers give nearly 1,000 hours of service to our community each month and in doing so, they lead our community on a path to greater peace.
During this National Celebration of Volunteerism, we would like to seize the opportunity to introduce you to a few of the volunteers who are currently inspiring others through their dedication to CASA.
Tyssa Garner is a St. Petersburg High School student who volunteers in the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. At least once a week, Tyssa spends a couple of hours after school reading domestic violence police reports and sending letters to individuals in the reports informing them of the services that are available to them through CASA. Tyssa has been nominated by CASA for the United Way’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year, Youth Category.
Sandy Clenney has volunteered with CASA for many years and done many different tasks from folding linens in CASA’s Emergency Shelter to serving on a committee to increase donations and revenue in CASA’s Thrift Store. Sandy also volunteers with CASA’s Supervised Visitation Center which provides a safe place for court-ordered visitation between non-custodial parents and their children. CASA has nominated Sandy for the United Way’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year, Human Services Category.
Mary Shuh is the chairperson for CASA’s upcoming “A Good Night’s Sleep Lunch.” Mary has supported CASA since 1998 by participating in and organizing volunteers for CASA fundraising events. Mary is also a member of the Peacemaker Society, a special group of donors who pledge at least $1000 per year over a five year period. Mary has been nominated by CASA for the United Way’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year, Leadership Category.
Reflections on 30 years of CASA
As CASA moves into its 30th year, we are featuring regular contributions on CASA’s past by Judy Lambdon who has worked at CASA for 22 years.
The wall of the garage facing the playground was originally painted a bilious color of Pepto-Bismol pink. When the first Day of Caring was organized by the United Way, CASA was fortunate to work with Florida Power (now Progress Energy). They signed on to clean up the property, spread mulch, do some painting, etc. In passing I said it would be wonderful to have something for children painted on that horrible wall. Well, they found an artist to sketch out a mural and on the Day of Caring they all painted it (like paint by numbers). It was a darling picture of multi-cultural children playing on a beach with pelicans, birds, shells, umbrellas, and a big beach ball. At the end of the day when we were showing it to the children a little two year old boy ran over and pointed to the beach ball and said “ball, ball, ball.” His mother was ecstatic as that was the first word he had ever spoken. The mural lasted many years and brought pleasure to many children. |
