Raising Awareness for Vulnerable Children
CASA Core Values: Family
January is known as a time for vision. It is a season to look ahead and make commitments for the new year. However, before we move forward, there is benefit in reflection. At Henrico CASA, we are using this time to meditate on our core values, remembering what is most important to us. Our core…
CASA Story: Making Brittany’s Future Bright
Brittany’s cries for help went unheard by her family. Her attempts at communicating her emotions – specifically her fear and anger from past abuse by a family member – were met by rejection as she bounced between various homes of friends and relatives. Brittany was without an anchor in a powerful storm. Brittany’s CASA, Denise,…
CASA Story: Making Jasmine’s Future Bright
Jasmine’s father left her and her younger siblings in a parked car. They sat alone in that car for hours, scared and confused. When Jasmine feared that their father was not coming back, she began looking for help. Aid came in a commotion of strangers and police officers. Jasmine was thrust into the unknown. Jasmine’s…
CASA Story: Making Mario’s Future Bright
Mario found himself grappling with the consequences of risky behaviors. On the surface, he was a teen making bad choices. Deeper within, he was a child battling a whirlwind of emotions and trauma associated with ongoing sexual abuse and medical neglect. Mario’s CASA, James, met him in the depths of this storm. James recognized Mario’s…
Suzanne’s CASA Story
Suzanne Pericle has been volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for more than 10 years. After raising children of her own, she became a CASA to impact and encourage children beyond her own family. Forty-one children have benefitted from Suzanne’s support, encouragement, and advocacy. She takes pride in being their voice in Court, knowing…
Esther’s CASA Story
Esther Snead has been volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for seventeen years. She finds purpose in this role, knowing she is making a difference in a child’s life in both the present and the future. She has also found a greater sense of community. Esther’s calming demeanor and humility are a few of…
Reginald’s CASA Story
Reginald Baugh, a software engineer, was sworn in by the Court as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate, aka CASA, earlier this year. He is enthusiastically embracing the role, recognizing this as an opportunity to be an ‘agent of change.’ With CASA, Reginald has already served five children who needed someone to speak up for…
Chase’s CASA Story
Chase Whitaker, a newly graduated law student, attorney, and future Guardian Ad Litem has been volunteering with Henrico CASA for over two years. Prior to his time in Henrico, he served as a volunteer advocate with the CASA program in San Diego. Chase’s most recent case was full of ups and downs with a dramatic…
CASA Case: Sam and Christopher’s Story
Sam and Christopher*, two young brothers, were born into a tumultuous home life marked by domestic violence. Over time, their mother realized that although the violence was against her, not the children, it was still hurting them. She recognized that it was her responsibility to protect the boys. She left the abusive relationship and filed…
DVAM: 4 Ways to Support a Child Victim
Domestic violence creates an unsafe, unhealthy, and frightening environment for children. The violence may or may not be directed at the children. But the children are victims, all the same. Witnessing intimate partner violence is traumatic. Children may be witnessing it with their own eyes, but they may also hear or sense violence that is…