Who Can Make a Difference?

Diverse group of adults and children at outdoor meal, blog header

Building new relationships can feel intimidating. This is especially true for children and teens who have experienced trauma. Youth hurt or abandoned by loved ones may be scared to trust again. Teens jaded by ongoing let-downs may expect the worse and not pursue new friendships. Children not given the opportunity to form healthy attachments to…

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CASA Library: The Language of Flowers

CASA staff holding The Lanaguage of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Our team at Henrico CASA loves to read… and there’s no better time to read than the summer! In upcoming weeks we’ll be highlighting some of our recent favorites in the hopes that you will enjoy the themes and connections to our work as child advocates. Synopsis The Victorian language of flowers was used to…

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CASA Library: Atlas of the Heart

Jeannine holding Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

Our team at Henrico CASA loves to read… and there’s no better time to read than the summer! In upcoming weeks we’ll be highlighting some of our recent favorites in the hopes that you will enjoy the themes and connections to our work as child advocates. Synopsis If we want to find the way back…

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CASA Builds Resilience

child sitting in woman's lap, blog header

Our vision at Henrico CASA is for children to live in safe and stable homes. Really, we wish for more than just that baseline for each child. We want them to have the opportunity to thrive – to develop, to flourish, and to succeed. In this month’s blog posts we are taking a look at…

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CASA Grows Competence in Children

adult speaking with young woman on bench, blog header

Our vision at Henrico CASA is for children to live in safe and stable homes. Really, we wish for more than just that baseline for each child. We want them to have the opportunity to thrive – to develop, to flourish, and to succeed. In this month’s blog posts we are taking a look at…

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CASA Communication: Tips to Frame a Child’s Story

adult with boy, blog header

Over recent weeks, we have explored ways that volunteer advocates communicate to remain positive, respectful, and inclusive. Afterall, the primary role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate, aka CASA, is to amplify a child’s voice. While within the courtroom, we literally act as the child’s voice. However, outside of the courtroom we want to find…

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CASA Communication: Value Through Language

adult and child with foreheads pressed together, blog header

Every single one of us wants to feel seen and valued. This is especially true for a child, or family, that may be walking through life feeling unseen in the dark shadow of their challenging circumstances. Our words, even when intended to be positive, can unintentionally exclude or dismiss people. Unfortunately, those who feel different…

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CASA Communication: Uplift with Words

woman crouching in front of small child, blog header

“As one person, can I really make a difference?” We’ve all entertained this thought at one time or another. Complex situations, like the ones that often play out in the child welfare system, can feel daunting and endless. It’s only natural to wonder what kind of good we can do when so much appears to…

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CASA Call to Action: Race Matters

Adult and child sitting on front porch together, blog header

Race matters. That is why at Henrico CASA we believe our volunteers, staff, and leadership should reflect the diversity of the population that we serve. We strive for all of our partners to feel safe and comfortable as people, and within their roles at our organization. It’s why we explore topics like equity, inclusion, and…

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Henrico CASA Volunteers Give the Gift of Time

clock with bow, blog header

As I began to write this post, I was not sure I could articulate the actual definition of time. There are certainly many things that come to mind – the time of day, a moment in time, not enough time. This makes time a complicated word. It is a word that in one breath can…

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