Important News from CASA Child Advocates!
November 23, 2021
I have some exciting news to share with you this holiday season… We’ve moved!
Just last week, CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County, the county’s only organization appointed by the court to advocate for abused and neglected children, moved our offices to the historic Falvey-Miller House at 505 North Main Street in downtown Conroe.
Why is this so exciting? I’d love to tell you more about how this new office offers space to expand our programs and increase our capacity to serve children and families and about how YOU can make a lasting difference in children’s lives!
Did you know that in 2020 in Texas, there were 68,461 confirmed cases of child abuse? 251 children died, victims of abuse or neglect.*
To those already connected with CASA, you know the important work our volunteers do to help children and families. Advocates like Julia. Use your phone and follow the QR code or click on the photo on the right to hear how Julia served three siblings in care–Bella, Mason, and Bo–even during the pandemic! You can also visit https://bit.ly/Continuing-to-serve-every-single-child.
Here in Montgomery County, our Advocates have been serving EVERY SINGLE CHILD in foster care since June of 2015. We are one of just a handful of CASA programs across the state of Texas able to provide Advocates for 100% of our cases.
Since we were established in Montgomery County in 1992, our Advocates have served more than 9,750 children. Last year, Advocates volunteered over 18,900 hours advocating for children in need.
These are such wonderful accomplishments! But our work goes on, and we want to continue to improve the efficacy of our advocacy for children and youth. To change children’s FUTURES for the better!
This is why the new office space is such a big deal…
If you’ve been keeping up with the news over the past year, you may have heard some of the reports about the CWOP (Children Without Placement) crisis in Texas. In fact, you may have seen Ted Oberg’s recent interview with former foster youth, Prince Hayward, about this topic just a couple of months ago. You can watch Ted’s report here: https://bit.ly/ted-oberg-cwop-crisis.
For CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County, we want to be able to provide support–better support for these children in crisis. Let me explain our challenges in our former leased space and the anticipated solutions and impact that this new office will afford us!
CAMPAIGN IMPACT FORECAST
CHALLENGES OF FORMER LEASED OFFICE SPACE
- Single-use Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) coaching room and limited staff availability
- CWOP youth in care (children without placement) living at CPS office during the day
- Inability of volunteers to engage family and/or other individuals connected to a child prior to first court hearing
- No space to host teen-centered events (such as life skills training)
- Lack of adequate space to host the Trauma Informed Care Montgomery County Task Force
SOLUTIONS OFFERED BY NEW OFFICE SPACE
- TBRI coaching program expansion including additional spaces for coaching sessions and TBRI Practitioner solely dedicated for coaching purposes
- Multi-use spaces available for parent/child visits as alternative to CPS office
- Early Collaborative Family Engagement initiative to focus on meaningful connections for the child BEFORE first court hearing
- Multi-use spaces for teen-centered events (including interactive, outdoor community garden)
- CASA4Teens program expansion including staff dedicated to teen life skills and post-secondary education purposes
- Larger training room
IMPACT
- 100% of children and families in the child welfare system in Montgomery County will be offered TBRI coaching services by CASA
- Increased services provided to children and families affected by trauma, resulting in better long-term outcomes and healing
- Less stress on children and caregivers
- More functional and secure environment
- Increased youth programs on-site
- A truly “Trauma-Informed” Montgomery County, Texas where the needs of traumatized children are recognized and addressed proactively
This capital campaign–the CASA Child Advocates’ Foundation for Our Future campaign–has three main objectives:
CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES
A county able to effectively care for children and families affected by trauma
Teens with the foundation and skills needed to become productive adults
Increased access to trauma-informed support services for children, parents, and placements
Learn more about the campaign.
The main house–built in 1929–has been named The Rock Center for Child Advocacy after generous campaign contributors, Doug and Julie Rock.
Since June of this year, we have raised $1.9 million towards our $2.5 million goal (76%) for the Foundation for Our Future campaign.
Now you’re invited to help our organization grow and expand services to strengthen our advocacy for children and families in crisis.
Your support will leave a lasting legacy for kids in care. Spread joy this holiday season to the children who need it most.
I’m writing to you today to ask you: Can you help? Can you find it in your heart to give a child a chance?
There are various giving levels with naming rights still available! You can also leave your mark with a personalized brick that will last a lifetime. To change a child’s future today, visit https://bit.ly/foundation-for-our-future to learn more and make a donation.
View Giving Levels and Naming Rights
Thank you for making such a lasting difference in the life of a child.
Warmest wishes this holiday season,
Ann Marie Ronsman, MSN, RN | TBRI Practitioner
President & CEO, CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County
* Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 2020 Data Book