An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Frances L. Allsup

Executive Director

Brenda M. Lancaster

Permanency

Coordinator

Amy L. Guidry

Volunteer

Coordinator

Adrian D. McCullum

Program Assistant

Board of Directors

Marilyn Montgomery

Ken Rice

Troy Ross

Lucy Selman Shannon Vincent

Susan Wentzell

Jackson County CASA, Inc. 4903 Telephone Road Pascagoula, MS 39567

Phone: 228-762-7370

Fax: 228-762-7385

frances_allsup@co.jackson.ms.us

brenda_lancaster@co.jackson.ms.us

amy_guidry@co.jackson.ms.us

adrian_mccullum@co.jackson.ms.us www.jccasa.net

A Successful CASA Blues

March 2016 Volume 3: Issue 3

Court Dates 2

County Conferences 2

In-Service 2

March Birthdays 3

Amy’s Antidote 3

FYI 3

Spring Training 4

Community Partnership 4

CASA Blues Highlights 5

More CASA Blues High-

lights

5

Inside this issue:

Abuse Hotline 1-800-222-8000

Our first CASA Blues was hosted February 26 at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pascagoula. It

was a wonderful night of fun with friends sharing delicious food and enjoying great music from

Bleu Midnite. Thanks to our sponsors and all of you who attended, it was an amazing success!

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to each of the following

supporters for their donation to the event. We could not have done it without them.

Rhythm & Blues Sponsors: Gulf Trust Credit Union• Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association • Wal-Mart; Rock & Roll Blues Sponsors: Hancock Bank • Keesler Federal Credit Union • Navigator Credit Union • Singing River Federal Credit Union; Country Blues Sponsors:; Bacot McCarty Foundation • Chevron• City of Pascagoula • David O. McCormick, P.A. • Ingall’s Shipbuilding • Singing River Services;; Boogie Woogie Blues: Anthony N. Lawrence, III, DA • Compton Engineering • First Federal Savings & Loans • Foster Brimm Consulting • Heidelberg Stein-berger Colmer & Burrow, P.A. • Jerry Lee’s Grocery • Kiwanis Club of Pascagoula • Merchant’s & Marine Bank • Merlin Wagner’s Contracting • The First Bank ; In-Kind Sponsors: Bozo's Seafood Market & Deli • Broome’s Ca-tering• Coca Cola • Dickey’s Barbeque • Flowers by Karen • Four Seasons • Ft. Bayou Wine & Spirits • Good Games Printing • Lamar Advertising •Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. • Mississippi Security Police • Rex Distrib-uting • Scranton’s Restaurant • Singing River Link • South Mississippi Living • The Grand Magnolia Ballroom & Suites • WGUD • WKFK 7 • WLOX TV Silent Auction Donors: Amanda Rice Insurance Agency, American Lube Fast, Amy Baker, Applebee's, Arts on the Avenue, Aztecas, Bay Collection, Beijing Super Buffet, Bernard Clark Antiques, Boomtown Casino, Bourbon Orleans, Bridget Blue, Buffalo Wild Wings, Carrabba's, Castaway Bar & Grill, Chandeleur Outfitter, Charisma, Cheryl’s Steakhouse, Chick-fil-A D'Iberville, Chili's, Classy Chassis Car Wash, Coral, Cycles Plus, Cypress Lanes Bowling, Deborah Cooper, Delo's Heavenly Coffee Hose, Downtown Buffet & Grill, El Aguila, El Saltillo, Firestone, Five Guys Burger & Fries, Foster's Air, Fresh Market, Gautier Mullet Festival, Golden Nugget, Gray Line, Gulf Coast Exploreum, Gulf Hills, Half Shell Oyster House, Hard Rock Casino, Healthplex, Hillyer House, Hilton Garden Inn, Jack's by the Tracks, Jan Bailey, Johnson Brothers Jewelry, Kathy's Frame Works, Katie Allsup/It Works, Khol’s, D’Iberville, La Fiesta Bravo, Lee Tracy Boutique, Leo's Wood Fire Pizza, Liquors Unlimited, LY Buffett, Mary Mahoney's, Mary C. O'Keefe, Massage Envy, Main Street Florist, McAlister's, McDonald's, McElroy's, Mobile Bay Bears, Moe's, Murky Waters, Negrotto's Gallery, Newks, Ocean Springs Donuts, Ocoee Adventure Center, Off the Hook, Ohr O'Keefe Museum of Art, Olive Garden, Olive Oils & Vinegars, Oww LaLa Boutique, Panda Palace, Para-dise Grill, Pascagoula Country Club, Pat Harrison Camp Trail, Pamela Roberts, Paula Perry, Phillip Pine Pottery, Phoenicia's, Po Boy Express, Poppy's, Premier Dermatology, Raisin Canes, Red Lobster, River Art Gallery, Ron Hoyt, Ruby Tuesday, Salon Bella, Sassy Nails, Scarlet Pearl Casino, Shaggy's, Shanghai, Sharon Sigalas, Shear Attitude, Shearwater Pottery, Shell Landing, Sherrell Smith, Singing River Health, System Foundation, Smoothie King, South-ern Belles Like Big Bows, Sports Clips, Steamboat Natchez, Tato Nut, The Grand Theatre, The Juke Joint, The Latest Look, The Peabody Hotel, The Pet Connection, Thornton Bail Bonds, Torta Dolce Bakery, Twin Peaks, Two Dogs Dancing, Walter Anderson Museum, Wayne Lee's, Willis Furniture, Wonder Nails & Spa, Woody's, WP Shelton

Jewelers, YMCA, Zeal Boutique

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Court Dates

County Conference's

Page 2 CASA CONNECTION

County Conference's are held every six months to discuss and review the permanent plan of the child/children in foster care. Your attendance and input is requested. The review is NOT a court hearing, however, the testimony delivered during the conference will be provided to the Court to aid in making decisions about the Child’s best interest. Please contact the CASA staff if you are not able to attend.

Your Court date is very important. Your presence is needed at all Court hearings. However, if you are unavailable to attend, please contact the CASA office and provide an update of your case. CASA staff will present your report to the Court. Your input is essential. Your child/children are counting on you to provide their voice in Court. Please review the schedule carefully. If you have any questions contact Amy or any staff for assistance.

In–Service Dates for Volunteers Our first Volunteer Training for 2016 will begin March 3. Classes will be held throughout the month with Induction tentatively scheduled for March 24. All active volunteers are invited to attend and/or assist in training classes. Contact the CASA staff if you would like to participate. Be sure to include this time as In-Service hours on your monthly reports. Your assistance and participa-tion in these classes is greatly appreciated. See page 5 for the complete training schedule.

MOVIE MORNING! To accommodate our volunteers that requested daytime In-Service options, we will present our first movie morning. Please join us for popcorn and a soda as we watch The Wolfpack, March 18, 9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. at the CASA office. The Wolfpack is a documentary about The Angulo brothers who spent their childhood locked away from the world, under the ty-rannical rule of their father, unable to leave their New York City apartment. The feature film is 1 hour and 30 minutes long.

Contact the CASA office to participate in these events.

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

CASA CONNECTION Page 3

March Birthdays March 14 Elizabeth Walley March 21 Malcolm Mobley

March 23 LaTreka Dailey

Hello all you marvelous volunteers! First of all….. CASA would not be CASA without you! You are the backbone of this organization, and for that, I am forever grate-ful! Recently, it was brought to my attention that many of you have been spoken to or treated in an inappropriate manner while per-forming your CASA duties. Your Court order gives you the right to investigate your case and provides you access to records, too. No person, organization or business has the right to treat you in an unprofessional manner. You are not expected to take any type of verbal or emotional abuse, whatsoever!! It will not be tolerated. You are Officers of the Court and answer only to the Court and the CASA staff. Immediately contact any CASA staff if you are EVER treated in an inappropriate or unprofessional manner and we will take it from there. We love each of you, and want your experience as a CASA volunteer to be happy and rewarding. Ok, my protective rant is over! LOL! Thank you for everything that you guys do. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Amy’s Antidote

FYI March is Social Workers Appreciation Month. To show our appreciation for all that they do for our children, CASA will provide a special treat for them on March 10; we will deliver cookies to the entire staff at Department of Human Services. Contact any CASA staff if you would like to participate or assist with this project. We are very appreciative of the dedication and commitment of the social workers. Together, we are a good team, providing a voice for the abused and neglected children in the Youth Court system. Frances kicked off February with a speaking engagement at the First Baptist Church in Pascagoula. Frances, with Brenda in tow, spoke to the Women on Mission group. It was a great opportunity to spread the word of our mission and to meet some new and old friends. Frances and Brenda spent the day with the Harrison County CASA staff on February 3. This provided a valuable opportunity to share ideas and spend time with our CASA friends Roy, Terry, Rhonda, Katherine, Marion and Debra. It was truly a great day! United Way hosted their Annual meeting at the Pascagoula Senior Citizens Center on February 5. The entire CASA staff was in attendance as the United Way staff provided an update on their successful campaign. Now, it is time for us to begin preparation for their upcoming campaign that will start later this year. So, this month we will begin our Pacesetter’s fundraising event, offering popcorn and a drink (Coke, diet Coke or water) from 2:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m. each Wednesday for the next three months for the suggested donation of $2. Stop by the CASA office to offer your support. Adrian and Amy attended the Charity Pool Tournament hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast APA on February 20. The tournament was held at In Timeout in Ocean Springs and offered a 50/50 split on registration to our program. They were able to donate $247.00 to our program. Amazing! They had a great time and made some new friends; they even learned some new thing about playing pool. Amy help Susan

pull names for the raffles while Adrian enjoyed gumbo! We want to say a great big “thank you” to League Operators Susan and Randy Church, In Timeout owner Joy and all the players who participated in the tournament. A great time was had by all. We are delighted and thankful to have their support. For highlights of the tourna-ment visit http://www.pooltogether.org/ms-gulf-coast-apa-raises-money-for-casa/ Don’t forget to advocate for your eligible children to attend the Independent Living retreats and events hosted by Southern Chris-tian Services. You will receive notices of upcoming events as they arrive. The next scheduled retreat is March 11—12 and is open to youths between 16 and 18. Contact the CASA staff for further details. The 2016 National CASA/GAL Conference will be held June 4-7 at the Gaylord Resort in National Harbor, Maryland (outside Wash-ington, DC). Online conference registration and the special conference rate for hotel rooms are now available. Visit www.casaforchildren.org for details.

http://www.pooltogether.org/ms-gulf-coast-apa-raises-money-for-casa/

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Page 4 CASA CONNECTION

Spring Training Get ready! Our spring training session will begin March 3 and end with the Induction ceremony on March 24. Please share this

schedule with others that you think will be interested in becoming a volunteer. Remember, this is also an opportunity for you to

refresh your CASA training and gain In-Service hours.

March 3: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Meet and Greet / Orientation

Chapter 1 Introduction to the CASA role

March 5: 8:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

Chapter 2 Introduction the Law, the Child Protection

System & the Courts

Chapter 4 Understanding Families, Part 1

March 8: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Chapter 5 Understanding Families, Part 2

March 10: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Chapter 6 Understanding Children

March 15: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Chapter 8 & 9 Practicing the CASA Role /

Reporting and Monitoring

March 17: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Chapter 10 Putting it all together

March 19: 8:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

Chapter 3 Developing Cultural Competence

Chapter 7 Communicating as a CASA volunteer

Fostering Futures Curriculum

March 22: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Volunteer Handbook: Issue and Review

March 24: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

Induction Ceremony (date subject to change)

Community Partnership Board Jackson County CASA, Inc. is collaborating with the Jim Casey Foundation, Southern Christian Services and Mississippi Depart-ment of Human Services to implement the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative in Jackson, George and Greene Counties. CASA hosted a luncheon at Singing River Yacht Club in Pascagoula on February 18. Over fifty area businesses, politicians, and community partners were invited.

The goal is to create a Community Partnership Board, tasked with providing guidance and expertise that will be crucial to creating and broadening community networks and resources to improve the lives of youth transitioning out of foster care, helping them to become self-sufficient adults. Our guest were invited to join the Board or share the information with others that might be able to provided assistance.

We would like to thank all of those in attendance for making this a successful event. We would also like to offer a special “thank you” to Chef Stacie Wetering and the staff of Singing River Yacht Club for making this an exceptional event.

Left: Barry Dixon of Southern Chris-

tian Services, Jackson County Youth

Court Judge Sharon Sigalas, Ingrid

Cloy of Jim Casey Foundation, Jack-

son County CASA Executive Director

Frances Allsup, and Mario Johnson of

MS Department of Human Services

Right: Many of the attendees of the

meeting

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Page 5 CASA CONNECTION

CASA Blues Highlights Left: Our thanks to the band Bleu Midnite, featuring our very

own CASA Volunteer Sam Owen on the drums. They may have

been together for only a short time but you would never have

known it. They were the perfect choice for our evening. With-

out any doubt, we know they are going to be very busy from

now on. We just hope they hold a date for our next CASA

Blues!

Left: Mark Roberts,

aka the CASA Kid,

made the CASA

Blues a reality.

Thank you Mark!

Below: The CASA

staff joins Judge

Sigalas and Mayor

Blevins for a night of

fun.

Left: Pascagoula Mayor Jim Blevins wel-

comed the crowd.

Below: Honorable Sharon Sigalas pro-

vided opening remarks.

Left: Board member Ken Rice was

our Master of Ceremonies.

Bottom left: Troy Ross and representatives from Gautier,

Moss Point, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula Police Depart-

ments and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Right: Board member

Troy Ross presents

awards of apprecia-

tion to Jackson County

law enforcement

agencies.

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Page 6 CASA CONNECTION

More CASA Blues Highlights