CASA of Tarrant County 2023 Annual Report

Celebrating 40 years of advocacy

Dear Friends,

Our Mission

CASA OF TARRANT COUNTY AND ITS COURT-APPOINTED VOLUNTEERS ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN

FROM THE CEO

CASA of Tarrant County was thrilled to celebrate our 40th anniversary providing services and advocacy to the children in foster and relative placements in our community. We could not have achieved this milestone without the commitment, hard work, guidance and financial support from hundreds of board members, community supporters, corporations, foundations, individuals, city, county, state and federal government supporters.

“JUDGES NEED CASA VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR COURTS, BECAUSE THERE’S NO ONE ELSE IN THAT COURTROOM WHOSE ONLY FUNCTION IS TO ADDRESS THE CHILD’S NEEDS. EVERYONE ELSE HAS SOME OTHER ROLE.”

—JUDGE SOUKUP, 2018, THE SEATTLE TIMES

As we look back on 2023, we share both sadness and joy at the loss of a great pioneer who committed his life to serving children in 2023. These diverse volunteers come from all walks of life, educational level, nationality, etc., with the desire to make the lives of children in foster care as safe, happy and stable as possible. Our volunteers are committed to seeking out, engaging and strengthening family relationships and connections, with the ultimate goal of reunifying with their families, if safely possible. If they are not able to be returned to their families, the volunteers continue to advocate for their educational, legal, physical, psychological and general care, until they can find permanency, whether it be permanent managing conservatorship to a relative

CASA of Tarrant County celebrates and acknowledges the outstanding and wonderful volunteers in our 40 years. We know we could not have done it without them and their servant hearts. For that service, we are forever grateful.

As we move into the future, we strive to continue to serve as many children as possible, for they are our future.

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Charlie Scherer

BAS Energy Partners

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Stefanie Mauler

The Mauler Institute

TREASURER

Daniel Herron

Happy State Bank

SECRETARY

Whitney Vaughan

Gardner Smith Vaughan

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Charlotte Kauffman

Community Volunteer

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Clark Rucker

Kelly Hart

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Andrew Norman

Brackett Ellis

MEMBER AT-LARGE

Kathleen Copeland

Versant REC

PAST PRESIDENT

Elle Oberdick

Wells Fargo

Mary Barkley

Cantey Hanger

Jeremy Bravo

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Debbie Cooley M-Pak, Inc.

Lindsey Freeman KPMG

Casey Gillespie

American Airlines

Michelle Marlow Community Volunteer

Jon McCartney Double Eagle Energy

Ken Murphy

TPG Global

Matt Opitz

Trinity Bank

Dwayne Smith

Gardner Smith Vaughan

Every year, hundreds of Tarrant County children are legally removed from their homes in order to protect them from further injury.

As a child moves through the maze of the legal system, the CASA volunteer is often the most consistent person in that child’s life.

Children with a CASA volunteer in Tarrant County:

Have shorter lengths of stay in foster care (1 fewer month) compared to children without a CASA.

Are less likely to re-enter care once they find a permanent home.

Are more likely to pass all classes in school, less likely to have behavioral issues in school, and less likely to be expelled.

When home is no longer safe and a child must enter foster care, a judge may appoint a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to guide that child to a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible.

1

PAID CASA STAFF

of children with a CASA who left foster care in 2022 in Tarrant County found a permanent home (compared to 85% of children without a CASA) 95%

1,098

25 VOLUNTEERS

WHO SERVE UP TO 58 CHILDREN PER YEAR

Tarrant County has the 3RD HIGHEST

number of confirmed victims of child abuse and/or neglect in Texas

5,506 CHILDREN were confirmed child abuse victims in 2022

Tarrant County has THE HIGHEST per capita child abuse rate of all urban areas in Texas

In 2022, 579 CASA VOLUNTEERS DONATED 50,000 HOURS of their time and drove 151,600 MILES

43% of children served are between the ages 0 and 5 SUPPORTS

The cost of action is far more affordable than the cost of inaction. Children who do not find a permanent home by age 18 are at increased risk for ongoing social challenges:

CASAs prevent these outcomes by helping children find permanent homes and reducing time children spend in foster care. By reducing time spent in foster care, in 2022 CASA saved Tarrant County taxpayers $1,631,847! are in jail by the age of 23 become homeless 50% 25%

162 new volunteers were trained to be advocates in 2022

555 children were removed from their homes in 2022

Thanks to your longstanding generosity, most children in Tarrant County had a CASA volunteer in 2022.

Of the estimated 1,652 Tarrant County children in need of a CASA in 2022, CASA served 65% of them by providing advocates to 1,098 children. Tarrant County children who had a CASA volunteer were more likely to find a permanent home than children without a CASA, all thanks to your support.

Mission Moment

“On a recent visit during a candid conversation with the two twin girls on my current case, I asked these beautiful sisters “What would you girls like for your birthday?” to which they replied, almost in unison, “Ride a pony!!” I thought instantly of how I could make this dream come true.

With their foster parent’s permission, I was able to quickly gather a local steed owner and a couple of pairs of boots for the girls. Before no time, we were on our way to a horse ride! The joy that radiated from each of their faces was a sight to see. Definitely one of the most special moments as a CASA.”

—NORMA DAVILA, CASA VOLUNTEER

Why CASA?

VOLUNTEERS

Our active volunteers who come from all walks of life. They span all age ranges. Some are just beginning in the workforce, and others are retired. Over half our volunteers work full-time and have families.

“I am at stage in my life where I am ready to do something new. I chose this as my time to volunteer as a CASA.”—CASA volunteer Cynthia Thompson, LPC

BOARD MEMBERS

Our Board Members are dedicated to providing advocates for every abused and neglected child in our community, so they can experience love, support, and safety—what every child deserves.

“As past president of the Junior League of Fort Worth, I dug deep into our city trying to find the areas of biggest needs in our community and where we as an organization could make the biggest impact in our community. Our children in Tarrant County were always top on our list!”—Board Member Michelle Marlow

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL

Our Young Professional Council members raise awareness for CASA of Tarrant County through social and charitable opportunities.

“I am involved on the legal side with CPS cases and have first-hand real world knowledge of how much good CASA does for children in foster care and how CASA does help change the lives of children and parents for the better.”

—YPC Member Scott Prescher

DONORS

Each year, our generous donors support our vision through workplace giving, individual giving, fundraisers and more.

“We donate our time and our money because we believe in CASA and fully stand behind them in their support to help abused and neglected children.”

—Donor Dani Brooks

“We’re dedicated to providing hope and opportunity for youth in foster care, and we couldn’t make the impact we do without partnering with organizations like CASA of Tarrant County. Thanks to the dedicated CASA volunteers, we are giving kids life-changing moments that will create a lasting positive difference.”

—Ticket to Dream Foundation

OUR SUPPORTERS & FINANCIALS

FOUNDATIONS

Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Adeline & George McQueen Foundation

Brewer Family Foundation Capital For Kids

Child Welfare Fund at North Texas Community Foundation

Cocanougher Foundation

Colleyville Woman’s Club

Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond Hubbard Family Foundation

In-N-Out Burger Foundation

JES Edwards Foundation

Mary Potishman Lard Trust

Molyneaux Charitable Foundation

R4 Foundation

Republic National Distributing Company Foundation, Inc.

Sid W. Richardson Foundation

Southlake Women’s Club Foundation, Inc.

Stein Family Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Texas Bar Foundation

The Amon G. Carter Foundation

The Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation

The Gil and Dody Weaver Foundation

The Lowe Foundation

The Meadows Foundation

The Morris Foundation

The Murray Family Foundation

The Rainwater Charitable Foundation

The Rees-Jones Foundation

The Ryan Foundation

Union Pacific Foundation

Vestal B. Sanders Charitable Foundation Trust

A YEAR OF RECORD-BREAKING EVENTS

The 8th Annual Pull For Kids Clay Shoot, held at Defender Outdoors raised over $120,000.

Garage Men’s Grooming 5th Annual Golf Tournament in Burleson raised over $39,000 for CASA.

CASA Kids on Canvas held in Fort Worth $15,000 raised through raffle and painting donations.

The TCU Theta 5K raised a record $91,000 for CASA of Tarrant County.

Dutch Bro’s across Tarrant County held a Give Back on Go Blue Day and donated over $39,000 to CASA.

The KATS in the Kitchen Pickleball Tournament was hosted by the Kappa Alpha Theta Fort Worth Foundation, Inc. and Alumnae and raised over $60,000.

Serve Fort Worth tennis tournament raised $75,000 for CASA of Tarrant County.

Our North Texas Giving Day campaign raised $86,000 in just one day and featured Bryan’s story.

The TCU Theta Cookoff raised over $50,000.

In 2023...

473 people attended an information session and 110 volunteers were sworn in.

Kaleigh Aaron

Joy Adair

Nijah Adams

Osarugue Aigbogun

Elaiya Aikens

Maryann Alexander

Summer Alexander

Alicia Allen

Marinda Allender

Jessica Alvarez

Daisy Antunez

Rebecca Ard

Sara Armbrecht

Chelsey Arnal

Maritza Arreola

Leilani Arriazola

Christy Atkins

Saad Awan

Lacey Bailey

Sonya Bailey

Dennis Baird

Colleen Baker

Kelly Ballard

Christy Balraj

Dione Bartney

Tiffany Barton

Anne Bean

Raegan Bell

Tanya Benavides

Tautiana Bertrand

Ellen Billings

Samuel Birnbach

2023 ADVOCATES WHO SERVED ON A CASE

Cynthia Bishop

Hilda Black

Holly Blumhorst

Laura Bodine

Hope Boyd

Ruth Brann

Zareen Brendel

David Bridgwater

Karan Bridgwater

Miguelina Brizes

Jennifer Brown

Tammy Brown

Tony Brown

Bethany Bryan

Anne Buehner-Davis

Regina Burns

Tequell Burton

Teresa Burton

Abigail Butts

David Butts

Lori Butts

Mitchell Byrnes

Melody Cabrera

Julie Cagle

Joan Cain

Patricia Camilleri

Kelly Campolo

Andrea Cannon

Elaine Cannon

Megan Canton

Tracy Carman

Carolyn Carson

Angela Carter

Jarrad Carter

Kitty Case

Pattye Casstevens

Jasmine Castillo

Susan Cawood

Luz Chavez

Pamala Chavez

Amanda Clement

Nicole Cohen

Jennifer Cole

Maria Collins

Ronald Colman

Charles Colston

Rena Colter

Pierre Conan

Amy Conley

Kathleen Cooter

Jennifer Corpus

Sharon Costantini

Phyllis Covington

Ann-Marie Coyne

Brandy Crafton

Lorri Creswell

Sharon Crutcher

Melody Currie

Christine Curtis

Cayla Daniels

Gwendolyn Darby

Pamela Darrow

Edith Daugherty

Donel Davidson

Norma Davila

Robert Dawson

Lisa Day

Rosa De la Cruz

Rebecca Dell

Angeline Deslandes

Deserie Diaz

Annella Didier

Richard Didier

Heather Ditty

Daniel Dixon

Dianne Duke

Sarah Duke

Stephanie Dunlap

Margaret Duryee

Ashley Dwyer

Carrie Dyck

Sherry Epperson

Kathleen Evans

Kerri Evans

Michael Fadeyi

Ruth Farley

Victoria Feather

Daniel Feeney

Ronda Feeney

Clari Fennell

Chandler Ferguson

Charlotte Ferguson

Laleh Fleming

Heard Floore

Meredith Floyd

Gay Ford

Caylee Forschner

Heather Fortenbury

Marcia Foster

Kelleigh Fowler

Barbara Fozard

Sherri Franklin

Adrienne Frazier

Yamisa Freeman

Elizabeth Fulton

Melissa Gallardo

Darby Galvan

Andrew Gaman

Amara Garay

Emma Garcia

Christine Garner

Russell Gates

*2023 Rookie of the Year Award Winner

Molly Gauntt

Brandi Gebhardt

Merna Ghebryal

Kathleen Giddings

Robin Gildenzopf

John Gipson

Shalviya Giri

Esperanza Gonzales

Jimenez

Bethany Gonzalez

*2023 Dynamic Duo Award Winner

Wendy Gourley

Janice Graczyk

Esther Grant

Carolyn Gregory

Tina Griffith

Kimberly Gudimetla

Gabretta Guerin

Kelli Guytan

Fannie Halcomb

Cayla Halliday

Erin Halvey

Cherice Hannon

Anwar Hannun

Darla Hanson

Roberta Harper

Lisa Harriger

Laurie Harrington

Virginia Harrington

Angela Harris

Julia Harris

Katherine Harris

Shawntrise Harris

Stephanie Harrison

Jessica Harry

Kari Hastings

Edward Hauss

Alexis Hayes

Juli Heaton

Michael Hedges

Ryan Hedges

Morgan Helfrich-Dennis

Andrini Hendartono

Scarlett Hensley

Candy Hentzen

Jean Hergenroeder

Lorena Hernandez

Katalina Hibjan

Raymond Hiett

Cassandra Hoehle

Patrick Hoffman

Deborah Holman

Jonikquea Houston

Erika Howard

Barbara Hubbard

William Huston

Blanca Ibarra

Lacey Imbert

Judith Inanchy

Charlsey Jabri

Mary Jackson

Stacy Jackson

Teresa Jackson

Lauren Jancoski

John Jansing

Susan Jarratt

Tiffany Jennings

Jessica Jernigan

Susan Jerome

Claudia Jimenez

Brenna Johnson

Lore Johnson

Susan Johnson

Delania Jolly

Junice Jones

Patricia Jones

Sally Jones

D’Ann Jordan

Hayley Jordan

Angel Juarez

Charles Kabangu

Joy Kajiwara

LaKesha Kelly

Jacqueline Kerr

Andrea Kilburn

Kristin Kimball

Elizabeth Kirkendoll

*2023 Rookie of the Year

Award Winner

Karin Kliemann

Tonia Kline

Rick Knight

Marcie Kobos

Randall Koch

Carrie Kochan

Constance Koehler

Pecillia Kornegay

Alimamy Koroma

Nadezhda Kostenko

Stacy Krogerus

Sandra Kunze

Diane Kuykendall

Bert Lacativo

Jenny Lamsens

*2023 Advocate of the Year

Vickie Landers

Linda Landy

Cristi Lantano

Allison Lanter

Jacqueline Lara

Charles Lauersdorf

Candice LeBlanc

Janice Lemuel

Joshua Lewis

Marti Lewis

Stephanie Lewis

Cameron Lewright

Stephanie Linton

Shane Litts

Sharmaine Loper

Frank Lopez

Esperanza Lozano

Barbara Luethke

Larry Luethke

Layney Luis

Lyn Maize

Tonya Manning

Elizabeth Marks

Amelia Marvin

Edie Matos

Elizabeth Mattson

Lori Mauldin

Jennifer Mauricio

Carmen May

Erricka Mayfield

Callie McAdams

Vicki McCall

Shelly McCarron

Samantha McCartan

Benjamin McCrary

Kaitlyn McDonald

Sandra McIntosh

Kolette McLelland

Tanya McMath

Cynthia McSpadden

Amy Mendoza Welch

Deborah Michell

Carin Miller

Evelyne Miller

Morgan Miller

Karla Mills

De Ann Mitchell

Holly Mitchell

Stephanie Molina

Adriana Molina Vasquez

Brent Moll

Heather Mollere

Jenanne Montgomery

Judith Moon

Mathilda Moore

Karina Moreno

Madeline Morgan

Jamie Morriss

Michelle Munson

Kathy Murray

Rosaland Murray

Allison Myers

Jennifer Neal

Kim Nealey

Kim Nguyen

Eric Niedermayer

Victoria Niedermayer

Olga Nikitina

Abigail Nivens

Cheryl North

Della North

Lauren Nunez

Mary Nye

Mackenzie O’Connor

Jessica O’Dell

Sabrina O’Dell-Seger

Lillian Oexmann

Ronald Onyon

Amanda Ortega-Alvarez

Cynthia Ostendorp

Jessica Owens

Alexa Page

Joyce Pages

Artiva Palmer

Jennifer Paradise

Amanda Parker

Shanna Parker

Hannah Parks

Cynthia Paslay

Jane Pavelko

Ashley Payne

Maurica Payne

Corina Penaloza Mendez

Sherry Peppers

Paulette Petta

Rebecca Phifer

Paige Phillips

Sandra Playle

Mary Plemons

Arlia Polley

Yolanda Polley-Flowers

Trish Potts

Valerie Prange

Lisa Price

Caitlin Priem

Sherri Priestman

Rachelle Pritchard

Leila Puckett

Carlos Pulido

Jessica Quigley

Kathleen Ramey

Jasmin Razaghi

Kristen Rea

Rachel Records

Pamela Reece

John Reed

Lisa Reed

Cecile Reed-Randolph

Karla Reese

Laura Reihl

Rocio Resendiz

Trevor Rice

Kyla Richardson

*2023 Dynamic Duo

Award Winner

Jacob Riedel

Sarah Riedel

Asiana Rippentrop

Kelly Rippetoe

Linda Ristow

Mikayla Roberson

Purtrina Roberts

Alanthia Robinson-Jones

Allison Roderick

Catherine Roebuck

Ellen Rogers

Sabrina Rosado

Loretta Ross

Rachel Ross

Thalia Ross

Michael Rowland

Susan Rudolph

Karen Ryan

Raegan Rychlik

Robert Rycroft

Amanda Salazar

Eric Salting

Shannon Sanchez

Katie Sandquist

Nora Santella

Kelley Sawyer

Stacey Scaief

Traci Schiska

Laura Schnitzius

Gail Scott

Justin Scott

Kerry Seibel

Bethany Sellers

Maitry Shah

Nadia Shalwani

Marcia Shannon

Carol Shaw

Daniel Shaw

Janet Shearer

Scott Shearer

Erica Shearing

Judy Shelton

Tammy Shelton

Shannon Shivers

Keenah Sims

Rosil Sinha

Mark Skaggs

Catherine Skar

Stephanie Skinner

Terry Slife

Melissa Sloan

Gregory Small

Carolyn Smith

Gracie Smith

John Smith

Kathryn Smith

Michelle Smith

Tara Smith

Alexis Smith-Baumann

Teri Smyth

Stephanie Sorrell

Rachelle Soule

Tim Stafford

Kristi Starn-Harris

Dianne Stauber

Monica Stennis

Mark Sterling

Shannon Stewart

Equilla Still

Barrie Stone

Mary Dee Stricklin

Hannah Suarez

Karen Sutton

Rebekah Sweetenham

Amy Swift

Kimberly Taylor

Margaret Taylor

Shereah Taylor-Love

Derril Teague

Mary Tetirick

Laura Therrien

Cara Thompson

Cynthia Thompson

Paige Thompson

Quincy Thompson

Dorys Tijerina

Corbette Timmer

Patti Tobkin

Charlotte Toerck

Shari Tomlinson

Cynthia Torres-Sesmas

Terry Traner

Tana Travis

Jessica Upton

Victor Valdes

Orpha Valverde

Kelly Vaughan

Jaymya Vaughn

Michele von Richter

Stacey Walk

Denise Walker

Lauren Walker

Erin Wallace

Araceli Watkins

Amber Watson

Crystal Weaver

Laura Weaver

Veloria Weaver

Crystal Webb

Elizabeth Webb

Marilyn Weintraub

Elizabeth Weis

Samantha Welch

Shawna Weldon

Andrea Wendeln

Allison Wendler

Barbara Wenzel

Darren West

Erin West

Lynda Wilkins

Gail Williams

Janella Williams

Katrice Williams-Nance

Cari Willis

Jordan Willis

Jay Wilson

Terri Woodall

Alaisha Woodson

Diane Wormley

John Young

Patricia Zapata