The Voices of Child Advocates of Fort Bend NOVEMBER 2023

TheVOICES of Inside / CEO Update • New Initiatives • FRIENDS Fall Coffee • New Initiatives • New Staff • and much More!

November 2023

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contents NEWS + FEATURES

03 FROM THE CEO CEO Ruthanne Mefford shares what we have been up to this month

04 SPOTLIGHT: FRIENDS FALL COFFEE

See photos from FRIENDS fall membership coffee

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06 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

Keeping you informed on our mission: Strengthen the Child's Voice, Heal the Hurt, and Break the Cycle of Abuse and Neglect for Children in Fort Bend and surrounding counties.

ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH 08 GRIEF + LOSS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Navigating the holidays when there is a loss

11 SPOTLIGHTS See what we've been doing this month volunteer training, CAP-C Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative and Legacy Giving Launches, staff updates and more!

16 NEEDS + OPPORTUNITIES Check out what we need this month and how you can help us

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16 16

24 WE ARE THANKFUL

SPOTLIGHTS

NEEDS + OPPORTUNITIES

27 SAVE THESE DATES

See what we've been doing this month!

Check out what we need and how you can help!

See what we are thankful for this holiday season

Save these dates and plan to join us for these upcoming events

5403 AVENUE N ROSENBERG, TX 77471 281-344-5100

WWW.CAFB.ORG

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from the ceo

November is National Adoption Month and a very special time for celebration at Child Advocates of Fort Bend.

Each year, we host a National Adoption Day Celebration at the Fort Bend County Justice Center. This year, it will be on Friday, November 17 and the theme is Sesame Street: “F” is for “Family”. We will decorate the courtrooms, have stuffed animals, gifts, activities, treats, food and a rose for every adopted child. Adoptions are a culmination of many months and years of children in the foster care system finding their “forever homes.” Often, children are adopted by a family member, kin or someone already in their lives. Other times, a caring member of the community steps forward to provide a stable, safe, loving home for these children.

The recent history of adoption laws and practices dates back to the mid-1800’s with the passage of the first “modern” adoption law in Massachusetts that recognized adoption as a social and legal process based on child welfare rather than adult interests.

We honor all adoptive parents and family members in opening their homes for these very deserving children and helping to transform their lives.

November is also National Giving Month marked by November 28 and Giving Tuesday,

a global movement that unleashes the power of “radical generosity” around the world. The global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. We thank those who have directed their generosity to Child Advocates of Fort Bend and to the children impacted by abuse. We appreciate your volunteering, financial gifts, donations of children’s items and giving of your service – it all makes a difference! We could not do this work without the incredible generosity of all of you. Thank You! For the Children's Sake,

Ruthanne Ruthanne Mefford, CEO

SPOTLIGHT

FRIENDS Fall Coffee

By Jennifer Brown, Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteers, staff and supporters gathered at the home of Karen Shaw this month for the annual FRIENDS Fall membership coffee. We had a great time catching up and hearing what FRIENDS membership dues have done for children served by CAFB! Special thanks to Alondra Rincon of LA FIAMBRERÍA, who joined us and showed everyone how to make a beautiful charcuterie board for all of our holiday parties!

We really enjoyed the demonstration and her board was a show-stopper! Learn more about her here.

It’s not too late to become a member of FRIENDS. Visit the CAFB website to learn more about FRIENDS, download a membership form and join today to make sure you get invited to their Martini Night in Spring 2024!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: November Adoption Awareness Month

By Metoyer Martin, CASA Program Director

For many, November is a month filled with joyous celebrations of family traditions and mindfulness of our good fortune. November is also one of the most special occasions for our work in the CASA program. It is National Adoption month. For thousands of children in foster care, adoption by a loving family is a lifelong dream. National Adoption Month seeks to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families, and recognize the many children who are still waiting for their forever families. We often think of adoptions as non-relative relationships, but this is not always the case.

Relative adoptions can also have a significant impact on children’s lives.

Relative adoption is an option for anyone biologically related to a child who is available for adoption. Relative adoptions allow children to stay connected to the biological families and find stability and permanency. Child Advocates of Fort Bend has had the wonderful opportunity to play a part in the lives of children and families going through the process of relative

adoption. The following story is just one example of a relative placement: Last year, CASA testified in the consummation of adoption hearing for a 12year-old male. He was adopted by his aunt and uncle. This young boy came into care in 2019 due to sexual abuse by his biological father. This young man endured severe emotional abuse as well by his mother and father. He was also diagnosed with autism.

Fortunately, for this young boy, his maternal aunt and uncle stepped in to support him.

He was placed with them by CPS. Through the ups and downs of the civil and criminal trials, he had the stability of his family to help him. His relatives and the CASA volunteer worked together to ensure all his educational, medical, and therapeutic needs were met. Without the stability of his family, the trajectory of his life would have changed significantly. Relative adoption was the best option for him and we were so pleased that he was able to find his “forever home” with his aunt and uncle.

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Grief and Loss During the Holidays

By Courtney James, Metoyer Martin and Jheri Walters

It’s no secret that children who are abused are frequently abused by someone within their circle of family and friends. When a child discloses to being abused by someone they know and trust, this can bring about complicated feelings which can mimic those of grief. The holidays are known to be a time of joy, gatherings, and community. Following a disclosure of abuse, this period of time can look very different for a family who is still grieving and processing the changes within their life.

Grief can present itself differently among different individuals, groups, and communities.

It’s common for those experiencing grief to feel numbness, sadness, fear, shock, and guilt. These emotions also align with the feelings that come with disclosure of abuse, especially if there has been a change in family dynamics. For

example, if a child discloses that a household member is abusing them, this would bring about an unexpected change. It is possible that following the disclosure, the alleged perpetrator would be arrested or told to leave the home. Now the child is safe, but there has been a disruption in family routines, possibly a financial impact, and the emotional turmoil that comes with a disclosure. The impact of this event sparks the beginning of the five stages of grief. These stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are constant and ongoing, there is no end but rather a period in time with less intensity.

During the holiday season, it is possible that one may be triggered and experience a higher intensity in the stages of grief. This could

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possibly be due to the reminder that someone who was previously involved is no longer there or has limited access to participate in family gatherings. The child who was victimized is likely to have an increase in feelings of guilt due to them feeling as though they are the cause of the change in their family’s holiday celebrations. It is critical for adults to be aware of these possible triggers and ensure that they are providing a safe space for whenever the feelings intensify beyond appropriate processing. It’s also very important for a parent to realize that the holidays can also bring about feelings of grief for them, too.

Children in foster care often experience grief and loss when entering the foster care system and throughout their time spent in care. They experience separation from their biological families as well as the loss of friends, their home environment, pets, and schools. Children’s response to separation and grief can look different based on their developmental stages in life. Infants and toddlers are developing bonds and building a sense of trust in the world. They may cry intensely mourning the loss of the parent-child bond. Caregivers and CASA volunteers can help support infants through this process by providing them with something from their home with a familiar smell or sound for comfort. As children grow older, they have a greater understanding of separation and grief, and some can express what they are feeling.

CASA volunteers and caregivers can be great listeners and give children an outlet to share those emotions. We want children to know it is safe to openly express their hurt in healthy ways. It is important for CASA volunteers to advocate for the parent-child bond to continue as much as possible in a safe way to allow children to maintain those crucial connections in their lives. CASA volunteers should be particularly mindful of holidays and that the grieving process can be heightened during these times. Family traditions could be lost while children are in foster care. CASA volunteers can work with caregivers to ensure

children’s traditions are considered during holidays as well as being creative in finding ways for children to be allowed to celebrate with their biological families. Children can make greeting cards for their biological families, engage in cooking a meal they ate during the holidays in their family of origin or celebrate the holiday during their scheduled family visit. Being in the foster care system is a hard experience even when children are safe, nurtured, and loved. It is important to be mindful that many losses occur at this time, and children will experience grief.

Children who have disclosed abuse need support and caregivers that can help them navigate their complex feelings. There are a number of good resources parent or caregivers can use to address their child and families specific needs.

Some of the resources will talk about grief in terms of death. While a child who has been abused may not have had a family member die, this new normal might feel like a death. It could be the death of the family they once knew. The loss is very real and could be more complicated by the fact that the person is alive, but no longer in their life as they once were.

This is called ambiguous loss.

Digital Resources for helping children deal with grief: https://www.childmind.org Search for articles of how to help children deal with grief

SAMHSA Help line: Text 435748 Call: 1-800-662-4357

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Additional Grief and Loss Resources

Rain Before Rainbows Written by Smriti Prasandam-Halls Illustrated by David Litchfield Following a fire at their castle home, a girl in a red cape and her fox navigate an arduous and frightening journey before reaching a bright future. For children at different stages of grief, this book includes a message of hope that after the pain, things will get better. For ages 3-7. Published by Candlewick Press.

The Invisible String Written by Patrice Karst Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff This bestselling picture book introduces children to the concept of an invisible link between people, even when they’re separated. In the story, a mom explains to her children that there is a “very special string made of love” that connects them to everyone they love. “When you’re at school and you miss me, your love travels all the way along the string until I feel a tug on my heart.” For ages 3-8. Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

One Wave at a Time: A Story About Grief and Healing Written by Holly Thompson Illustrated by Ashley Crowley After Kai’s dad died, the boy’s grief manifests itself in many ways, from crying to throwing a fit to feeling flat and robotic.

“The story line shows the change from struggling to recovering, and emphasizes using support networks,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. For ages 4-8.

Published by Albert Whitman & Company.

Art with Heart Presents: Draw it Out Written by Steffanie Lorig and Rosalie Frankel This activity book uses writing and drawing to help kids work through their emotions.

Activities include creating a “Circle of Strength” and using a calendar to express feelings on different days. “I use this book in therapy for grieving children and find it to be extremely effective,” says an expert at the Child Mind Institute. For ages 6-10.

Published by Art With Heart.

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monthly spotlights Training updates and MORE!

Welcome to the Child Advocates of Fort Bend Family!

On October 20, we wrapped up two weeks of Pre-Service Volunteer Training and 24 new volunteers were sworn-in to service by Judge Jamie Rawlinson. This incredible and diverse group of individuals will bring so much expertise, lived experience and talent to the children and families served by Child Advocates of Fort Bend. Congratulations to all – we are lucky to have you!

Back Row: Jamie Burson, Shirley Principe, Lynn Barnes, Randy Berry, Kelli Grubbs, Patricia Jackson, Debbie Zubia, Tracy Sledge, Leslie Shores, Stefanie Pride, Terri Verdone, Lisa Noser, Ayesha Claiborne, Alexis Williams and Erin Gibson Front Row: Yvette Scheiber, Treanne Miller, D’Netria Watson, Rachel Rajkumar, Zaida O’Connor, Amy Wuerch, Regina Greer, Julie Steidley and Janet Dennis

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Partnerships - Win Big for Kids!

By Jenetha Jones

There are countless ways our partners are not just our partners in the work we share; they are also our firmest ambassadors.

Recently, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office spotlighted Child Advocates of Fort Bend with a special award following a bowling tournament called “Bowling Around the Bend.” This exciting fundraiser featured teams from Fort Bend County. The Sheriff’s Office team from the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy won the tournament and donated their proceeds to the charity of their choice – CAFB! Joined by the County Judge’s Office, the donation was presented in a ceremony at the Fort Bend County Historic Courthouse where the winning team was also spotlighted.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office led by Sheriff Eric Fagan is an essential part of our Multi-Disciplinary Team and participates through investigation of child abuse cases, case review team meetings and standing with CAFB to bring awareness to child abuse.

We are so thankful for the support of Fort Bend County and our long standing partnership in improving the lives of abused and neglected children.

Shown (L to R) are: Sgt. Casey Schmidt, CAFB Clinical Family Advocate Courtney James, CAFB MDT Coordinator Gabrielle Leaks, CAFB MDT Coordinator Sasha Soileau, Sheriff Eric Fagan, County Judge KP George, Francisco Huerto, Samady Koehler (holding trophy), and Xavier Whittaker.

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For more than 32 years, Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) has been at the forefront of providing the highest standard of care to all children impacted by abuse and neglect in Fort Bend County. What started as one program in 1991 has grown to 3 programs offering 18 different services as CAFB has evolved to meet the needs of its clients.

Nearly 4000 families and children were served last year alone.

Through the years, we have been blessed with thousands of generous donors and volunteers who have given of their time and treasures to help CAFB achieve its mission of strengthening the voice of the child, healing the hurt and breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect for children and families in Fort Bend and surrounding counties.

There is no better way to continue to help advance our mission than to remember CAFB with a legacy gift as part of your estate planning.

We would like to invite you to be a charter member of the newly launched “Forever Angels Legacy Society.” Many believe legacy giving is just for people with a lot of resources but in reality, honoring a charitable organization like CAFB is an option for most of us.

For example, in the estate planning process, you can designate a beneficiary, like CAFB, to receive a portion of your assets. This type of planned gift is called a bequest. In most cases, the process is as simple as filling out a Beneficiary Designation Form from the institution that holds the policy, such as an IRA or Life Insurance company. Many donors find gifting a small percentage of a policy (such as 1%-5%) is a wonderful way to continue to honor a charity that has been important to them during their lifetime.

Additionally, there are ways to draw down an IRA once you hit a certain age that helps reduce taxes and allows you to gift charities while you are still here to see the benefits of your generosity. We’d be excited to work with you to explore available options and to recommend experts who can help you and your family make plans that best fit your needs.

All planned gift donors will be prominently honored on our Forever Angels Legacy Society donor wall at CAFB. We hope you will consider becoming a Forever Angel to let your legacy become their future.

For more information contact plannedgiving@cafb.org or go to www.cafb.org.

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FOCUS ON PREVENTION: Kicking off New Cap-C Initiative

By Ruthanne Mefford

We were excited to host our Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative (CAP-C) Kickoff Meeting at CAFB on September 13th with 18 child welfare agencies and 40 attendees represented. This is a new initiative dedicated to moving upstream by focusing on the prevention and early intervention of child abuse. It is a multi-year initiative grounded in Human Centered Design (HCD) principles that begins with ensuring that the voice of stakeholders are represented in the design of the initiative. Stakeholders would be children who have experienced abuse or neglect, parents whose children may have been abused, outcry witnesses including school and medical personnel and others who can inform us about what information and resources would have been helpful to them.

The rationale for the CAP-C Initiative includes: 1. Incidence of Child Abuse : Child abuse and neglect impacts thousands of children and youth in Fort Bend County. Abuse takes many forms and includes physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.

2. Broaden Services from Restoration to Prevention: Traditional approaches have focused on treatment of victims after the

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risk, providing services to perpetrators so they do not re-abuse and other prevention measures.

abuse has already occurred. While this is critically important, we need to broaden our scope to include preventing children from being abused in the first place.

Research indicates that there are opportunities to reduce both the incidence and severity of child abuse by moving upstream to focus on prevention and early intervention (PEI).

3-Collaborative Model: There are many agencies in Fort Bend County involved in providing services to children and families who have been abused or are at risk of being abused. By convening these agencies and forming a Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative (CAP-C), we can align our messaging and outreach for greatest impact.

4-Programming: This would include increasing awareness of abuse and neglect, educating children and adults about safety measures, debunking myths that confuse and/or distort the realities of abuse and perpetrators, creating vehicles for early intervention, identifying children at

By coming together as a county-wide collaborative, we hope to align around the common mission of prevention and early intervention.

Following the research study and findings, we hope to build a universally-accessible digital resource library of information and resources. We will then develop a Prevention Intervention Plan with uniform safety messaging delivered in different formats (social media, in person, print, video, app) for different age children. Our goal is to prototype this program in one school and measure the impact.

Ultimately, we hope to expand the CAP-C initiative across schools, districts and the county. Child Advocates of Fort Bend will serve as the lead fiscal agent for the collaborative. We were delighted to be awarded a seed grant from The George Foundation to kick off the project and have hired a CAP-C Coordinator, Sue Profilet to lead the project.

Stay tuned as this CAP-C Collaborative makes strides in Human Centered Design principles on prevention and early intervention of child abuse.

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our needs This month, we have immediate need for: Gift cards New Blankets New stuffed animals Teen holiday gifts Additional items can be found on our WISH LIST

Did you know that you can donate cars, airplanes, boats, motorcycles or trucks and select Child Advocates of Fort Bend to receive the proceeds?

Visit HERE for questions or contact Lisa at lmoore@cafb.org

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License to Help!

Did you know that Child Advocates of Fort Bend participates in the TX CASA Specialty License Plate Program?

You can order a custom license plate with the phrase “Big Voices for Little Texans”. Not only can you spread awareness and show your support for us but a portion of the cost of the plate goes to Texas CASA and the local programs to increase our statewide efforts to advocate for

every child in the foster care system.

To order your plate go to https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/lice nse-plates and search for CASA under specialty plates OR visit your local tax assessor’s office and ask for the Court Appointed Special Advocate license plate.

Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation presents

December 8 + 9, 2023 HOW CAN YOU HELP? Sponsor – There are numerous opportunities left with perks Purchase Home Tour Tickets Individual tickets – $35 Purchase a Holiday T-Shirt –Super cute tees, bright and colorful, available in short and long sleeve in bright pink. Show your support and get in the holiday spirit. Order yours today! Short-sleeved $27; Long-Sleeved $32 Purchase a Butterfly Ornament - New this year! These vibrant colored beautiful butterflies are the perfect gift as an ornament or a pedant. They measure 3”W x 3.5” L and come with red gift box and red ribbon, ready for gifting!

Volunteer – Share your time as a 2-3 hour host in one of the homes. Bring a friend or family member and volunteer together!

Entertainers & Cookie Bakers – Are you a singer? Do you play an instrument? Can you bake? Put those your skills to work For more information contact Tarina at TSheridan@cafb.org.

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A Sensory Wellness Garden

By Lisa Moore

We are excited to break ground in the coming month on Phase III of our For the Children’s Sake Capital Campaign with the construction of a Wellness Garden designed to address the mental and physical health needs of the children being served at CAFB and offer direct services staff a respite from the secondary traumatic stress in their work.

The entire space will bring additional opportunities for outreach with the community for prevention efforts and provide another resource for children in foster care to have CASA programming.

The Wellness Garden will occupy 0.2 acres at the northwestern portion our campus. The Wellness half of the space (0.1 acre) will incorporate the five senses to create an environment that nourishes, relaxes, refreshes, and provides a retreat for selfcare. Features include a cedar archway entrance, a healing circle for meditation and breathing, water feature for sound and soothing, flowering and aromatic plants plus an herb garden for growth, smell and taste, flagstone walls for sitting and relaxation, and a cedar pergola to provide shade and space for yoga exercise.

A Playing Field portion will be planted entirely in sod. The Playing Field will provide an open area to engage children in exercise, group activities and sports. This section will intentionally be kept clear of landscaping and other elements so that children can play games, sports, and exercise for physical and mental health. The entire park will be gated and surrounded by 8’ fencing for security and privacy.

Highlights of the project are: Garden: a physical place where staff and children can retreat and restore from the intense work of crisis and trauma.

Children: a place where children who are in the midst of their trauma and treatment plans can go with their therapist, clinical family advocate or criminal case manager to find calm, peace and solace and be part of their treatment plans for healing and restoration.

Staff: a reduction in anxiety and secondary traumatic stress and improved outlook and mental health symptoms for our staff.

Green Space: a playing field and outdoor open area for physical and mental health where exercise, games and sports can take place.

Mind Body Integrated Approach to Wellness and Healing: further implementation of our integrated approach to mental health treatment that incorporates nature and the outdoors where now we only have indoor therapy rooms and offices.

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In addition, we will expand our parking lot to provide additional parking to accommodate agency growth, clients needing seamless access to the Center, the agency partners who co-house with us and the increased training and child abuse awareness education that we offer to the community onsite.

CAFB is proud to have this additional resource on our campus and grateful to the Fondren Foundation, the CEO Foundation and many individual donors who have

supported this effort, thus far. Naming opportunities on park benches, wall and garden features, playing field and more are available for individuals, families and community partners by contacting Lisa at Lmoore@cafb.org.

Once complete, our goals are that this outdoor nature and wellness space will bring additional benefits to the health and emotional wellness of our staff and help clients in their healing journey.

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STAFF UPDATE

Ashton Lejano, LMSW - Therapist For a long time, my passion has been working with children and families, specifically those that have gone through traumatic circumstances. Before attending the University of Houston for my Master’s in Social Work last year, I worked in foster care case management for the state of Arkansas helping to ensure permanency for each child on my caseload. I found in that work that the children who were able to have consistent trauma focused therapy tended to have better outcomes, which motivated me to want to be a therapist and provide that service for children.

In my free time my husband and I love to spend time outdoors hiking and playing pickleball. Fall is my favorite season, so right now I am often found wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot chai with a pumpkin spice candle burning.

Anisa Vargas, LMSW - Therapist I grew up in Fort Bend County and take pride in our community and its growth. Because of this, I pursued an undergraduate degree in Victim Studies and Psychology and a graduate degree in Social Work. I worked for two years as a Housing Case Manager for Fort Bend Women’s Center. I also have experience with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and families within LCISD, as well as children who have experienced trauma. I have truly enjoyed this journey with an array of populations and would like to put all the skills and knowledge I have gained into my work at CAFB. I enjoy listening to live music, reading, going to museums. I am a soccer mom and love playing soccer with my 10-year-old son. We have 4 Dachshunds at home who are loud and full of energy. We enjoy taking road trip and do our best to make every moment a blast.

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Megan DeYoung, MSW Clinical Family Advocate Hi! My name is Megan DeYoung and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the CAFB team as a Clinical Family Advocate! I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan before moving to Houston with my dog Tucker last year. I received my Master's in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.

Prior to this, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Social Work and Psychology at Central Michigan University. While in Michigan, I interned with a local CAC and fell in love with the multidisciplinary approach to helping children who are victims of abuse. With a passion for helping others, along with a background in grief and bereavement, I am excited to serve as an advocate for children and their families!

Valerie Lucke, MSW Courtesy CASA Greetings! My name is Valerie Lucke and I am the newest Courtesy CASA. I retired from Child Protective Services after 28 years and then worked for 7 years as a school social worker for the homeless in Irving, Texas. I am excited to be back working with children and families in an effort to insure child well-being and permanency.

I am married to a church educator and musician. We have three children and seven grandchildren. Spending time with family is my greatest joy. I also enjoy scrapbooking, gardening (when I have time), and yes, I'll admit it....watching Hallmark Christmas movies! In addition to working with CASA, I look forward to doing some traveling in the coming years.

Are you interested in joining our team? We have openings.

Click here for more information or to apply today.

We are thankful for . . .

This year I am thankful for my health, the health of my loved ones and the health of everyone.

I am thankful for the ability to be able to help and serve our clients and their families.

I am thankful that our agency is here to be able to serve our community.

I am thankful that the families I work with are open to working with me.

I am also thankful for Jheri and the therapy team! We continue to grow and learn!

I am thankful for everyone that has allowed me to “trauma dump” on them because we need each other to keep going especially in this field.

-Brenda Z.

I'm thankful for the love, support, and opportunities that have come my way. Family, friends, and all the little moments that make life beautiful.

-Jheri W. I am thankful for Kathy Eyring’s cookies.

-Alli W.

I’m thankful for the quality time I’ve had with my family this year. I’m also thankful for the work I’m able to be a part of here at CAFB. -Jen B. I am thankful for the positive, supportive, work family I get to work with every day. I am thankful for my family and the many blessings we have been given.

-Kristy G. I am thankful for the people in my life!

-Ophelia M. I am thankful for sunrise, sunset and kind people.

-Tarina S. I’m thankful for having time to spend with my dad.

-Dana M. I’m thankful for my family and for good health. I’m also thankful for Lopez restaurant.

-Casey D.

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I am thankful for my relationship with God, my son, my family, my co-workers, my volunteers and my friends. Without all these people in my life, what is taking place in today’s world would be much more difficult to understand and cope with.

-Irene W. I'm thankful for my little family. They have been my constant in an extremely hectic few years of change. Somehow, we all survived my and my husband's first year as parents.

Cities, homes, and jobs all change, but our families (chosen and otherwise) stay steady.

-Lacy S. I am thankful for strong advocates for children to make their voices heard.

Children know when they are with our staff and volunteers they are seen and they matter.

-Lindsey C.

I am thankful for life, health, and strength. I am thankful for my husband, my children, grandchildren, and my siblings, each mean the world to me. I am thankful that during a difficult time in my life, my family, friends, and coworkers were there for me.

-Renee J. I am thankful for my family as well as my work family.

-Sasha S.

We

I am thankful for my husband and sons who have brought me so much joy and unequivocal happiness. I am thankful for the health and safety that we are blessed with each day. I am also beyond thankful for this new family I get to be a part of as an employee of CAFB. Happy Thanksgiving!

-Snehal J.

I am very thankful for many things but today I will mention how thankful I am for having a job that I love and that I get to work with people who make the job even better.

-Maggie M.

I’m thankful for family, friends, coworkers, and a job I love coming to each day.

-Melissa J.

I am thankful for a life surrounded by people who shine with love and grace.

People who help, give and care because it matters and they know it. And people who hug because hugs keep us all connected.

-Lisa M.

There's a lot to be thankful for this year, but I would say that I am thankful for my family, my fur babies, jobs that allow me to do what I enjoy and give me meaning, and my awesome co-workers, who are so supportive, and I know I can count on.

-Amanda D.

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save these dates November 7 TBRI Empowering Principles 10am - 4pm More info

November 10 Collaboration Conference~Caring for Children, Families and Self 9am - 2pm Long Acres Ranch, 2335 Richmond Parkway in Richmond More info

November 14 TBRI Correcting Principles 10am - 4pm More info

November 21 Sip & Stroll 9:30am - 11am Contact Lisa at LMoore@cafb.org to reserve your spot

November 17 National Adoption Day Celebration Fort Bend Justice Center

November 16 Alings Give Back ALL DAY

December 8 + 9 Christmas Home Tour More info

“Families are the compass that guide us.

They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter."

- Brad Henry