CELEBRATING ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS

By Jennifer Brown

Each year, CAFB hosts a Volunteer Appreciation dinner. This gives us a chance to honor and recognize all of our volunteers who make a difference in the lives of children and families that we serve. Each one of our volunteers meets these criteria. There is no act too small when it comes to serving children. One of the awards during the evening is Child Advocate of the Year. This award recognizes a volunteer who embodies the mission and passion for the work we do at Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The volunteer who is nominated for this award has gone “above and beyond” and their actions will have longlasting impact for the children we serve.

Our 2022 Child Advocate of the Year is Nancy Olson and she could not be more deserving. “Nancy embodies a true “servant leader” by effortlessly blending her natural talents in leadership with her passion for serving her community, her family and her friends to make hers a purposeful life" said CEO Ruthanne Mefford in her presentation speech. .

Nancy first became involved with Child Advocates of Fort Bend when she served as our emcee at our Gala For the Children in 2011. She joined our board of directors in 2016 and took the reigns as president midyear in 2020 to guide us through a very challenging 18 months – closing out the capital campaign, overseeing the expansion of our services and staff additions, and navigating the ever-changing protocols and directives of a pandemic to keep the ship steady during rising tides

She leads by example Not only has she personally made generous gifts to our agency, but every Monday afternoon, she can be seen in our CAC Playroom, assembling a puzzle with an 7 year old boy, playing Jenga with his brother or pretend cooking at our play kitchen with a 4 year old girl

Her volunteering doesn’t stop there She volunteers for the Christmas Home Tour every year, has been a member of our Voices For Children leadership team and attended countless meetings and trainings, served on our scholarship committee for scholarships for our high school seniors, donated her home for the Friends Coffee, the Board and Staff Christmas party, Live Auction dinners and Cocktails and Conversation gatherings If this wasn’t enough, she has hosted Sip & Strolls and connected us with her many friends in her sorority and her church ministry She is always thinking of new, creative ways of engaging the community, introducing new donors to CAFB or driving to Austin or meeting with elected officials locally to advocate for more resources to help the thousands of children who have been abused

See photos from the banquet here

OTHERVOLUNTEERSHONORED:

CACVolunteeroftheYear

MikeMeador

BlueRibbonVolunteer

CharlesMcGuire

CASAVolunteeroftheYear

DeidraLyons-Lewis

Mariel Barrera Champion for Children -

KathyEyring

CommunityVolunteeroftheYear

WAParish

DevelopmentVolunteeroftheYear

NancyDale

OutreachVolunteeroftheYear

JeffShank

Community Engagement Volunteer of the Year

ShannanStavinoha

UnsungHero

JimMcClellan

CAC Advisory Council - New Staff - Board Members - Training Updates - and more!

2023 Children's Advocacy Center Advisory Council

Our 2023 Children's Advisory Council members L to R are: Sheriff Eric Fagan, Jarita Wharton, Chief Jeff Craig, Melissa Munoz, Lt Joseph Rogers, Suzy Morton, Jill Curtis, Kyle Dobbs, Sandra Sanchez, Fiona Remko, Dallas Warren, Vita Goodell, Ruthanne Mefford, Cherise Roberts, Lt Mark White

Meet Jheri Walters, Director of Clinical Services

My name is Jheri Walters I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Council Approved Supervisor with over ten years of experience working with youth and adults in various settings I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University and earned my master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work

I have always enjoyed working with and advocating for children and families In my role as the Clinical Director of the CAC, I will restructure the Therapy Program to increase access to care and support for our excellent therapists As part of the leadership team, I aim to model good social work practices, ethics, and values and contribute to the work of our staff and volunteers to end the cycle of abuse and neglect

Meet Amanda Diaz, Bilingual Therapist

My name is Amanda Diaz and I was a therapy intern in 2021-22. I have a background in providing intensive case management and therapeutic services to children and families and this led me back to the University of Houston for my Master’s in Social Work with a specialization in trauma. I truly enjoy working with children and am passionate about the work that is done at the Child Advocates of Fort Bend and decided that returning full-time was right for me. When I’m not working, I love spending time at home with my three dogs (they are my children and no one can tell me otherwise, lol). I also enjoy food very much and trying new recipes at home, as well reading, doing yoga, and spending time outside. I’m so excited to be part of CAFB team!”

Are you interested in joining our team? We have openings. Click here for more information or to apply today.

On Saturday, February 16, sixteen students from the George Foundation's Youth in Philanthropy program joined our campus to volunteer for the day Our partnership with The George Foundation introduces high school juniors and seniors in our area to a glimpse of the services provided by our Children’s Advocacy Center or CASA program Two of our dedicated board members, Pat Somers and Cynthia Barratt, shared why they became involved with Child Advocates of Fort Bend

Students were able to tour the rooms where our children tell their story for the first time, where those same children journey through the healing process and transform their lives to move forward with hope to achieve their goals. They saw the treasure room where our advocates come to get needed supplies or gifts for visits they make with their children in foster care placements. We showed them the tools we use through Trauma Informed Care to connect with children we serve.

This day wasn't just about showing them the work we do but getting them actively involved in giving back to the community and showing appreciation for the work that is being done Students were able to package gifts for 170 wonderful volunteers, TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) tools, and packing supplies for 500 engine plates Engine plates teach children and adults about self-regulation and about asking for what we need This empowerment tool teaches children to check their energy level and use strategies to help them become regulated

Students also put together items for our Child Abuse Prevention Month event, Light of Hope. Students assembled blue pinwheels, fidget toys, journals, and bubbles that we will hand out to children and families at our Light of Hope child abuse awareness event on March 31. Students learned about safety strategies including the incidence of abuse. One student commented that they didn’t realize the prevalence of abuse in the community. As the day ended with safety information, particularly internet safety, students shared they feel it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about dangers online and keep lines of communication open. One of the many takeaways was that the youth are informed and helping where we see the need. Let’s not wait for someone else to step in and meet the need.

2023 Board of Directors at our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Not pictured: Farha Ahmed, Brian Covault, Carrie Fix, Valerie Golden, Barbara Jones, Narmin Kermally, Matthew Martin, Xavier Maza, Dexter McCoy, Carla Mondt, Apurva Parikh, Carlos Perez and Darrell Roth