Speak Up! Summer 2020

SPEAK UP! CARRY-ON

LUGGAGE ESSENTIALS

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF KERN COUNTY

1717 COLUMBUS STREET | BAKERSFIELD, CA 93305 (661) 631-2272 | KERNCASA.ORG

Change a Child's Story 2020 Children's Diamond Champions Don C. & Diane S. Lake Family

MISS-GLAMOUR.CO

Message from our Executive Director Ten-year-old Reagan, with his angelkissed freckled nose, looks up after sitting quietly, scared, and filled with the memory of being removed from his home. The person in front of him has a soft voice and a smile on her face. Her presence reminds him of a time when he felt safe, so he asks her, “why have you come to visit me?" She gently answers him, “I am your CASA."

This edition of our Speak Up Newsletter introduces you to Reagan and his journey. There are many more children like him, victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. The CASA program provides highly trained and compassionate Court Appointed Special Advocates during the time the child travels through the juvenile court system and through their journey to finding a safe, permanent home. The CASA investigates the child’s circumstances, provides fact-based information, and makes recommendations to the Court while becoming a friend and a support system to the child.

There is a significant need for more compassionate, objective, self motivated individuals from the community who are willing to speak up for innocent child victims. Thank you for taking the time to explore how you can get involved throughout this newsletter. To stay up to date with our community impact please check out of the website at KernCASA.org and sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

Board of Directors Julio Gonzalez, President Citizen's Business Bank Mike Martinez, Vice President Pro Tool Services Jannette Pedersen, Secretary California Resources Corporation Shannon Webster, Treasurer Daniells Phillips Vaughan & Bock Terri Collins, Director Watson Realty ERA Jefferson Eberhardt, Director Young Wooldridge, LLP Jill Haley-Buntley, Director Toni Harper, Director Dignity Health-Mercy Hospital Joyce Holtzclaw, Director E&B Natural Resources Ken Keller, Director Dignity Health-Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Amanda Lucas, Director LeBeau Thelen, LLP Raymond McCaslin, Director Wells Fargo Bank Matt McCort, Director Country Sweet Produce Carlee Meador, Director Central Valley Search Partners Jenifer Natto, Director Tejon Ranch Corporation Heather Pennella, Director Bakersfield College Foundation Vince Roche, Director Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors

Yours in Advocacy,

Corrina Sheridan, Director Sturgeon Services

Amy Travis

Lisa Smiddy, Director Nicole Sprague, Director Kaiser Permanente Kiyoshi Tomono, Director Adventist Health Chris Towery, Director Towery Construction Services

For a listing of our Jan 2020-June 2020 donors, please visit kerncasa.org to view our PDF version of this newsletter

Jeff Warren, Director Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb & Kimball, LLP Amy Travis Executive Director

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Susanne Icardo Advocate Board Liaison

THANK YOU TO OUR CIRCLE OF HOPE MEMBERS January - June 2020 Because of you there is HOPE! Dr. Elizabeth Altmiller Mr. & Mrs. Ariel and Abby Auffant Mrs. Sue Berry Ms. Christel Chagoya Mrs. Jazmine Chavez Ms. Cheryl Collins Mr. Joe Daugherty Ms. Margaret DeArmond Ms. Shelia Dormier Mr. & Mrs. Dorsey and Denise Driggs Mr. & Mrs. Rob Duchow Mr. & Mrs. Ronald and Betty Eaves Mr. & Mrs. David and Nancy Ewert Mrs. Tammie Fanning Mr. & Mrs. Charles and Jean Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Josh and Megan Fitzpatrick Ms. Therese Foley Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Ford Mr. & Mrs. Russell Garner Drs. James & Roberta George Mr. & Mrs. Jules and Virginia Ghyselinck Mr. & Mrs. Greg Golich Mr. & Mrs. Julio and Katie Gonzalez Ms. Veronica Green Ms. Toni Harper

Mrs. Micky Heppe Mr. Juan Herrera-Olea Ms. Sidney Hessler Mrs. Joyce Holtzclaw Mrs. Margaret Jephson Mrs. Jennifer Kavanaugh Mr. Ken Keller Kiwanis Club of Delano Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert and Elena LaRoque Ms. Judy Lehmeier Ms. Allie Madrid Dr. & Mrs. Matthew and Judith Malerich Mr. Michael Mariani Ms. Jessica Mase Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Destinie Martinez Mr. & Mrs. Matt and Megan McCort Ms. Colleen A. McGauley Mr. & Mrs. Pat and Peggy Mellon Mrs. Erika Monet and Mr. Timothy Gorham Mr. & Mrs. Donald and Karen Moss Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Stacie Munoz Ms. Jennifer Natto Mr. Ty Ohanneson Ms. Jane Parsons Ms. Jenifer Natto Mr. & Mrs. Alan Neuman Ms. Jane Parsons

Mr. & Mrs. Pritesh Patel Ms. Melanie Paterniti Mr. & Mrs. Chris Pedersen Ms. Heather Pennella Mrs. Lori Porterfield Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Bonnie Richardson Ms. Rosalie Rocha Mr. Vince Roche Ms. Debbie Rohatsch Mr. and Mrs. Vincent and Linda Rojas Mr. & Mrs. Brett and Sally Selby Mrs. Janet Shaw Ms. Corrina Sheridan Mr. Michael Solko Mr. & Mrs. Clifford and DeAnn Straub Mr. & Mrs. Scott Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Dwight and Judy Todd Ms. Barbara Tongate Mr. & Mrs. Chad and Toni Tongco Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Amy Travis Mr. & Mrs. Tom and Judy Tupper Ms. Chistine Van Horn Job Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Katherine Warren Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Bonnie Welchans Mrs. Mary Womack Mr. Frank Wooldridge Mr. & Mrs. Jon and Tammie Zaninovich Mr & Mrs. Barry Zoeller

Legacy Giving No other form of giving is more meaningful than a planned gift that will memorialize an individual after death. CASA of Kern County is a vehicle through which individuals can make a lasting mark through a gift that leaves the world a better place.

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CASA welcomes 41 new Advocates!

Become a highly trained volunteer and make a difference in a child's life! visit kerncasa.org/volunteer kerncasa.org | SPEAK UP

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Advocates who served a child, January-June 2020 Sharon Gamboa

Crystal Madden

Gisela Gaona

Pat Mahan

Joe Salinas

Lisa Aceves

Timothy Garcia

Scott Manzer

Noah Salinas

Liz Altmiller

Jacqueline Garcia

Gary Scott Martin

Natalie Sanchez-Dutcher

Savannah Andrews

Jim George

Audrey Martinez

Anne Schlesinger

Beth Arner

Breann Goodmon

Domingo Mata

Janet Shaw

Antonette Ayers

Joseph Greenwood

Nicole McCullar

Diana Shaw Kristine Shipman

Diane Baumruk

Gordy Guillen

Carolyn McIntyre

Peggy Bergman-Smith

Katrina Guzman

Lori McWilliams

Lucia Sosa

Gizel Bermudez

Jennifer Haines

Gaylene Merz

Pamela Spitzer Chris Stahnke

Stafford Betty

Liz Haley

Terry Meyer

Robert Boyce

Debra "Debbe" Haley

Kenneth Miller

Jamie Swan

Chris Boyd

Susan Hamilton

Lora Minton

Corinne Thompson

Traci Boylan

Bob Hawkes

Donald Moss

Theresa Thompson

Angie Boyler

Beth Heisey

Shantha Nalur Chandrasekaran

Dwight Todd

Glenda Braun

Micky Heppe

Kelli Neuman

Judith Todd

Erika Brooks

Elieser Hernandez

Ty Ohanneson

Karen Townsend

Tammy Brown

Kristina Herrera

Michael Pangborn

Susan Trihey

Destinee Calhoun

Rebecca Hertan

Jane Parsons

Mary VanderWerff

Kylee Carranza

Melissa Hetzel

Sonia Patino

Selena Vega

Tina Marie Chaney

Tracye Hicks

Wendy Perlin

Kassandra Vicenec

Maria Chavira

Vicky Hoffman

Deborah Petrini

Jennifer Waguespack

Rebecca Collins

Anne Holdren

Lori Porterfield

Stacey Wheeler

Cheryl Collins

Deanna Hostetter

April Presa

Rachel White

Mer Conner

William Humphrey

Cheryl Prude

Kathy Williams

Jennifer Constantine

Adriana Humphrey

Martin Pulido

Sherry Core

Susanne Icardo

Linda Quezada-Dominguez

Randy Coulter

Michelle Jackson

Pritika Ram

Karen Covington

Margaret Jephson

Diana Ramirez

Janie Cross

Juanita Johnson

Petra Ramirez

Sue Daniels

Laurie Johnson

Kristy Rapley

Laura Di Giacomo

Paul Johnson

Cheryl Reed

MaryAnn Dunham

Ian Journey

Kevin Reilly

Jeannie Enriquez

Brenda Keele

Angelica Rodriguez

Linda Eviston

Cheryl Ketchum

Melissa Row

Tammie Fanning

Leslie Kimble

Richard Row

Lauren Figueroa

Bobbi Kirkegaard-Jensen

Mitchell Rowland

Beverly Foster

Debra Krohn

Lela Rugnao

Christine Francis

Paul Linder

Martha Ruiz

Charis Franz

Rhonda Litt-Stoner

Give a child a voice

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Michelle Salinas

Mike Abbas Russ Abercrombie

SPEAK UP |Â kerncasa.org

In the fiscal year 2019-2020, Our Advocates spoke up for 373 abused & neglected children and spent nearly 10,000 hours with their child/renÂ

KNOW THEIR STORIES

THE CONSISTENCY OF A CASA CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A CHILD'S LIFE

The saying goes “nothing is constant but change.” In most recent circumstances, our “normalcy” has been altered. Each of us has been tremendously affected by an unanticipated crisis, and sadly, this sense of sudden adjustment is an everyday occurrence for the children CASA serves. Victims of abuse and neglect are caught in the middle of unpredictable and abrupt changes and a sense of calm can often take years to restore. Follow us, as we step into Reagan’s shoes and walk alongside his challenging path of instability through foster care where he would eventually find persistence and consistency. kerncasa.org

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Ten-year old Reagan shuffled in and out of foster care three different times in his short lifespan. Having faced new needs and new professionals every time, it was difficult to trust a system where he felt no one understood him. At this time, the Judge appointed CASA, and Reagan began to see his CASA Volunteer on a weekly basis.

The CASA noticed Reagan would often stutter and felt this was unusual and began to wonder whether Reagan needed more speech services at school. Initially, Reagan’s special education team overruled the CASA’s concerns regarding his speech issues but the CASA persisted.

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Throughout this time the CASA faced the challenges of Covid-19 restrictions, and by taking thorough precautions, the CASA showed Reagan that he mattered by visiting weekly and tutoring Reagan, working specifically on sight words and reading. The CASA continuously spoke up for Reagan to be evaluated for speech and language. Eventually, and over the span of a month, Reagan was not only assessed for speech services, but was also referred to an audiologist, fitted for a hearing aid, and a “deaf and hard of hearing� teacher was added to his special education team.

kerncasa.org

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Reagan’s situation could have had a vastly different outcome; one with continual speech struggles and minimal to no support in his schooling. His CASA immediately proceeded with vigilance and care. Through the various changes Reagan experienced, his CASA remained determined and diplomatic every step of the way. Reagan’s life trajectory was positively transformed.

Through the various changes Reagan experienced, Reagan’s CASA lifted his voice and now he has an opportunity to thrive and succeed. Change can be difficult, but for the children and youth we uplift, change can also be empowering.

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Our donors, who make it possible.

CASA of Kern County relies on private donations to continue our important mission of advocating for safe & permanent homes for abused & neglected children. We thank the following individuals, companies, foundations, & organizations for caring about the children in Kern County's juvenile dependency system. Every effort was made to include all donors. Please call the CASA office (661) 631-2272 if your name has been misspelled or excluded. Listed donations were received between January 2020- June 2020.

Organization/Foundations Action Sports Ad Class Advance Beverage AmazonSmile Foundation Bakersfield East Rotary Ckub Bakersfield Sound Co. The BLVD, LLC. Brooke Bratcher Design California Resources Corporation Matching Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust Halliburton Employee Matching Gift Program John & Sheila Lake Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Kiwanis Club of Delano LeBeau Thelen, LLC. Palazzo Destefani PG&E Matching Gift Program Trang Family Charitable Fund Valley Republic Bank Wonderful Employee Giving Program Wonderful Orchards

Corporate Sponsors California Resources Corporation Chevron Citizen's Business Bank Country Sweet Produce & Organics County of Kern Grimmway Enterprises Halliburton Kaiser Permanente Southern California Gas Wonderful Company

Corporate In-Kind Contributions Historic Fox Theatre KERO TV-23 KGET TV-17 KUZZ The Outlets at Tejon Verizon

Individual In-Kind Contributions Mr. and Mrs. Keith and Jennifer Gardiner Mrs. Joyce Holtzclaw Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert and Elena LaRoque Mr. and Mrs. Chris and Jannette Pedersen Ms. Corrina Sheridan Mr. James Silva Mr. and Mrs. Dwight and Judy Todd

Individual Contributions Ms. Mary Jo Anhalt Dr. Elizabeth Altmiller Tamar Anthony Ms. Michelle Asher Mr. & Mrs. Ariel and Abby Auffant Ms. Brooke Baird Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Breann Belcher Ms. Olga Beregovskaya Mr. Lee A Bergen Mrs. Sue Berry Mr. and Mrs. James and Patrice Black Mr. and Mrs. Tricia and Glenn Bland Ms. Lori Blodorn Ms. Amarilla Blondia Ms. Debbie Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Stan and Kathy Boyce Navneet Brar Ms. Beverly Brar Ms. Annemarie Braun Mr. John Brink Mr. Scott Brown Ms. Antoinette Brown Ms. Tammy Brown Ms. Rebecca Bullard Mr. Michael Burroughs Mr. Steve Campagna-Pinto Ms. Alice Chang Ms. Christel Chagoya Ms. Jazmine Chavez Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Dona Chertok Ms. Deborah Cluff Ms. Linda Cohen Ms. Cheryl Collins Mr. and Mrs. Patrick and Terri Collins Mr. and Mrs. Timothy and Mary Conner Ms. Phyllis Cope Ms. Angela Corona Ms. Veronica Coronado Ms. Courtney Crain Ms. Jane Cuellar Ms. Sue Daniels Ms. Stacy Davis Mr. Joe Daugherty Ms. Karen Dawson Ms. Margaret DeArmond Ms. Selena Defilippo Ms. Amber Dixon Ms. Amara Dobbs Ms. Sheila Dormier Mr. & Mrs. Dorsey and Denise Driggs Mr. & Mrs. Rob Duchow Mr. & Mrs. Ronald and Betty Eaves Mr. John Edwards Mr. Levi Eichman Mr. Shawn Eldridge Ms. Megan Elias Mr. Patrick Emmett r. and Mrs. Jay and Shannon Ericsson Ms. Angelica Estrada-Rodriguez Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Becky Evans

Mr. & Mrs. David and Nancy Ewert Ms. Sherry Fanell Mrs. Tammie Fanning Ms. Julie FinzelMr. & Mrs. Charles and Jean Fisher Mr. Donald Fitzgerald Mr. & Mrs. Josh and Megan Fitzpatrick Ms. Therese Foley Mr. and Mrs. Vincent and Teresa Ford Ms. Marilyn and Gregory Fowler Ms. Cynthia Francisco Ms. Connie Gaban Mr. & Mrs. Russell Garner Mr. Steven Gamboa Mr. and Mrs. Rick and Carrie Garcia Mr. and Mrs. David and Cheryl George Mr. Michael George Drs. James & Roberta George Mr. & Mrs. Jules and Virginia Ghyselinck Mrs. And Mrs. Leslie and Greg Golich Mrs. And Mr. Katherine and Julio Gonzalez Ms. Mayra Gonzalez Ms. Cristina Gonzalez Mr. Timothy Gorham and Mrs. Erika Monet Mr. and Mrs. Peter and Susan Granucci Ms. Veronica Green Mr. and Mrs. Craig and Debbe Haley Ms. Jill Haley-Buntley Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Susan Hamilton Mr. and Mrs. Arlene Hamilton Ms. Toni Harper Ms. Jennifer Henry Mr. and Mrs. Chuck and Micky Heppe Ms. Sidney Hessler Mr. Matthew Hewett Ms. Vicky Higuera Ms. Dina Higueria Mr. and Mrs. John and Diane Hoffman Ms. Anne Holdren Mrs. and Mr. Joyce and Mark Holtzclaw Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Susan Hopkins Mr. William Horrisberger Mr. Jacob Huckaby Mr. and Mrs. William and Adriana Humphrey Ms. Linda Hylton Mrs. Ellie Ibarra Ms. Debara Jameson Ms. Carol Jarrett Ms. Susan Jennings Mrs. Margaret Jephson Mr. Ian Journey Mrs. Jennifer Kavanaugh Ms. Jacquelyn Kegley Mr. Ken Keller Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Cheryl Ketchum Ms. Malinda Kim Ms. Lisa King Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey and Lisa King Ms. and Mr. Jeanine and Jesse Kraybill Mr. Garet Kreizenbeck Mr. Jerry Ku Mr. and Mrs. John and Sheila Lake

Our Donors, Who make it possible.

Individual Contributions (cont.)

Ms. Marti Lari Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert and Elena LaRoque Ms. Belinda Latorre Ms. Marianne Laxague Ms. Kari Lee Ms. Judy Lehmeier Ms. Pamela Lievanos Cody Long Mrs. Amanda Lucas Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and Michelle Lumis Mrs. Allie Madrid Ms. Patricia Mahan Dr. & Mrs. Matthew and Judith Malerich Mr. Scott Manzer Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Nancy Marble Mr. Michael Mariani Mr. and Mrs. Joel and Audrey Martinez Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Destinie Martinez Ms. Jessica Mase Marti Mazzeo Ms. Brigitte McBride Ms. Georgia McCaffrey Mr. and Mrs. Matt and Megan McCort Ms. Colleen McGauley Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Carolyn McIntyre Mr. and Mrs. William and Sandy McMahan Ms. Linda McMahon Mr. Levi McMahon Mr. and Mrs. Pat and Peggy Mellon Mr. Phillip Mendoza Ms. Terry Meyer Ms. Annette Morales Mr. and Mrs. Donald and Karen Moss Ms. Lupe Munoz Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Stacie Munoz Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Beth Nahama Ms. Jenifer Natto Ms. Fariba Neese Mrs. and Mr. Kelli and Alan Neuman Ms. Coleen Noel Mr. Ty Ohanneson Mr. Nate Olson Ms. Mary Ann Paranaque Ms. Jane Parsons Mrs. and Mr. Debbie and Julien Parsons Mr. & Mrs. Pritesh Patel Ms. Melanie Paterniti Ms. Catherine Patrick Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Jannette Pedersen Ms. Brenda Pelayo Ms. Heather Pennella Duane Peralta Ms. Connie Perezchicu Mr. David Perkins Mrs. Lori Porterfield Mrs. Kimberly Price Ms. Patricia Procell Ms. Diana Ramirez Mr. Christopher Reilly Ms. Melissa Reish Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Bonnie Richardson Ms. Rosalie Rocha Mr. Vince Roche Ms. Amanda Rodriguez Ms. Megan Rogan Ms. Leah Rogers Ms. Debbie Rohatsch Mr. and Mrs. Vincent and Linda Rojas

Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Kristen Rubio Ms. Amanda Ruiz Mr. and Mrs. Jose and Martha Saenz Mr. and Mrs. James and Cheryl Saiki Senem Saner Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Barbara Schiffhauer Mr. and Mrs. Bret and Sally Selby Mr. Charlie Seufert Mr. and Mrs. Scott and Janet Shaw Mr. and Mrs. Lee and Diana Shaw Ms. Corrina Sheridan Mrs. and Mr. Noel and Keith Shotts Ms. Martha Simmons Ms. Lisa Smiddy Mr. Michael Solko Mr. and Mrs. Phil and Phyllis Sorbet Mr. Paul Spears Ms. Nicole Sprague Ms. Julie Stanley Mr. and Mrs. Jerry and Robin Starr Ms. Joni Stevenson Mr. & Mrs. Clifford and DeAnn Straub Ms. La Tanya Sumlin Ms. Teresa Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Scott Tobias Mr. & Mrs. Dwight and Judy Todd Mr. Kiyoshi Tomono Ms. Barbara Tongate Mr. & Mrs. Chad and Toni Tongco Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Amy Travis Ms. Susan Trihey Mr. and Mrs. James and Tamara Tucker Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Judy Tupper Ms. Joyce Umfress Mr. Mike V Ms. Christine Van Horn Job Ms. Melissa Vartanian Ms. Amanda Warren Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Katherine Warren Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Bonnie Welchans Mrs. Mary Womack Ms. Donna Woodall Mr. Frank Wooldridge Ms. Jonathan Young Mr. & Mrs. Jon and Tammie Zaninovich Ms. Patricia Zloczewski Mr & Mrs. Barry Zoeller

Memorial Gifts In memory of Amber Stevenson

by Jacob Huckaby In memory of David Livengood

by Mr. and Mrs. Bret and Sally Selby In memory of Laura Mitchell-Ghlarducci

by Dr. and Mrs. Stan and Kathy Boyce In memory of Margaret Skapazian

by Mr. and Mrs. Lynn and Eugenia Reade In memory of Mike Stier

by Dr. and Mrs. Mark and Bernadette Root In memory of Pat Hardin

by Mrs. and Mr. Karen and Don Moss In memory of Rick Denton

by Ms. Margaret DeArmond In memory of TG Hash Hopper

by Mrs. Betty Higby In memory of Vincent Bertolucci

by Mr. and Mrs. Warren and Catherine Haupt

Honorary Gifts In honor of Randy Tinsley

by Ms. Allie Madrid In honor of Molly and Christopher Rodriguez

by Ms. Amanda Rodriguez In honor of Gabriel Fernandez

by Ms. Cynthia Francisco In honor of the children who have touched my life through CASA

by Ms. Kelli Neuman In honor of Teresa Alvarez

by Ms. Veronica Coronado In honor of Amber Stevenson

by Joni Stevenson In honor of Mom

by Ms. Terri Collins In honor of Dad Steve

by Susan Hopkins In honor of Jenny Waguespack and Traci Boylan

by The Honorable and Mrs. Robert and Rosemary Anspach In honor of CASA Staff

by Mr. and Mrs, Bruce and Michelle Lumis In honor of Gladys Dunlap

by Mr. and Mrs. Joel and Audrey Martinez In honor of Natasha Rodriguez

by Mr. Cody Long In honor of Robert Anspach

by Ms. Colleen McGauley In honor of Diana Ramirez

by Ms. Ellie Ibarra

Have your child/children, niece, nephew, grandkids, etc. color this page and submit to CASA of Kern County to be placed on our wall of "Togetherness."

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1121

CASA of Kern County 1717 Columbus Street Bakersfield, CA 93305 (661) 631-2272 kerncasa.org

CASA of Kern County is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation

"I trusted my CASA Volunteer. She was the only person whose face I recognized after every move." - Ashley, former foster youth