The Voices of Child Advocates of Fort Bend MARCH 2023

The ofVOICES

Inside / Inside /

CEO Update • Remembering Jim Shaw

CEO Update • Remembering Jim Shaw

• Celebrating Volunteers • And More!

• Celebrating Volunteers • And More!

March

from the ceo

Welcome to our March newsletter! We are dedicating this issue to our social workers

March is National Social Workers Month and we are dedicating this issue to all the wonderful social workers on our staff whose work is so impactful. Social work is such an honorable profession uniting a deep compassion for people with a steady resolve to meet our children and families where they are and help guide them in their journey to healing. The social work profession embodies the six values of: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity and Competence. These values align beautifully with CAFB’s five values of Collaborative, Healing, Inclusive, Life-Changing and Dedicated (using the acronym CHILD). We have 15 people on staff who hold a bachelor, masters or PhD degree in social work as well as interns from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work who are on site pursuing their degrees in social work. These staff members provide direct services to the children and families in both our Children's Advocacy Center and CASA

Program as therapists, forensic interviewers, family advocates and advocacy specialists. We are so appreciative of the transformational work that our social workers do every day to bring hope and healing to thousands of children and families every year.

Look inside this issue to read about upcoming activities including Light of Hope and our Gala for the Children as well as specialized trainings and Sip & Strolls. Don’t miss our memorial tribute to our former Board President and dear friend Jim Shaw and meet new staff members who joined CAFB over the past month.

Thank you for your loyal support for CAFB and for having a heart for children.

Ruthanne

Ruthanne Mefford, CEO

March is. . . Social Work Month

What is a social worker and what does a social worker do?

By Courtney James and Stevie Irby

March is Social Work month, and we are excited to celebrate such an amazing profession! Several of our employees here at Child Advocates of Fort Bend have a degree in social work and fill a variety of important roles. The theme for Social Work Month 2023 is Social Work Breaks Barriers. People often ask “What is social work and what does a social worker do?” The information below is directly from the Social Work Code of Ethics Preamble and will highlight the mission and core values of social work.

“The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human needs of all people, with particular attention to the

empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s dual focus on individual well-being in a social context and within society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination,

oppression, poverty and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation, administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education and research and evaluation. In addition, they seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs. Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities and other social institutions to individuals needs and social problems.”

Our team of professionals plays an active role across the agency in contributing to the lives of the families that are served by Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The social workers on staff are spread across the agency ensuring that the core values shine throughout every individual. This group entered the profession of social work for different reasons, but each one has a passion for helping children and families, while ending the cycle of child abuse.

At CAFB, our social workers are Clinical Family Advocates, Therapists, Criminal Court Advocates, Advocacy Specialists, Courtesy CASAs, Managers, Clinical Directors and Program Directors. We are so lucky to work in a place that has the opportunity to fuel partnerships between social workers as well as people from other

professions and backgrounds. At CAFB, we have a team-oriented approach that allows for social workers to provide different perspectives and to be present in critical conversations when it comes to agency operations and case review. Having different perspectives present in conversation builds a cohesive and mindful environment to best serve our clients and community. Thank you to our social workers and Happy Social Work Month!

At CAFB , our social workers are Clinical Family Advocates , Therapists, Criminal Court Advocates , Advocacy Specialists, Courtesy CASAs , Managers, Clinical Directors and Program Directors

Remembering Jim Shaw

By Ruthanne Mefford

We are so saddened by the loss of our former Board President and dear friend Jim Shaw who passed away in January He served on our board for 15 years from 2008 to 2013 in a variety of roles including Vice President, President, and Past President He was part of our Fund Development Council as well as an extraordinary Ambassador in our Voices For Children sustainability initiative In addition to his board service, Jim was a CASA Volunteer for multiple cases in which he was a positive role model for two teenage boys over the years and mentored them to become the fine men they are today Jim also served as President of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land whose national cause is the prevention of child abuse and Jim advocated for greater support for child abuse programs and services in our community

He was generous with his time , talents and treasures

Jim and his devoted wife Tracey attended all our events and generously supported our fundraisers including Galas, Christmas Home Tours and Voices For Children

Breakfasts, small group gatherings in their beautiful backyard, Light of Hope ceremonies and National Adoption Day celebrations Jim drove to Austin numerous times to meet with legislators to advocate for children Over all these years, Jim provided guidance and support to me and was generous with his time, talents and treasures. All of us at Child Advocates of Fort Bend deeply miss Jim and send Tracey, Ross and his family our love.

FBJSL Partners in Service

By Jenetha Jones

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is excited to kick off the fundraising season with the annual Gala for the Children, which will feature the enchanting and sweet “Charlie’s Chocolate Factory.”

While the theme may hold some mystery, there is nothing elusive about the dedication of the Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) membership and their contributions to nonprofits throughout the Fort Bend community, from volunteering their time to awarding grants that support an agency ’ s bottom line. CAFB was fortunate to be a recipient of the League’s 2022 Sugar Plum Market.

Our annual Gala requires many hands to carry out and together with CAFB staff and a vast pool of professional and energetic members from the FBJSL Teen League, Provisional, Active and Sustainers ranks – all with amazing talent –these ladies know how to put on an event. Their contributions are invaluable from decorating to donating auction items to purchasing a table.

More importantly, as a Core Placement for the League, members have a direct opportunity to learn about CAFB’s mission and services for children who are abused or neglected, including a whole slate of new members who join the Provisional class each year. Members who may be interested in greater involvement can participate in our in-depth training and join us in providing court advocacy for children in foster care to providing comfort to those who come for clinical and therapy services There are additional volunteer opportunities in administration, as community speakers or participants at awareness events, as well as

helping at our gala and child abuse awareness community events. FBJSL’s mission of volunteerism is a tremendous asset to the community and we are so grateful to have them in partnership. Jessica Roos is our FBJSL Liaison for the 2022-2023 term. She is a middle school teacher and is excited to share the CAFB mission and our needs with League members. As a newly elected officer to the Board of Directors, Michelle Cano now serves as Director of Community Service, and our Board Liaison. She previously was our League Liaison and volunteers weekly in our CAC greeting children. She was also the recipient of Development Volunteer of the year for 2021!

To learn more about FBJSL or if interested in becoming a member, contact Jamila Carroll at Newmembers@fbjsl.com or visit https://www.fbjsl.org for more information.

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

Pictured L to R are: Irfan Motiwala, Eileen Akerson, Patti Tuma, Marcelo Moacyr, Dr. Betty Baitland, Jim McClellan, Ruthanne Mefford, Jim Lockwood, Vickie Looney, Joe Freudenberger, Cynthia Barratt, Pat Somers, Jill Curtis, Shiroz Virani, Nancy Olson and Dr. David Lanagan

Faith Leaders Brunch

By Lindsey Castellanos

There are so many threads that connect our community in Fort Bend County Faith Leaders Brunch was just another example of the unity that binds us These leaders are called by our faith, convictions, or values to take care of children and to keep our community safe for everyone

On February 21, we hosted 12 different congregation leaders and leaders of influence from the Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu community to learn more about the work of Child Advocates of Fort Bend We spoke candidly about the issues of child abuse and shared facts about abuse that cause us to look at those places of worship differently We talked about why families need to know that Child Advocates of Fort Bend exists and what their congregations can do to support children and youth in foster care

Our message was well received One leader passionately stated, “Our community needs this information We know that there are dangers We want to learn how to make the world safer We want parents to know what to say or do because our generation didn’t talk openly about these things We want to be sure that any child that needs help gets the expertise that Child Advocates of Fort Bend offers”

In addition to offering opportunities to support our mission, we provided networking opportunities for adoption agencies, Department of Family and Protective Services, and partner organizations like Cultivating Families and The Riverside Project

If you are part of a faith community and you want to know what you can do, let’s chat! There are some great opportunities coming up to learn more about the needs of abused and neglected children here in Fort Bend County Those are listed below

Upcoming events:

March 23, 2023: 9AM to 1PM

Church Leader Training with The Riverside Project

March 31, 2023: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Light of Hope with City of Richmond

April 30, 2023

Blue Sunday- Pray for Children

For more information, contact Lindsey at LCastellanos@cafborg

Training Tid Bits

By Dana Mersiovsky

Learning is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere. Learning is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere.

~Chinese Proverb ~Chinese Proverb

The training calendar is off to a great start in 2023. January brought in the first session of our Healthy Boundaries Series - How to Interact with Children in the Playroom. We had a great turnout of CAC volunteers who spent time in the CAC learning and role playing with children. In February, our Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) Team hosted an interactive training Emphasizing Connection and Community for Children and Volunteers. The training introduced volunteers to the purpose of CFE, and provided step by step tool facilitation on how to document this work in Optima The volunteers who attended left exited about CFE!

Volunteer Pre-Service Training will take place March 20-31. We have a wonderful group of individuals ready to learn and give back to our Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA Program, Community Outreach and Events.

Be on the lookout for our Trauma Informed Care Conference and other continuing education details coming to our website soon. And if you have a topic you would like continuing education on or are interested in facilitating for one of our trainings, please let Dana know at DMersiovsky@cafb.org..

Our mission and our values are central to the work that we do and every one of our staff members has a role in how we meet our mission This month, meet some of our social workers and hear in their own words why they are a part of our team.

Joshua Meribole Shares His Why

I became a social worker because I wanted to work with people and find the best way to help them. We all face challenges at different points in our lives and at times we are able to respond appropriately, and at times we find it difficult to respond. We panic, we get angry, and we can withdraw. As a Clinical Family Advocate (CFA), I help families process what has happened and offer help at a time when it is difficult for them to think about what to do next.

One of the reasons I chose to work at Child Advocates of Fort Bend was because of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach here. When I was a student, we talked about the complexity of different systems and the difficulties for families navigating those systems. I wanted to work with an agency that worked closely with different agencies and institutions.

I love meeting with families and offering services as well as seeing caregivers who, despite their own personal struggle, are dedicated to the wellbeing and healing of their children who have experienced something traumatic.

I also love the people I work with at Child Advocates of Fort Bend and the friendliness of the working environment here. It is great to work with a group of people who are passionate about the work that they do. Some of the cases we see are difficult for one CFA to navigate, and it is encouraging to see the different elements of the Children's Advocacy Center come together to help. As someone who is new to this field, I appreciate it when co-workers help me further understand the dynamics of the different elements of my role.

Louanne Munden Shares Her Why

As a Courtesy CASA, I visit children placed in other states, as well as those in several counties in Northeast Texas. I was originally hired at the beginning of the Courtesy CASA program in February of 2017 after retiring from CPS where I was employed as a Child Safety Specialist. I was laid off at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic in March of 2020 and asked to return to my present position in September of 2022. I have an MSW from the University of Texas at Arlington and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. My education, and primarily my experience and training at CPS for 37 years, has enabled me to gather and analyze information that is important to each case and to better understand human behavior. I was recruited to CAFB primarily to visit out of state children in various placements (relatives, foster parents, adoptive parents and residential treatment centers.)

I love being able to be of service to children at risk and to their caregivers. I appreciate my part-time contract job at CAFB, as it allows me to travel out of the Dallas area where I live and is flexible enough to allow me to fulfill responsibilities to my family, friends and other organizations. I am inspired by all the children I have worked with over the past four decades and their ability to be resilient in the face of chaos and trauma. The most important thing I do in my work for CASA is honoring children and their caregivers by trying to meet their individual needs, rather than having to take a “cookie cutter” approach to cases.

The Voices of Child Advocates of Fort Bend

calling all volunteers . . .

WE NEED YOU!

We are excited for the biggest FUN-raiser of the year!

Please consider helping us with one of the biggest revenue enhancers, the WINE & SPIRITS Pull Simply purchase your favorite wine or spirit (valued at $35 or more please) and drop off at the office or email TARINA and we will arrange pick up!

Would you like to attend the Gala? We have sponsorships available ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 A ticket bundle with 2 individual seats, 2 drink tickets and valet parking for 1 vehicle is $500 Individual seats are $150

For more information, contact Tarina at TSheridan@cafb.org

Gift Cards with a value of $35 or more (including gift card to Specs and Total Wine) for the Gala gift card pull

Wine & Spirits valued at $35 or greater (or gift cards to Total Wine or Specs) for our Gala wine & spirit pull

Diapers size 2, 3 and 4.

Additional items can be found on our WISH LIST our

Looking for a way to honor or memorialize someone you love?

Would you like to pay tribute to someone by honoring or memorializing them for a life well lived or a special occasion? Send a donation in any amount with their name, address, and a note about why you are honoring them. We'll send an acknowledgement letter letting them know that you donated on their behalf. Honor someone today by donating online or by mailing a check to Child Advocates of Fort Bend, 5403 Avenue N, Rosenberg, TX 77471.

What are some permanent honorarium choices?

Pavers. Your $500 or $1,000 gift can purchase a medium or large paver in our front walkway engraved with your name or message. Purchase your paver today and someone will contact you to discuss your inscription. If you have already purchased a paver, we thank you!

If you wish to honor or memorialize someone special in a more significant way, why not name a room in our building after them? We have a variety of room naming opportunities available including private offices, therapy rooms, family meeting rooms, conference rooms and more.

For more information, please contact Lisa Moore at Lmoore@cafb.org

This month, we have immediate need for:

needs

save these dates

March 9

Darkness to Light Training

More info

March 14

TBRI Overview

10am - 4pm More info

March 20-31

New Volunteer Training

March 23

The Riverside Project Training 9am - 1pm

March 28

TBRI Correcting Principles

10am - 4pm More info

March 28

Sip & Stroll

5:30 - 7pm

Contact Suzanne at SSlavin@cafb.org to reserve your spot

March 31

Light of Hope Get details

April 14

Trauma Informed Care Conference

April 29

Charlie's Chocolate Factory Gala More info

“It is such a relief to have told this secret that “It is such a relief to have told this secret that I've keep inside for years and for someone to I've keep inside for years and for someone to believe me and want to help me." believe me and want to help me."

- Deanna (child) - Deanna (child)