CASA Delaware Live!

In this episode, we speak to 3 experienced CASA volunteers and listen as they share their thoughts and strategies in communicating with youth who are experiencing cognitive or developmental delays. Enjoy!

In Episode #137, we chat with staff attorney Stefanie Ramirez who works with the Disability Rights Program. She has tremendous knowledge when it comes to working with students with disabilities and how discipline impacts their education. If anyone has additional questions for Stefanie, she can be reached by email at sramirez@declasi.org   Enjoy! 

In Episode #136, we interview Kelly Hatton who is a therapist working with the TRY Program. TRY stands for Trauma Response for Youth. This service is contracted through the Division of Prevention of Behavioral Health and offers prevent, intervention, and treatment services to families who have experienced a traumatic event. Kelly also runs a counseling service called A Seed of Hope which can be fo...

In Episode #135, we explore two housing options for DFS families in New Castle County: Gaudenzia and Bayard House. Dionne Cosby chats with us about Gaudenzia House and Cheryl Sanderlin chats about Bayard House. Both housing options are supported through the state and work closely with the Division of Family Services. They use a trauma informed approach and offer transitional services to help bridg...

In this episode, we interview Independent Living Program Manager Tamara Myles through the Division of Family Services. Tamara educates us on the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and WHY of a STEPS (Stairways To Encourage Pathways to Success) Meeting. Enjoy!

In Episode #133, we review some of the most commonly used acronyms including DSCYF, DFS, PBH, YRS, IL, BIM, TDM, APPLA, TPR, ESP and more! Happy listening!

In Episode #132, we focus on the CASA Court Report which is presented to the CASA Coordinator and Child Attorney in order to prepare for upcoming court hearings. Each report is a necessary part to the court process so it needs to be turned in by the CASA two weeks prior to any upcoming court hearing. Only the Triad members will see the court report. Enjoy!

In this episode, we interview 4 team members of Wrap Around Delaware, which provides comprehensive assistance to families in need.  During this interview, we chat with Jackie, Shannon, Michelle and Haydee and listen as they describe their roles within the organization that includes DFS, YRS, PBH and Foster Home Recruitment. Enjoy! To learn more about Wrap Around Delaware, visit https://wraparoundm...

In Episode #130, we chat with Executive Director Claudine Wiant of Prevent Child Abuse Delaware, affectionately known as "PCAD." April is Child Abuse Prevention Month so the purpose of this podcast is to learn about PCAD, what programs they offer and provide a general overview for things CASAs should know about how PCAD takes action to Prevent Child Abuse!  Questions? Check out their web...

In Episode #129, we interview 4 CASAs who have been with their assigned children for over five years! Some of them closer to 10 years! This means that these CASA volunteers have had the opportunity to develop deep relationships with these youth and witness their changes over time. The focus of this podcast is to explore ways in which a CASA's advocacy changes over such a long period of time....

In Episode #128, we host our third in a four-part series on Working with Children. For the thirteen to seventeen year-olds, we chat with four CASA Volunteers: Kathy, Hareena, Sarah and Dave and listen as they share their experience working with children in this age group. Enjoy!

This is a special edition! It's a short Public Service announcement focused on Child Abuse Prevention Month which is in April. Since we are coming up on activities, I wanted to get this information out sooner rather than later.  Every year, young children in Delaware are rushed to the emergency room after being exposed to or ingesting medications and substances. Curiosity is part of being a c...

In Episode #127, we host our second in a four-part series on Working with Children. For the six to twelve-year-olds, we chat with four CASA Volunteers: Martha, Mary, Velma and Lisa and listen as they share their experience working with children in this age group. Enjoy!

In Episode #126, we start our first in a four-part series on Working with Children. For the birth to five-year-olds, we chat with four CASA Volunteers: Sheila, Paula, Elvida, and Colleen and listen as they share their experience working with children in this age group. Enjoy!

In Episode #125, we discuss Family Search and Engagement. We cover what this is, how CASAs can take action, and why it's vital to any case involving dependency and neglect. We hope you enjoy!

In this episode, we chat with CASA Coordinator Jessica Hazzard and Deputy Child Attorney Elizabeth Fillingame as they discuss the role of the Triad when working with a youth experiencing Dual Status. Please refer to Podcast #66 to learn more about Dual Status Youth, but use this podcast to understand the role of each triad member. Enjoy!

In this episode, Jillisa Johnson chats with us about the MOMobile Program, which focuses on serving incarcerated pregnant and parenting women. This program is offered at the Hazel D. Plan and Delores Baylor facilities. This program also offers parenting classes, mental health and substance abuse supports to their clients.  If you have questions about the program, feel free to contact Jillisa Johns...

In Episode #122, we chat with CASA Delaware Director Megan Caudell as she walks us through our 2024 numbers. These numbers review CASA stats, child stats, and some other interesting facts. I then follow up with our 2025 CASA Training Calendar. Enjoy!

In Episode #121, I chat with three experienced CASA Volunteers (Marin, Jen and Brittany) as they share their thoughts on serving as a CASA Volunteer. Enjoy!

In Episode #120, we chat with CASA Bebe Reines who spent her career working in the Substance Abuse Disorder field. She shares some helpful information about substance abuse disorder as well as some resources and actions CASA can take in order to aide in awareness of substance abuse. Here are some resources: https://www.samhsa.gov/ https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/ https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsamh/

In Episode #119, we interview Melanie Stancell of Children and Families First. She is responsible for offering two parenting classes that many of our CASA families engage with. The two programs are Strengthening Families and Nurturing Parenting. Ms. Stancell explains these two programs in great detail so hopefully this knowledge will help CASA volunteers understand what these programs include. htt...

In Episode #118, we chat with Child Attorney Renee Duvall, Esq. She shares her thoughts with us on ways that we can chat with our CASA youth about the implications of making school threats. These actions are sadly occurring on a more frequent basis and Renee identified a need to have these discussions with all youth, especially our CASA youth, so that they understand what might happen should they,...

In Episdide #117, we chat with Faith Martin from Child Inc. Faith explains her role and what services Child Inc. offers to victims of Domestic Abuse. While Faith is located in Sussex County, these services exist statewide. Enjoy!

In Episode #116, we listen to Cherise Blackwell's story. She has direct experience as a mother whose children were removed from her care. She now serves as a Parent Peer Navigator to help parents reunify with their children. Enjoy!

In Episode #115, we chat with Celeste Bishop and Cindy Knapp from A Better Chance for our Children, which is an adoption agency in Delaware. Celeste and Cindy discuss post-permanency services that include a support group, "Rec-N-Respite," continued training and many other services which are offered to families who have adopted or who have legal permanent guardianship of a child. Any CASA...