CASA Delaware Live!

In Episode #64, we chat with Aaron Prince of the Bayard House, a transitional housing option for pregnant and parenting teens. The Bayard House is part of Catholic Charities and provides residents with support in attaining child care, education, and employment. Residence receive their own room and resources to care for newborns and toddlers. The clients work with a case manager to connect with the...

In Episode #63 we chat with Dr. Angie Hattery about Domestic Violence. Angela J. Hattery is Professor of Women & Gender Studies and Co-Director of the Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender-Based Violence at the University of Delaware. She is the author of 11 books, including her most recent book, Gender, Power and Violence: Responding to Intimate Partner Violence in Society Today (20...

In Episode #62, we chat with Chief of Legal Services, attorney Kelly Ensslin to discuss the different permanency options available to children experiencing foster care. In Delaware, we have four (4) main permanency options: Reunification Guardianship Permanent Guardianship TPR/Adoption Kelly discusses these in detail and includes who can apply for each, what legal criteria exists, what benefits mi...

In this episode Office of the Child Advocate staff member Megan Bittinger discusses ways CASA volunteers can support the LGBTQ+ Community. She discusses the use of pronouns, ways in which we can be sensitive and supportive as well as describes some terms that might be helpful.  Before starting this podcast, please consult two resources that might helpful as Megan consults both during her discussio...

In Episode #60, we chat with Adrienne Owen, the Multidisciplinary Discipline Team Trainer. She has decades experience in law enforcement and brings with her a unique perspective to child abuse and child welfare. Adrienne chats with us about what is Mandatory Reporting, who is a Mandatory Reporter, and what to do when YOU make a DFS Child Abuse Hotline Report. Please take a moment and put the Repor...

In Episode #59, we interview three CASAs with experience in advocating for babies. We have Sarah Vernon from New Castle County, Brenda Berry from Kent County and Terry Shuchart from Sussex County. All three of these ladies have advocated for a baby, meaning they are less than 3 months old. In this episode, Sarah, Brenda, and Terry focus on how their advocacy differs from that of an older child esp...

In Episode #58, we speak to Claudine Wiant and Reggie Laster both from the Beau Biden Foundation. They explain to us what exactly "Sexting" is, how it can emotionally, socially, and legally affect children and what CASA Volunteers should know about it. They also share great insight on how a CASA, or any adult, can speak to a child about sexting and staying safe while using the internet a...

In Episode #57, we chat with Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH about vicarious trauma and self-care. Jessica has spent 20 years in the mental health field specifically focusing on the brain, brain development, and how trauma affects the brain. This topic can be applicable to all CASAs in all situations, so please enjoy!  Here are some links to what Jessica referred to during our conversation: https://www.st...

In Episode #56, we chat with Meg Garey, the Executive Director of A Better Chance for Our Children "ABC." ABC is an adoption agency in Delaware that holds a contract with the Division of Family Services in order to offer foster care and adoptive resources. ABC conducts home studies, or family assessments, for families interested in adoption. Meg chats with us about what goes into a famil...

In Episode #55, we interview Tara Oliver from Healthy Families Delaware. She describes her program, how it offers support to families with infants, and how they connected families in need with community resources. As a CASA, think about how your family might benefit from their services, though be aware that the services must start before the baby is 2 months old. This services is wonderful and con...

In Episode #54, I discuss our upcoming 2022 training calendar. Here are some highlights: In-Services will be back in-person! They will include a hybrid option via Zoom so anyone who cannot physically attend can still receive the information.  New Castle County will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 2-4pm. We will start in January at the Courtyard Marriott by the University (400 David Hollowe...

In Episode #53, we chat with Meredith Seitz, Chief Policy Advisor to the Division of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families as well as Antonisha Busby, the Youth In Transition Coordinator at the Office of the Child Advocate. These amazing ladies discuss the recently signed House Bill 123 which grants higher education tuition waivers to youth who have experienced foster care. This bill ha...

In Episode #52, CASA Coordinator Camille Kesheshian discusses how CASA Volunteers can work positively within their teams. These teams focus around the same goal: Permanency for the Child. During the treatment phase of a DFS case, CASAs will work with a variety of different partners from biological parents to foster parents, from DFS social workers to family interventionists. There are a lot of pla...

In Episode #51, we chat with 4 amazing CASA Volunteers who have been with their youth for over two years! That's right, 2 years of consistent advocacy for the same youth.  The purpose of this interview was to highlight how relationships change over time and to provide the audience with some ideas on how to keep the live alive if they find themselves with a youth for a lengthy period of time....

In Episode #50, we chat with two CASA Coordinators, Emella Kamara and Jennifer Falkowski. Both coordinators share insight on the benefits of youth engagement during their court hearings. They discuss some barriers as well but also discuss how the virtual court appearance option has allowed more youth to attend court and feel comfortable doing so! By virtually participating in court, youth have mis...

In Episode #49, we conduct a follow up discussion with Family Court Judge Jones, Alaina Chamberlain -Child Attorney, and Michelle Skoranski-DFS Attorney discuss with us reasons why DFS would be excused from providing reasonable efforts. Through their discussion, we focus on specific incidences where DFS may be excused from working towards reunification through providing these reasonable efforts. J...

In Episode #48, we chat with Mrs. Melissa Briddell of the Elizabeth W. Murphey School located in Dover. The Murphey school is a group home that serves children ages 6-18 then offers a transitional housing option for those over 18 years old. Ms. Briddell outlines life as a house parent, explains the residential breakdown of cottages, and then explains the transitional housing options for youth who...

In Episode #47, we celebrate 50 years of the Delaware Family Court System! To honor this momentous occasion, we interview Chief Judge Michael Newell, Sussex County Family Court Judge Kenneth M. Millman and Child Advocate Tania Culley, Esq. of the Office of the Child Advocate. These three guests discuss their involvement in the Family Court History Book project as well as how they have witnessed th...

Episode #46 focuses on the development of children! Pediatrician Judy Gorra speaks to CASA volunteers about what they should know about child development. We go through the early infancy years through the teenage  years. Dr. Gorra shares some very insightful information on the prenatal process as well as the necessity of early bonding between children and caregivers. All CASAs can benefit from lis...

In Episode #45, we chat with Moira Dillon of the Division of Family Services as she walks us through the Permanency Planning Committee process. This process is known to many as the "PPC" and it is what determines a child's permanency plan while in the custody of DFS. During most cases, a CASA volunteer will attend at least one PPC meeting on their child(ren). In this episode, Moira...

In Episode #44, we chat about a dependency/neglect case flow from an Ex Parte Order to the Permanency Hearing. We discuss when court reports are due by CASA volunteers, what the purpose is of each court hearing and how to should always focus on permanency....we must seek an Urgency for Permanency! We do not want children to grow up in foster care, so CASA should always work with team members in at...

In this episode, we interview CASA Caroline Jones who also happens to be the founder and CEO of a Delaware Non-Profit called Kind to Kids. Caroline became a CASA in 2007 and during her first few years, she experienced several hardships for kids in foster care who she realized she could help! So, Kind to Kids was founded in 2010 with the mission of "a future for every child." In our chat,...

Jessica Hazzard is the newest member of the CASA Staff! We are so excited to have her join us as a CASA Coordinator serving Kent and Sussex Counties. Jess joined the CASA Program on April 13, 2021 and is now assigned several new CASA volunteers as well as a few veteran volunteers. She brings with her child welfare experience having worked in a homeless shelter, as a child welfare investigator and...

Have you heard the term "Reasonable Efforts" in a dependency/neglect proceeding yet? Have you ever wondered what that actually means? In this episode, we interview Family Court Judge Peter B. Jones along with child attorney Alaina Chamberlain and DFS attorney Michelle Skoranksi. Our three panels describe Reasonable Efforts and how they pertain to child welfare, specifically what findings...

In this episode, we interview Jennifer Tozer from the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, known as DDDS. Jen chats with us about how clients are referred to their programs, what community partners and connections DDDS works with as well as how clients can take advantage of their services. We also chat about housing options, case manager and worker support, and philosophies. Jennifer a...