CASA Delaware Live!

In Episode #14, we interview Eliza Hirst, esq. who is a former Deputy Child Advocate with the Office of the Child Advocate. Ms. Hirst spent nearly a decade legally advocating for children in DFS custody. During her time at OCA, she represented hundreds of children involved in dependency and neglect proceedings and used her knowledge and experience to pursue a deeper understanding of trauma. Ms. Hi...

In Episode #13, we interview Antonisha Busby who joined the Office of the Child Advocate recently as the Youth in Transition Coordinator. Her job focuses on assisting youth aging out of foster care. Antonisha capitalizes on her experience as an Independent Living Provider to assist the young adults on her case load and assists them with housing, employment, education, and financial support. In thi...

In Episode #12, we sit down to chat with 5 of our 11 CASA Coordinators: Jen Falkowski of New Castle, Megan Caudell of New Castle, James "Clark" Huffman of Sussex, Tahira Ayyaz of New Castle, and Nakia Howard of Kent. These five folks share about their early beginnings, how they joined the CASA Program, why they joined, and what they've done in their tenure with the program. They als...

In Episode #11, we have a full hour speaking with the founding attorney at the Office of the Child Advocate! Ms. Tania Culley, esq. is an incredible force of nature and absolutely fights for all kids involved in dependency/neglect proceedings. From the humble beginning, Tania was given the task of not only creating the Office of the Child Advocate, but supervising it on a daily basis and growing i...

In Episode #10, we get the opportunity to speak to a client! Yep, that's right, she's a young adult under extended jurisdiction. Rose came into foster care at the age of 17 after having lived with her grandfather who could no longer take care of her and her younger siblings. She came into DFS custody and in our interview with her, she details what life has been like the last few years in...

So what is IC? It's the Office of the Investigation Coordinator. This office was created in 2013 as a result of the Earl Bradley case in Sussex County. Jennifer Donahue, former Deputy Child Attorney for the Office of the Child Advocate, founded the Office of the Investigation Coordinator when it was created. She has lead the office since it's inception and has partnered with several stat...

In 2014, the Federal Government passed a law that states that children in foster care who are under the age of 16 cannot have APPLA (Another Permanent Planned Living Arrangement) as a permanency plan. Let's face it...APPLA is not a plan, it's a status. The purpose of permanency is to provide youths with just that....permanency. That means a place to call home, people to depend on, folks...

In Episode #7 we interview Friends of CASA President Dennis Hallock and Friends of Sussex CASA President Susan O'Doherty. Both presidents explain their auxiliary boards and how they aim to assist the children in Delaware's foster care system as well as offer support to CASA Volunteers. The mission of both organizations is to provide support and grant client funding requests to help bridg...

Episode #6 focuses on a great conversation with experienced CASA Bruce Wyngaard. Bruce shares about his experience as a CASA volunteer as well as some tips and tricks that he's learned along the way especially when working with teenagers. Bruce has a kind way about him and he's very analytical, so he uses those great skills to advocate for the children he's appointed to represent. B...

Episode #5 includes an interview with child attorney David Holloway, who joined the Office of the Child Advocate to further his work in the child welfare system. Dave shares some wonderful insights into his work in child welfare. He also shares some great tips and tricks on how CASA volunteers can best partner with child attorneys, CASA coordinators, and other various partners including Division o...

Episode #4 provides a panel discussion as three CASA volunteers share their experience working with teenagers in DFS custody. We have one volunteer from each county to share their specific experience. We have Sarah Wootten of Sussex County, Barbara Roos of Kent County, and Linda Busacca from New Castle County. The best part is that each CASA shares some tangible actions steps that they took to con...

In Episode #3, we interview Sussex County Family Court Judge Peter B. Jones. He shares with us his early employment history as a practicing attorney then guides us through his transition to becoming a judge. He has been on the bench for over two decades and he shares his experience working with private cases as well as dependency/neglect DFS cases. He offers some thoughts on how CASAs influence an...

Episode #2 interviews three attorneys in our CASA program: Melissa Hutchison from Kent County, Al Cave from New Castle County, and Elizabeth Soucek from Sussex County. Each attorney walks CASA volunteers through prepping for virtual testimony and covers topics such as dress code, background set up, and technology logistics. Then, they each dive into how to interact during court as well as how to p...

Melissa Palokas is the CASA Delaware State Director. She joined the CASA Program in 2015 after a decade in various child welfare capacities. She has been the state director since October 2018 and continues to lead the CASA Program through the current health pandemic. She has two teenage boys, a golf-course superintendent husband, and two furry friends at home! She brings great experience, knowledg...