CASA Delaware Live!

In Episode #164, CASA Katie Wilkerson shares her experience advocating for children who are both in DFS custody and utilize special education services. She reviews several educational programs including the UGRAD program, Child Inc, Educational Surrogate Parent Program and the Parent Mentor Program. She mentions that upwards of 70% of children in foster care are eligible for special education and...

In this episode, we interview Domenica Personti who founded Impact Life, which is an innovative behavioral health organization whose mission it is to build a foundation of recovery through unique recovery housing options, harm reduction programs, peer support, and workforce development. Many of the families that CASA Volunteers work with have clients who are engaging with Impact Life so it might b...

In this Episode, we examine what is Minimum Sufficient Level of Care. More specifically, we explore ways to accept it, understand it, and advocate as a CASA. Can your CASA child's resource family offer more material items than the biological parents? Maybe. If that's the case, we really need to look at the strengths of the biological family, especially if they have completed their case p...

In this episode, we chat with Lori Sitler of Child, Inc. She chats with us about their programs and how these programs can benefit the children that CASA volunteers are working with.  CHILD, Inc.’s mission is to be the leading advocate for Delaware’s children. Through our prevention, intervention, and treatment programs, CHILD, Inc. strives to positively impact the children and families we serve t...

In Episode #160, we review some Dos and Don'ts of being a CASA. We review this during Pre-Service CASA Training but it never hurts to review it again. There are many things that a CASA can do but there are also many things that a CASA cannot do. So we just want to review some of them! Enjoy! 

In this episode, we meet our 4 Deputy Child Advocates through the Office of the Child Advocate: Renee Duval, Jennifer Kline, Casey Pav, and Claudia DeBonte! The purpose of this podcast is to introduce these four child advocates to all the CASA Volunteers so if and when a volunteer finds themselves working with one of these fine attorneys, they'll know them better! Enjoy!

In Episode #158, we chat about the difference between common terms and ideas. We cover 6 in total. They are: Team vs. Triad Meeting Best Interest Meeting (BIM) vs. Team Decision Making Meeting (TDM) DFS vs. YRS vs. PBH Contract Agencies vs. DFS Resource Homes Child in Care Plan vs. Safety Plan vs. Case Plan Extended Jurisdiction vs. Board Extension Enjoy! We hope the description of these topics he...

In Episode #157, we interview Ashley Benedict who is a resource parent in Delaware. She and her husband have hosted a few youth in the past two years and Ashley shares her experience as a resource parent as well as what it has been like to work with CASA Volunteers. Enjoy!

In this episode, we chat with Trinette Redlinger-Ramsey of the Division of Family Services and JoAnn Santangelo from the Court Improvement Program to educate us on the value of Family Time. Family Time, formerly called Visitation, exists when a family is involved with the Division of Family Services either as an intact family or one where the Division has custody of the child(ren). Listen in on wh...

In Episode #155, we chat with two CASA Coordinators, Jess Hazzard and Courtney Penhollow, who share with us some thoughts and ideas on how to best prepare for upcoming court hearings, how to testify, and how to focus on appearance in order to present our essential information related to a child welfare case. Enjoy!

In this episode, Megan Hendricks from the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families explains the FIRST Program: Family Informed Resource Support Team. This is a program within the department that helps families identify and be connected with community resources! Check them out HERE and if there are any questions, you can email them directly at DSCYF_CommunityDirectory DSCYF_Com...

In Episode #153, we chat with Division Director Renee Ciconte as she explains the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. She reviews what this Division is responsible for, how it works with it's sister agency the Division of Family Services "DFS," and how CASAs can assist with a youth who might be experiencing juvenile justice. Enjoy!

In this Episode, Mr. Mike Kopp of the Murphey School discusses their Transitional Housing program... aimed at helping teenagers successfully transition into adulthood and obtain housing. The Murphey School is a group home/congregate care facility in Dover, DE.  Learn more! https://www.murpheyschool.org/

In this Episode, we interview Dr. Maya Khalid, PhD from SOAR (Survivors of Abuse in Recovery). This is an incredible resource for our families as they provide therapeutic services to children and families who have been involved with sexual or physical abuse. Here is their website for more information: https://www.survivorsofabuse.org/ Enjoy this episode!

In Episode #150, we re-record a virtual Lunch & Learn topic on Oh My Hair! The necessity of minority hair care. We wanted to re-create it in the form of a podcast to appeal to more CASA volunteers to engage in this topic as it is essential to so many children and families we serve. Thank you to our amazing presenters who are also Office of the Child Advocate Staff: Rose Maurice, Renee Duvall,...

In Episode #149, we chat with three CASA Coordinators: Lisa Reaves, Nakia Howard, and Jessica Hazzard. All three share their experience working with CASA volunteers and how to handle situations that might not be going the way a CASA Volunteer would prefer them to go. All three coordinators share some great nuggets of advice and experience. Enjoy!

In Episode #148, we hear from CASA Coordinator Jen Falkowski as well as two CASA Volunteers, Colleen Harbison and Bethany Menson, as they share their experience working WITH the Division of Family Services. All three share some great nuggets of information and make solid suggestions on ways to best work with DFS as we all navigate child welfare cases together. Enjoy!

In Episode #147, we chat with parent attorney Stephanie Reid, Esq. who discusses her role as a parent attorney, how she works with her clients, who she partners with to help her clients, and she makes some suggestions on how CASAs can best support parents when working reunification cases. Enjoy!

In Episode #145, we interview CASA State Director Megan Caudell as she walks us through some statistics for the first 11 months of the year. Then, Lauren Brueckner follows up with a glance at the 2026 CASA Training Calendar. Enjoy!

In Episode #144, we cover some key reminders for CASAs including some Dos and Don'ts and how best to balance what our clients tell us vs. what's actually true. So, we want to listen and absorb information but not necessarily act on it without investigating the other side as well. Enjoy!

In Episode #143, we interview CASA Leann Moore who has extensive experience around Conflict Resolution. She's at the University of Delaware and during this podcast interview, she shares some helpful information to help us as CASA volunteers when faced with conflict (which WILL happen!). Enjoy!

In this episode, we interview Meg Garey, Executive Director of A Better Chance for our Children where she shares with us some helpful information on how kids express grief and loss. She also gives some suggestions on how a CASA can best assist their youth who might be struggling expressing themselves when the heavy feelings of grief and loss settle in. Enjoy this episode!

In this episode, I chat with Bobbi Barends who is not only a CASA volunteer but also the VP/Campus Director and Chief Operating Officer at Del Tech in Georgetown! During our chat, she explains several scholarship opportunities that exist at Del Tech which is a statewide campus. Maybe some of these educational financial opportunities might benefit a youth you're working with! Enjoy!

In this episode, we chat with child attorney Jennifer Kline, Esq. and listen as she discusses the importance of sibling connections as well as ways that a CASA can help ensure these connections stay intact. Enjoy!

In this episode, Child Attorney Renee Duval, Esq. walks us through the appeal process for the Termination of Parental Rights. She also explains what a CASA's role is, how they can assist during the case, and what to expect. Enjoy!