Vigilant Voices™ hosted by Jeannine Panzera and Kristin Blalock from Henrico CASA

Life is better with relationships... and change happens in the context of relationships. That is why developmental relationships are so important to children and teens! Having a trusted adult invest in you through building a relationship leads to so many positive outcomes like academic growth, social/emotional learning, and an increased sense of responsibility and ownership of your life. Learn mor...

Hope is more than mere optimism. It brings an expectation of things to come! At CASA, we hope this year is better than the last for children who have experienced trauma... and we are committed to making it happen! Join us in chatting about the science of hope and how we can practice hope with children. In today's episode, we reference the following two articles: The Science of Hope: More than Wish...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Andrew Dooley from Comfort Zone Camp ⁠ . Join us in learning his advice on how to navigate grief during the holiday season, by first acknowledging and validating our feelings. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the cha...

Whether the holidays are a cheerful or challenging time, they are almost always full of big emotions! This is especially true for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Join us for a replay of last year's holiday episode where we answer the questions: - Why are the holidays difficult for vulnerable youth? - How can we best support them through the holidays? ***** In our work as Court Appo...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Autumn Zaborowski, adoptive parent and community volunteer, who was recently recognized asan Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Hear her story of seeing the need, taking action, and encouraging others to wait in the wings for a “yes” moment!...

Children do not get traumatized because they are hurt. They get traumatized because they are ALONE with the hurt. * At CASA, we ensure children are not alone with their hurt. And while showing up for children, we have the opportunity to amplify their voices so that the court decisions made on their behalf are the best ones possible. Help us raise the volume on children's needs in our community! Gi...

There is a relationship between civility and resilience! So, when we model respectful, polite behaviors, children not only learn to have good citizenship, but also build resilience! Today's episode references this article by Dr. Robert Brooks. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensur...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we welcome Lily Miller , Case Manager at Safe Harbor . She is living out Safe Harbor's mission to save, transform, and rebuild lives. We hope guest episodes like this one help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a hea...

We can better support children and families impacted by substance use when we address the stigma associated with substance use disorder! As CASA Advocates, or as caring family and friends, we need to offer consistent support and accountability. Learn more in today's episode and be sure to check out these examples of person-first language that help stop the stigma. (Nation Center on Substance U...

Witnessing domestic violence is traumatic for children, even if they are not physically harmed. The short-term and long-term negative impacts of witnessing abuse can be mitigated if a child has someone in their life modeling healthy relationships! Learn more in today's episode, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Learn how you can identify abuse, plan for safety, and support o...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rachel Mayes Strawn to tell us about Virginia Community Colleges' Great Expectations program. After listening, you will definitely want to check out their website: Great Expectations | Promising futures for Virginia foster youths (vccs.edu) We hope guest episodes lik...

There are many shared symptoms between ADHD and Complex Trauma. Knowing this can help us support children in the most effective way possible... because if their symptoms are a sign of trauma, we should be responding in a trauma-informed way! Take a look at the visual below as you follow along with today's discussion. Venn Diagram: ADHD and Complex Trauma ***** In our work as Court Appointed Sp...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Amber Van Der Meer⁠ to talk about the benefits for fitness for children and physical literacy. Listen all the way through to hear about ACAC's special 30 for 30 promotion that benefits Henrico CASA! Learn more at https://acac.com/30days/ We hope guest episodes like this one...

We can do things at home to set children up for success at school .  The key is consistency! Learn more in today's back-to-school themed episode. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impac...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Mark Smith ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , Owner of Midas of Richmond, who is known for generously responding to needs in our community, especially the needs of vulnerable children and families. At Midas, Mark says, “Cars don’t work without proper care. Neither do communities. We do both.” We hope...

Children who have experienced trauma need to feel valued and have a sense of hope.  Court Appointed Special Advocates provide BOTH by walking with children in the present and setting them up to thrive in the future. In today's episode, we answer frequently asked questions about the role of a CASA advocate. After listening, if you'd like more information, email Kristin (kristin@henricocasa....

Children who have experienced trauma need to feel valued and have a sense of hope. Court Appointed Special Advocates provide BOTH by walking with children in the present and setting them up to thrive in the future. Register for one of our upcoming virtual information sessions to learn more about volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate: August 7 @ 12pm August 12 @ 7pm ***** In our work a...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome ⁠ Angela Rosas ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , creator of A Calm Kid podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Angela knows the value of emotional regulation and inner awareness for children, but also the adults in their lives! Her podcast is intended to be a safe space to connect, breathe, and be present with one another....

PLAY is an excellent way to build trust and resilience in relationships. Make it intentional, and you will always have enough time to incorporate play into your day. Learn more about the 'repetitive, relational rhythms' of play in this brief article . ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and f...

A child's developmental age reflects their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive stage. Children are more at risk for abuse and neglect when their chronological age doesn't match their developmental age... so adults need to set their expectations accordingly! ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing c...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Sophia Booker ⁠⁠⁠ , contributor for Reshuffled: Stories of Hope and Resilience from Foster Care . ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sophia is empowering the next generation to be effective advocates for change. Her key? Give them information, context, and space to think critically! We hope our guest epis...

Building trust-based relationships is essential when serving children who have experienced trauma. These types of relationships prioritize connection over anything else... and connection begins when you show up again and again! Read Dr. Purvis' The Connected Child to learn more about trust-based relationship intervention. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned th...

There is great potential in using stories to support healing and build resilience. Find a book that has parallels to a child's personal story and use that book as a tool to connect, process, and respond to trauma. This conversation was inspired by the Practitioner and Parent/Caregiver Guides published by the Office for Victim's of Crimes . Check out the materials here . ***** In our work a...

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children.  Today, we welcome Jason Brown ⁠ , Founder and CEO of Fostering Acadia . ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Fostering Acadia provides older youth in foster care a supportive space where they are encouraged to dream big, set goals and take action. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who,...

One of our goals, at CASA and in life, is to communicate in a way that makes people feel safe and supported. Because we never want to cause further harm with our words… and that’s our words in speaking directly with someone and our words in talking generally to others. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing chil...