NVCSS CASA

A Hand to Hold. Early childhood development is the foundation for every child’s future. Trauma at a young age makes a lasting mark on mental, emotional, and physical health. When infants and toddlers enter the foster care system, they need specialized attention and advocacy to meet their unique needs and keep them safe. CASA volunteers are well versed in the needs of kids of all age groups and advocate for their best interest when it matters the most. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #nvcss #casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

ThankYou Thursday! Thank you so much for your support of Court Appointed Special Advocates. Your generous spirit makes the world a brighter place for children in foster care. #givingtuesday #thankyouthursday #thankfulthursday #becomeacasavolunteer For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #nvcss #casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives... Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS) See more

National Gratitude Month! Gratitude is more than simply saying thank you. Gratitude’s amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives. Practicing daily gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us. Everything in our lives has the ability to improve when we are grateful. Research has shown that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress and drastically improve our ove...rall level of health and wellbeing. On average, grateful people tend to have fewer stress-related illnesses and experience less depression and lowered blood pressure, they are more physically fit, they are happier, have a higher income, and more satisfying personal and professional relationships. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #nvcss #casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

November is National Adoption Month Thousands of teenagers across the country are at risk of aging out of the foster care system without permanent families or a sense of belonging. Often youth themselves are reluctant to consider adoption or other permanency because of trauma they’ve experienced, conflicting loyalties to family and caregivers, or fear of lost identity. Yet studies show lifelong connection to a caring adult is critical at every age. That is why this year durin...g National Adoption Month, the U.S. Children’s Bureau urges us to consider how we can engage youth by listening to their perspectives, understanding their needs, and learning from them to support their path to permanency. When we open a channel of communication with youth, we can begin to address the barriers to achieving permanency, and we create opportunities for their well-being along the way. National Adoption Month is an annual campaign sponsored by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids. #NationalAdoptionMonth #YouthVoice For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #nvcss #casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CASA programs have continued to support youth in foster care, making sure they have access to education, emotional support, health services, financial assistance, and other necessities. Your donations help us continue to provide these services, now and in the future. Thank you for your support! For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself. Oprah Winfrey Kids in foster care are often on their own when it comes to navigating the system. With a CASA volunteer by their side, they are reminded of the potential within them to build a future that’s better than their past. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #tr...ansforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS) See more

Teens need support and guidance before they age out of the foster care system. Each year in our community, a handful of young people turn 18 and emancipate from the foster care system. Aging out of foster care without a life plan or preparation puts these vulnerable youth at great risk. These risks include homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse, criminal involvement, and mental health issues. About one in five teens become homeless within a year after leaving foster car...e, and one in four emancipated foster youth will be incarcerated within the first two years after they leave the system. Protecting older youth in foster care and even those who have aged out and are out on their own is a matter of life and death during this kind of global crisis, says Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, vice president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Systems Innovation. CASA programs address the unique challenges faced by older foster youth and work to prevent these trends, connect them with available resources and persons to contact to help youth access the benefits they are eligible to receive, so our young adults don’t fall through the cracks during this critical development stage. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

We still have spaces available on the #SuperheroSpeedway. Sign up today! Pre-registration required: https://nvcss.ejoinme.org/register-casasuperherodrivethru Select your time slot now! Registering your super car helps our program! Together, we can recruit and train more CASA volunteers to help north state #fosteryourh.

The safe alternative to Halloween! Registration is open through Wednesday for the BEST trick-or-treating option in Redding! We hope to see you on the #SuperheroSpeedway https://nvcss.ejoinme.org/register-casasuperherodrivethru

Become a CASA volunteer. Our state has 83,000 children in the foster care system, more than any other state in America. 65% of these kids who were abused or neglected and removed from their home will age out of the system without achieving a permanent home life. Youth with a CASA volunteer by their side, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, get a chance to beat the odds and learn the skills they’ll need to grow into healthy and independent adults. We will be kicking off the new year with another training class! For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

This volunteer isn’t new to CASA, but made the switch from Glenn to Butte County this morning. Pam, thanks for your continued dedication to being a voice for #fosteryouth and changing a child’s story. #nvcss #casa #inspiringhope #transforminglives #makeadifference #beavoice #advocate #volunteer

Today, October 20th, is National Youth Confidence Day to celebrate the energy, spirit, and potential of young people. The day is an acknowledgment of all they will accomplish in their lives. Guidance, leadership and mentors, like CASA volunteers, will help light their path and navigate the obstacles that lay before them. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)

Run/walk your 5K for CASA!

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams. CASA volunteers are leaders in their community, ordinary people who care enough about youth in foster care to encourage them to plan for a successful future, no matter where they came from. For more information about how you can change a child’s story, visit www.nvcss.org/casa #fosteryouth #nvcsscasa #changeachildsstory #beavoice #weareforthechild #inspiringhope #transforminglives Northern Valley Catholic Social Service Inc. (NVCSS)