CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties

Reserve your space for an upcoming information session by visiting our website at casafresnomadera.org. Click Become an Advocate at the top of the page to select a virtual session that best suits your schedule. Space is still available for tomorrow's meeting (Feb. 17 at 12pm)!!

Make a difference in a child’s life that lasts beyond one Valentine’s Day. A CASA volunteers 10-15 hours a month with a commitment of 18 months and changes a child’s life...forever. www.casafresnomadera.org Or call 559.244.6485 CASA: The Voice that Matters for Foster Youth

This February, give the gift of love and compassion to a local foster child. CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties is in need of caring individuals in both counties to become trained Advocates who can be the voice for foster children in our program. These children have faced abuse and neglect, and you could show them love and compassion by standing by their side and guiding them as they navigate the complexities of life in the foster care and court systems. Learn about how you... can help make a difference in the life of a foster child this month by joining one of our Information Sessions! Here are our upcoming February Information Session dates [Make sure to save the Information Sessions graphic below to keep these dates on hand!]: February Information Sessions Schedule Wednesday (12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.) 2/10, 2/17, 2/24 Saturday (10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) 2/13, 2/27

Welcome back to our "Question of the Week" series, where we’ll be answering frequently asked questions each week so you can learn more about CASA, the youth we serve, and what an Advocate is and does for our local foster children. This week, we are answering one: "How long is my commitment, and how much time will I be expected to contribute each month?" CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties requires an 18-month minimum commitment from all Advocates. As every case is different, ...the amount of time required will vary, depending on the child’s age and needs. Volunteers devote, on average, ten to twelve hours per month. Leave any questions you may have about CASA, what we do, or how you can get involved in the comments below and we will answer them in an upcoming "Question of the Week"!

It's time for a "Feel Good Friday"! Actress and producer Tiffany Haddish in conjunction with her production company, She Ready Productions, and Ready to Succeed, has launched her She Ready Internship Program for foster youth. The program aims to help children in foster care obtain positions in the film industry. Through this program, transition-age foster youth will be connected to transformative experiences in the media, arts, and entertainment industries and receive traini...ng, mentorship, and ongoing support. Haddish, who was placed in foster care at 12-years-old, knows the challenges that foster youth face and feels that "every child that is removed from their parents deserves to have a suitcase, a safe place to lay their head, and platform to follow their dreams." The next round of internship applications opens Spring 2021, so head to readytosucceedla.org/she-ready/ to learn more!

With Super Bowl LV this Sunday, February 7th, here is a sobering fact about foster youth nationwide. This year’s Super Bowl will be held in the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raymond James Stadium has a capacity of 65,890. You could fill the Super Bowl stadium more than six times with the number of foster youth nationwide.

Dreaming of taking a luxurious trip to somewhere beautiful this holiday season? You can bid on and win a private plane trip (complete with champagne and indulgent treats) to either Carmel-by-the-Sea, Paso Robles, or San Luis Obispo (your choice!) at CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties' Virtual Holiday Auction starting Monday, November 23, 2020! Mark your calendars so you can bid on the trip of your dreams all while supporting our foster youth! ... Make sure to keep your eyes out for more sneak peeks because we'll be revealing all of the amazing items you can bid on at CASA's Virtual Holiday Auction all month long!

It's time for a "Feel Good Friday"! Robert Carter, a former foster youth himself, was determined to keep five foster siblings and adopted them all on October 30. The 29-year-old father was separated from his siblings while in foster care, so his childhood background made him aware of the importance of keeping the siblings together. Carter said his experience made him want to provide children with a safe home.... "I grew up in foster care and I've always wanted kids," he said. "There's too many kids in the world who need forever homes, so I figure I would adopt."

Not all superheroes wear capes. Meet our CASA Superheroes of the day! CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties would like to give a big THANK YOU to Fresno State Theta! ... These lovely ladies hosted a virtual fundraiser, "$2.25 for the 225," benefitting CASA to help our program be able to recruit and train more CASA volunteers who will provide advocacy for our foster youth. They initially had a fundraising goal of $2,500 but quickly surpassed that goal! See below to find out how much they raised for CASA! We are so grateful for your dedication to our foster youth, Fresno State Theta!

Having someone there consistently for the last five years...made all the difference in my life. Last week, we introduced you to one of our foster youth and shared how having an Advocate has made a difference in their lives. Today, we are introducing you to Savanna, a former CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties foster youth.

CASA is actively searching for giving community partners who are willing to "adopt" an ornament for a foster child to make their holiday wishes come true. Help fill the holiday season with wonder and joy for our foster youth with the gift of a toy. If you would like to make this holiday season magical for a local foster child, please contact Cyndi Veith at [email protected].

CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties congratulates the 2020 Voices of Hope award winners! Special thanks to our outstanding volunteers, advocates, and business partners. See below for our list of winners! Also, meet Advocate Award winner Esther Sanchez and hear why becoming a CASA was important to her. ... Esther Sanchez Michelle Helmer Karen Semas and Alejandra Avila, Fresno Department of Social Services Melanie Welch David Schlotterback, Owner of California Dingo Media

Could this Nintendo Switch be under YOUR holiday tree this year?! That's rightyou can bid on and win this Nintendo Switch for the ultimate present at CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties' Virtual Holiday Auction starting Monday, November 23, 2020! Lots of stores in town are already sold out if you're looking to score a Nintendo Switch for a holiday gift, but CASA has you covered! ... Mark your calendars so you can win this incredible gift for the holidays all while supporting our foster youth! Make sure to keep your eyes out for more sneak peeks because we'll be revealing all of the amazing items you can bid on at CASA's Virtual Holiday Auction all month long!

Last week, CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties swore in 21 new court-appointed Advocates who are now on their way to serving 25 to 30 foster youth in our program! (See below to meet our latest graduating class!) Find out more about how you, too, can make a difference in a foster child's life as an Advocate by joining one of our Information Sessions! Here are our upcoming November dates [Make sure to save the Information Sessions graphic to always keep these dates on hand!]: ... (: .. - : ..) 11/4, 11/18 11/25 (: .. - : ..) 11/14, 11/28 Email [email protected] to join!

Feliz Día de los Muertos to our CASA FAM! "Remember me, each time you hear a sad guitar...Know that I'm with you the only way that I can be...Until you're in my arms again, remember me..." "Coco"

Happy Halloween, CASA FAM! Team CASA hopes you have a safe and spooktacular day!

It's time for a "Feel Good Friday"! Jen Lilley, who you might recognize from her many Hallmark movie roles, says being a foster parent has changed her life. Now, the actress and "Fostering Hope with Jen Lilley" podcast host is on a mission to change the U.S. foster care system so that kids can more successfully reunite with their birth families. Lilley herself has experienced the ups and downs of foster care with her 4-year-old son who she and her husband have fostered since... he was just 4-months-old. The actress has lobbied in Washington D.C. to advocate for states to adopt protocols similar to California's, her home state, to ensure that children are able to successfully re-enter their biological family's home. Adding that she understands not everyone can be a foster parent, Lilley says there are things everyone can do to help, including becoming a court-appointed advocate.

Not all superheroes wear capes. Meet our CASA Superhero of the day! Scroll down to see CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties receiving the check for Buck for Kids from Marketing and Event Manager Jacob Cantu! CASA has received $13,760.39 from the Dutch Bros. fundraiser and these funds will significantly help our organization to recruit and train more CASA volunteers to advocate for our local foster youth during complicated court proceedings and support them through the ups and ...downs of foster care. Thank you, Dutch Bros. of Fresno, for helping to change our local foster children’s stories. We are forever grateful for your support!

"The support of my loved ones and my CASA volunteer enabled me to see my past as a source of strength." For the next few weeks, we'll be introducing you to some of our foster youth and share how having an Advocate has made a difference in their lives. Today, we would like to introduce you to Melissa, a former CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties foster youth.