May 2024

CASA JEFFERSON NEWSLETTER

​To our 6 new advocates that were sworn-in by
​Judge Jennifer Guillot Womble on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. 
We are excited to have them join our team
​and be a voice for children in Jefferson Parish foster care.

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National Foster Care Month is observed in the United States during the month of May
every year. It began with President Ronald Reagan in 1988, and since then, it continues to
be recognized and celebrated1. This important campaign aims to acknowledge and support
the children, youth, and families involved in foster care. Let’s take a closer look
at what National Foster Care Month represents:

Engaging Youth:
The Children’s Bureau’s National Foster Care Month campaign emphasizes the need to
create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are
preparing to leave foster care. These efforts focus on ensuring that youth have the necessary
resources and connections as they transition to adulthood.

Key Statistics:
There are over 390,000 children and youth in foster care.
Approximately 20,000 youth are emancipated from foster care without a permanent
family. In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care (ages 14–21 years old) left care
without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and
independent living. These statistics highlight the impact that relational connections have on
improving long-term well-being for children and youth in foster care. Providing concrete supports,
appropriate interventions, and opportunities for youth is crucial.

Raising Awareness:
National Foster Care Month encourages involvement from various stakeholders, including foster
parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, community members, child welfare professionals,
and policymakers. By raising awareness, we can collectively enhance the lives of children and
​youth in foster care and help them find permanent homes and connections.

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GiveNOLA Day returns on May 7 2022!
Make a difference by joining us for 24 hours of giving to benefit our regional nonprofits. 

Now in its 9th year, GiveNOLA Day is a 24-hour event hosted by the Greater New Orleans Foundation. 

Together, let’s inspire people to give generously so that we can make our region
stronger and creating a thriving community for all. 

Thank You in advance for supporting CASA Jefferson
on GiveNola Day!

https://www.givenola.org/casa-jefferson-inc

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​Daimon Ponthieux-14yrs
Judith Gambino-8yrs
Taffie Autry-7yrs
Annette Shaw - 1yr
Michelle Reinhardt - 1yr
Miriam Breaux-Baham - 1yr

Cindy Zandi
Mary Langan
Mary Vastola
Michelle Reinhardt
Rosilia Paz

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Mental Health America is proud to have founded in 1949 what is now known as
Mental Health Month. Every May, we come together with millions of Americans to continue
the tradition of promoting awareness, offering vital resources and education and advocating
for the mental health and well-being of everyone. Being able to maintain
good mental health is essential to each and every individual’s overall health and
well-being. Mental health conditions are common, manageable, and treatable.

One in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year, and
everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. About half of
Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in
their lives, with symptoms starting by age 14 for the majority of people. It is never too soon to
seek treatment for your mental health. There are many ways to take action – big and small –
to improve mental health and increase resiliency, regardless of the
situations you are dealing with. Knowing when to turn to friends, family, and coworkers when
you are struggling with life’s challenges can help improve your mental health. Change is hard,
but it’s unavoidable in life. It’s important to find
coping skills that can help you process these changes, prioritize your mental well-being,
and accept the situations in life that we can’t control. Life can be challenging, but every day
shouldn’t feel hard or out of your control. If it does, there is help.
​One free, anonymous, quick, and easy way to determine whether you are experiencing
symptoms of a mental health
condition is to take a mental health test at mhascreening.org.
Take a Mental Health Test – Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
After you take a mental health screen, you will be given resources and tips to try on your
own, ways you can connect with others or find a provider and learn about treatments.
Your screening results can be used to start a conversation
with your primary care provider or a trusted friend or family member. A mental health test
is a great way to begin planning a course of action for addressing your mental health.
Seeking professional help for your mental health
when self-help efforts aren’t working is a sign of strength, not weakness. You don’t
have to go through these struggles alone.
It’s important to remember that working on your mental health takes time. Change won’t
happen overnight. Instead, by focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors
of modern life and develop long-term strategies to support yourself — and others — on an ongoing basis.

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​​CASA JEFFERSON's Mission is to break the cycle of child
abuse and neglect through volunteers advocating for
safe, nurturing, and permanent homes
for foster children in our community.

CASA JEFFERSON's Vision is to have volunteers
recruited, trained and assigned to every child in the
foster care system in Jefferson Parish.  

      As of May 1, 2024, we have 52 children waiting for a
volunteer to advocate for them.

If you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a volunteer,
have them call our office (504 533-8757) or visit our website www.casajefferson.org.

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