Newsletter - October 2022

​Our 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.

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

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If you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a volunteer have them call our office (504 533-8757) or email Ms. Margaret. As of October 1, 2022, we have 25 children waiting for a volunteer to advocate for them.
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OCTOBER 2022

CASA Jefferson hosted our 1st Advocate Appreciation Celebration since COVID on August 17, 2022!
 
Without our amazing CASA Jefferson Advocate volunteers, we wouldn't be able to accomplish our mission of advocating for the best interest of Jefferson Parish abused and neglected children in foster care.
 
We appreciate everyone!

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​CASA JEFFFERSON ADVOCATE APPRECIATION EVENT AUGUST 17, 2022

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month is designed to unify women and men all across the world who have been victims of domestic violence. It is important to recognize that domestic violence impacts millions of people, and it’s not only women who are victims; many men suffer domestic violence as well. It is a problem across every status, culture, religion, and race. There are many different forms of domestic violence as well, which is why raising awareness is so critical.
 
Signs You Are In An Abusive Relationship
A lot of people do not realize that they are in an abusive relationship. Here are some of the signs that you could be in an abusive relationship that you need to get out of…

• Your partner sexually or physically abuses you. If they ever make you have sex with them when you don’t want to, hit you, shove you, or push you, this is domestic abuse. 
• Your partner threatens you or your family.
• Your partner puts your down. They attack your capabilities, mental health, looks, or intelligence. They blame you for their violent outbursts.
• Your partner is jealous. They may isolate you from your family or friends or they may accuse you of not being faithful.
• Your partner is possessive. They may check up on you all of the time and they may get angry if you hang out with certain people.
• Your partner has strangled you, beat you, or hit you in the past

Emotional Abuse
A lot of women and men suffer from emotional abuse, and it is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often overlooked or minimized, even by those experiencing this.
Emotional abusers look to chip away at your feelings of independence and self-worth. You can end up feeling like you do not have anything without your abusive partner or that there is no way out of your relationship. 
Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse. This includes controlling behavior, intimidation, isolation, shaming, blaming, name-calling, and yelling. Abusers who use psychological or emotional abuse will often throw about threats of physical violence, as well as other repercussions if you do not do what they demand. 
The scars of emotional abuse run deep, and they are very real! You may assume that physical abuse is a lot worse, as people can end up with physical wounds and send you to the hospital. However, emotional abuse can be just as damaging. Sometimes, it can even be worse

Financial abuse is one of the subtler forms of emotional abuse. Some examples of this include:

• Taking your money or stealing from your wallet
• Sabotaging your job – calling constantly or making you miss work
• Preventing you from choosing your own career or working
• Restricting you to an allowance
• Withholding basic necessities, such as shelter, medications, clothes, and food 
• Making you account for every penny you spend
• Withholding credit cards or money
• Rigidly controlling your finances

What are the short-term effects of Domestic Violence on children?
Children in homes where one parent is abused may feel fearful and anxious. They may always be on guard, wondering when the next violent event will happen.3 This can cause them to react in different ways, depending on their age:

• Children in preschool. Young children who witness intimate partner violence may start doing things they used to do when they were younger, such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, increased crying, and whining. They may also develop difficulty falling or staying asleep; show signs of terror, such as stuttering or hiding; and show signs of severe separation anxiety.
• School-aged children. Children in this age range may feel guilty about the abuse and blame themselves for it. Domestic violence and abuse hurts children’s self-esteem. They may not participate in school activities or get good grades, have fewer friends than others, and get into trouble more often. They also may have a lot of headaches and stomachaches.
• Teens. Teens who witness abuse may act out in negative ways, such as fighting with family members or skipping school. They may also engage in risky behaviors, such as having unprotected sex and using alcohol or drugs. They may have low self-esteem and have trouble making friends. They may start fights or bully others and are more likely to get in trouble with the law. This type of behavior is more common in teen boys who are abused in childhood than in teen girls. Girls are more likely than boys to be withdrawn and to experience depression.4

​What are the long-term effects of Domestic Violence on children?
More than 15 million children in the United States live in homes in which domestic violence has happened at least once.5 These children are at greater risk for repeating the cycle as adults by entering into abusive relationships or becoming abusers themselves. 

You can help your children by:

• Helping them feel safe. Children who witness or experience domestic violence need to feel safe.9 Consider whether leaving the abusive relationship might help your child feel safer. Talk to your child about the importance of healthy relationships.
• Talking to them about their fears. Let them know that it’s not their fault or your fault. Learn more about how to listen and talk to your child about domestic violence (link is external) (PDF, 229 KB).
• Talking to them about healthy relationships. Help them learn from the abusive experience by talking about what healthy relationships are and are not. This will help them know what is healthy when they start romantic relationships of their own.
• Talking to them about boundaries. Let your child know that no one has the right to touch them or make them feel uncomfortable, including family members, teachers, coaches, or other authority figures. Also, explain to your child that he or she doesn’t have the right to touch another person’s body, and if someone tells them to stop, they should do so right away.
• Helping them find a reliable support system. In addition to a parent, this can be a school counselor, a therapist, or another trusted adult who can provide ongoing support. Know that school counselors are required to report domestic violence or abuse if they suspect it.

Getting them professional help. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy or counseling that may work best for children who have experienced violence or abuse.10 CBT is especially helpful for children who have anxiety or other mental health problems as a result of the trauma.11 During CBT, a therapist will work with your child to turn negative thoughts into more positive ones. The therapist can also help your child learn healthy ways to cope with stress. 

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***FRIENDLY REMINDER***
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT’S ALMOST THE HOLIDAY SEASON?
IT’S TIME FOR OUR CASA JEFFERSON KIDS TO FILL OUT THEIR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST!

Your supervisor will be providing you with a wish list for your CASA Jefferson child to fill out. There are 2 different wish lists - one is for children 12 and under and the other is for children 13 and over. Please have your CASA child, foster parent and/or parent complete the correct wish list and return to you ASAP.  Other children in the home who are not CASA children should NOT fill out a wish list. Also, don’t forget to set the expectation that every item wished for - may not be received.

ALL COMPLETED WISH LISTS ARE DUE BACK TO YOUR SUPERVISOR BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 3rd
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All gifts will be held at our office until foster parents and/or parents are notified to pick them up. As soon as pick up dates and times are finalized, all advocates will be notified.
Our hope is that since we are getting an early start, most of the gifts will come in earlier than in years past, so that our kids can hopefully receive their gifts by early December. Lastly, if   you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your supervisor.

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October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing. Kids who are bullied can experience negative physical, school, and mental health issues. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, decreased academic achievement and they are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

Here are some things you can do to combat psychological and verbal bullying.

Ignore the bully and walk away. Bullies thrive on the reaction they get, and if you walk away or ignore hurtful emails or instant messages, you’re telling the bully that you just don’t care.

Hold the anger. That’s exactly the response he or she is trying to get, and want to know they have control over your emotions.

Don’t get physical. Not only are you showing your anger, but you also can never be sure what the bully will do in response. You are more likely to be hurt and get into trouble if you use violence against a bully.

Practice confidence. Practice ways to respond to the bully verbally or through your behavior. Practice feeling good about yourself.

Talk about it. It may help to talk to a guidance counselor, teacher, or friend — anyone who can give you the support you need. Talking can be a good outlet for the fears and frustrations that can build when you’re being bullied.
Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.  They can:
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• Help Kids Understand Bullying:  Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.
• Keep the Lines of Communication Open: Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
• Help kids take part in activities: Special activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior.
• Model How to Treat Others with Kindness and Respect

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OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS CASA VOLUNTEERS

Ellen Wynne
Kathy Murphy
Shane Wilson
Ronald White

OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES CASA VOLUNTEERS

Andres Gomez-3yrs
Jacquie Bonano-2yrS
Karen Gomez-3yrs
Kieta Mutepfa-3yrs
Kim Tuleu-3yrs
Lenny Burgos-2yrs
Nina Soonthornthiti-3yrs
Zoe Vallotton-2yrs

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You can raise money for (CASA Jefferson) non-profit organizations you care about on Facebook for your Birthday??

Listed below is a sample message your Facebook Friends will see when you set up a fundraiser:
“For my birthday this year, I'm asking for donations to CASA Jefferson. I've chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you'll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal. I've included information about CASA Jefferson below.”

How do I create a fundraiser on Facebook?
 

1. On your computer, login to Facebook.
2. On the left, click   Fundraisers.
   • Tip: If you don't see Fundraisers on the left, then click See more.
3. On the left, click Raise money.
4. Click Nonprofit.
5. You can either:
   • Type into the search bar to find the nonprofit you want to raise money for
6. Select the nonprofit.
7. On the left, enter:
   • The goal amount of money you want to raise
8. Click Create.

​You’ll see a screen pop up where you can invite your friends to donate to your fundraiser, share your fundraiser in your feed, or donate to the fundraiser yourself.