Hi *{{Informal Name}}*,

If you knew the song reference from the subject line, well done! "September," by Earth, Wind & Fire has been stuck in my head all day and I had to pass it on. It's crazy how fast this month has flown by and we are excited to tell you all about what's been going on at Heart of Missouri CASA over the last month! Keep scrolling to read about:

Getting out in the community
A CASA Impact Moment
Meet Hetty Harlan
MU Homecoming Parade
Volunteer Spotlight

Thanks for being a friend of CASA. We hope to see you soon at the parade, an info session, or our next training class!

Take care,

Angela Carson

Development Director

Heart of Missouri CASA

Out in the Community

Heart of MO CASA staff, board, and volunteers have been busy spreading awareness this month! From Hey Day at Columbia College to Pride Fest at Rose Park, we have been inviting people to learn more CASA's mission and to consider becoming an advocate for a child in foster care. The first step to action is always awareness!

Impact Moment

CASA Deric advocated for two teens over the last year and did an amazing job connecting with these older youth. The teenage girl requested (and was granted) termination of jurisdiction, but not before Deric helped her set goals, register for programs, and get the tools she needed to be successful in the next step of her journey. Deric helped her brother find permanency through reunification with his father. He built a relationship with both the teen and his dad, which served as a bridge of communication with the rest of the team to move the case along. Deric again provided guidance to help the youth set goals, get the resources he needed, and obtain a job. He plans to stay connected with the family and continue supporting them. Well done, Deric!

*Names changed to protect privacy

Welcome Hetty Harlan to the Board

We are grateful to have Hetty Harlan join Heart of Missouri CASA's board of directors. We know her skills, experience, and passion for the mission will be a tremendous asset to CASA's health and growth. Here is a little bit about her!

Hetty Harlan grew up in a suburb of Chicago, but her parents were from Sedalia, Missouri and moved back in the early 80’s. Her father was a Mizzou grad. Family holidays were often spent with grandparents in Sedalia and cousins in Columbia, so Hetty and her husband’s move to Columbia in late 2018 to care for her widowed mother was an easy transition.

Hetty retired from a long career with Bank of America where she was a Senior Vice President in Credit Risk Portfolio Management. Math, investments, and analysis are her thing. She has an MBA in finance and accounting from Northwestern University and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Financial Planning from San Diego State University.

Bruce, Hetty’s husband of 44 years, is a retired business professor, with a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and MBA from University of Chicago. They have two grown children, a son and a daughter, pursuing careers on opposite coasts. Still waiting on grandchildren, they lavish their affection on two adorable Cavalier King Charles puppies - litter mates, Victoria & Albert.

Hetty is presently President of the homeowners association in the neighborhood where her and Bruce live. Hetty has a talent for landscaping design and is an avid gardener.

Hetty was introduced to HOMCASA by a good friend who shared her personal experience as a CASA Volunteer. She believes the work HOMCASA is doing is very important and wants to help the organization meet its ambitious growth goals of serving 100% of the local foster community.

MU Homecoming Parade

Heart of Missouri CASA is excited to be participating in the Mizzou Homecoming Parade on October 21st! We would love to have lots of volunteers and friends of CASA riding on the float and walking with us that day. Have kids or friends you want to bring along? That's great! We have lots of candy and little footballs to hand out so we could use some extra hand to pass them out. If you would like to join us, please sign up at the link below so we can send you more details as the parade approaches.

PARADE SIGN UP

Volunteer Spotlight

This month, Amy McCormick is in our Volunteer Spotlight! Amy swore in as a CASA Volunteer in November of 2022. Amy is serving on her first case. She has been instrumental in connecting the family with resources and communication with all the team members. Here is more about Amy:

“I grew up in Fulton, MO and I believe there is a great sense of community in Callaway County. Throughout my life my mom was actively involved in various organizations. I accompanied her many times to the events and got to experience how wonderful it was to volunteer.

I started to learn about HOM CASA and attended their informational webinar. When I learned of the challenges a child faces while in foster care and how a CASA can help, I could not start training fast enough! During the years of working at the hospital bedside, I loved advocating for my patients! Hearing their stories of what happened throughout their childhood years made me question why there wasn’t an advocate for them when they needed someone the most. How would their life have turned out differently if they had someone in their corner? I have years of experience working with adults, but I was up for the challenge of learning how to advocate for kids.

People often say to me, “I could not do what you do,” “That would be too hard,” “Why would you want to do that?” It is hard, but it would be even harder to be the child in the situation and feel as if I did not have a voice. As a CASA there is a possibility that you are the child(ren)'s only consistent adult during their time in foster care. That is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. However, that is a part of my “why.” My case alone has changed caseworkers' hands four times. I have been his consistent adult involved and prioritized communication so pertinent information would not get lost in his case. Being a CASA has been the most wonderful and easiest decision I have made. I became a CASA because I love the mission behind the organization and the people in the community, I get to continue to build relationships with!”

Thank you for all you do, Amy!

Join Our Next Volunteer Training

Are you ready to take the next step and become a CASA? Our fall class is set to begin on October 30th. For more information, call us at (573) 442-4670, email us at hello@homcasa.org, or register for one of our no-obligation information sessions.

Fall Class

10/30/2023: In-person Kick-off: 5:30-6:30 pm
11/6/2023: In-person Session 1: 5:30-8:30 pm
11/13/2023: In-person Session 2: 5:30-8:30 pm
11/20/2023: In-person Session 3: 5:30-8:30 pm
11/27/2023: In-person Session 4: 5:30-8:30 pm
12/4/2023: In-person Session 5: 5:30-8:30 pm

Training is made up of 15 hours in-person and 15 hours online.

If you are ready to apply now, you can do so on our website!

Register for an upcoming Info Session!

Have you considered becoming a CASA volunteer but still have questions? We have weekly info sessions where you can learn more! These are brief 30 minute virtual calls where you can get your questions answered before deciding if this opportunity is for you. Click on the button below to register and a zoom link will be sent to you by email.

REGISTER HERE

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