Linn County Casa

400,000 children in America who are still waiting for their CASA volunteer

admin — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:52:48 +0000

400,000 children in America who are still waiting for their volunteer. Waiting for that one trusted adult who will stick with them until their case is resolved. Waiting because today CASA for Children can serve only 35% of the children in the foster care system.

You can help change that number.
Contact Linn County CASA today to see what you can do!!!

Lene Garrett

(541) 926 – 2651
lene@linncasa.org

http://www.linncasa.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty

2013 National CASA Association Child Advocate of the Year Alison Wilcox

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:11:09 +0000

2013 National CASA Association Child Advocate of the Year Alison Wilcox describes giving a voice to a young girl with severe cerebral palsy, and issues a call-to-action to others interested in changing the lives of abused and neglected children

North Albany Car Show to Benefit Linn County CASA

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:43:16 +0000

The North Albany car show brings together people from all over to share one common love- the classic cars and trucks! Combining the passion for these rides and the desire to make an impact on a local charity, this event is held on Father’s Day Every Year and proves to be a fun time where we can all socialize and talk all things automotive. Every dollar of profit from this car show….without exception…. goes to benefit a local charity.

You’ll see over 150 beautiful cars and trucks (pre 1976) at the Show N Shine, watch people compete to see who has the loudest and best sounding exhaust, watch a car engine being blow up, and ride in a helicopter over Albany. There’s plenty of fun going on at the North Albany Car Show!

Pre-registration is $15 without T-shirt or $20 with T-shirt if registered by June 15, 2013 at 12 PM (noon). Cars and trucks are limited to 1976 and older.
Registration the day of the show is $20 without shirt or $25 with shirt. Each registrant will receive one goody bag and T-Shirt (please specify size on the form) per entry while supplies last.

There will be no charge for spectators. All are welcome!

For more information,
Contact

Brian Weinhold PH: 541-918-4046 email: brianw@remax.net
or
Doug Hall PH: 541-918-4014 email doughall@remax.net

Visit us on Facebook… https://www.facebook.com/northalbany.carshow
Website…http://northalbanycarshow.com/

RE/MAX Integrity Champions for Children Run/Walk 2013

admin — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:01:42 +0000

CASA/RE/MAX Integrity Champions for Children Run/Walk 2013

CASA/ RE/MAX Integrity Champions for Children

6K Run/Walk 2013

Join Honorary Chairs

Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen

Date
Saturday, May 11, 2013

Race Schedule
8:30 am free kids 400 meter SuperHero fun run. Free red capes to all kids 10 and under. Participants encouraged to wear your favorite SuperHero costume!
8:45 am – 6K run/walk starts
10:00 am – Awards/ Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen

Event Description
This Run/Walk is a fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA provides a powerful voice for abused and neglected children in Lane County.

Distances
This event features a 6K Run/Walk. Free 400 meter SuperHero fun run for kids.

Location
Skinner Butte Park and surrounding bike paths – Eugene, Oregon.

Time: 8:30am – Free Kid’s 400 meter fun run. Free red capes to all kids 10 and under.
8:45am – 6K run/walk
10:00am – Awards

Location: Campbell Center (2nd & High St) – Eugene, Oregon

Event Description: This run/walk is a fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA provides a powerful voice for abused and neglected children in Lane County.

Distances: This event features a 6K (3.7 miles) run or walk. Free 400 Meter Kids’ Fun Run!

Courses: The courses are flat, fast and scenic starting at Skinner Butte Park, through Alton Baker Park, along the Willamette River bike paths. The course crosses over the Greenway (Valley River) and DeFazio bridges. Course maps will be available at packet pickup. No dogs please!

Entry Fees: $25 entry fee for ages 13 and over and includes stainless steel water bottle for the first 300 who register. Day of race entry fee is $30 (water bottles while supplies last). Children 12 and under for 6K are FREE with registered adult (standard entry fee if no adult registered). Stainless steel water bottle not included with free kids’ entry but may be purchased for $5. You’ll want to add a purchase of a cape, too! Free 400 meter Kids’ Run for 10 and under at 8:10 a.m (no registration needed).

What’s With The Red Cape? Include a donation of $3 or more to CASA and receive a red “champion” cape to wear during your walk/run and show your inner super hero for children. Capes are walker/runner friendly in size and fabric. Capes are professionally-made by PowerCapes.com and are yours to keep, super cool, fun, unique and show support for abused and neglected kids- you’ll want to join us with capes!

Race day registration will be from 7:30am to 8:15am.

Packet Pickup: Packet pickup will be on Friday, May 10, from 11am to 5pm, at Eugene Running Company (116 Oakway Center), or on race day at Skinner Butte Park from 7:30am to 8:15am.

Awards: Awards will be presented to the top three overall male and female finishers and the top three in each age group. All participants will be eligible for random prize drawings. Lots of random prizes!

A Team Spirit Award will be given to the team sporting the best outfits (just form a team of 3 or more friends and write in team name on the registration form). A Top Fundraising Award for the team who raises the most money for CASA through: http://www.firstgiving.com/CASAlane.

Corporate Challenge: Traveling plaques will be awarded to the business teams with the most participants and the greatest percentage of participants, regardless of finish times, in three different size categories. Friends and family are welcome to participate as part of the corporate team. Award divisions based on the size of business include: Small (3-20 employees), Medium (21-99 employees), and Large (100 + employees). Business entries should complete BUSINESS ENTRY FORM in addition to a registration form for each individual participating.

Raising Pledges: All participants are invited to raise pledged donations for CASA in support of their walk or run. The prize for the top fundraiser is a gift certificate to one of Eugene’s finest restaurants. Create your fundraising page Have your registration fee waived by raising at least $50 with a personalized fundraising page on our easy online site: http://www.firstgiving.com/29711/CASAremax-integrity-champions-for-children-runwalk.

Age Groups: 10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over.

For more information contact

Jill Mestler
541-868-3088
jillm@casa-lane.org

Dr. Phil – Become a CASA Volunteer

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:49:13 +0000

Published on May 31, 2012

Former foster youth Rosie and National CASA CEO Michael Piraino share the impact of CASA volunteers and Dr Phil and Robin announce their commitment as official spokespersons of the I am for the child™ campaign and to mobilize 100,000 new CASA supporters www.iamforthechild.org/drphil

The Blue Ribbon Story

admin — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:40:43 +0000

The Blue Ribbon Campaign began in Virginia in 1989 when a grandmother, Bonnie W. Finney, tied a Blue Ribbon to the antenna of her van to “make people wonder”. The story she told to inquisitive community members was a tragic story about the abuse of her grandchildren, which ultimately led to the brutal death of her grandson.
The story of Bonnie Finney demonstrates the effect that just one concerned citizen can have on raising public awareness of child abuse and in promoting prevention. Since Bonnie Finney first tied that Blue Ribbon to her van antenna in 1989, millions of people across the country have participated in Blue Ribbon campaigns.
Each year, more people join the effort by wearing Blue Ribbons, encouraging others to wear and display them, and getting involved in community activities to “make people wonder” about the significance of the Blue Ribbon.

Bonnie Finney’s story It had been so long since I sat by my grandson’s side in the hospital. Of course, I knew something was wrong as I sat there, I saw fear on his face, the bruises on his body, and the healing cigarette burns on his hands. His doctor did not believe my daughter’s story “he fell in slippery water in the bathtub.”
After the ordeal at the hospital my grandson was placed into foster care for three weeks. He cried when they came to take him back to his mother. I ached for his dilemma, but I was not physically able to care for him. I never saw him again.
“My 16-month old granddaughter was hospitalized after being beaten severely. Her leg was broken in four places and her hand was burned from the tip of her little fingers to her wrist. It was only then that the search was on for my grandson. We learned that he had been killed, wrapped in a sheet, stuffed in a toolbox, and dumped into the dismal swamp three months earlier.

My grandchildren had suffered and battled so much throughout their young lives that it sickened me. My life was turned into physical and mental chaos. My efforts to understand became a plea to stop abusing children. I tied a Blue Ribbon on my van antenna to make people wonder. Why blue? I intend never to forget the battered, bruised bodies of my grandchildren. Blue serves as a constant reminder to me to fight for protection for our children.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty

First Face of CASA: Judge David Soukup

admin — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:12:25 +0000

After 35 years of CASA volunteer service, the man who started the movement reflects on why he recruited that first class of CASA volunteers.

“I started the first CASA program because I got tired of sleepless nights wondering if I had made the right decision for the children. I decided that rather than appoint an attorney, we should appoint a volunteer guardian ad litem who could investigate the facts and make a recommendation from the child’s standpoint…Thirty-five years later, it is thousands and thousands of volunteers who are waking up at 3 a.m.”

Listen to a podcast interview with Seattle Judge David Soukup.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty?ref=tn_tnmn

Lebanon Community Celebration of Hope – Child Abuse Awareness Month

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:09:21 +0000

Here are some ways you can help spread awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Order your Child Abuse awareness shirts! Tee and Sweatshirts available. Only $12 ea. or 2 for $20 and Hoodies are $24 ea or 2 for $45. (Add $2 for xxl-5xl sizes) – Part of the proceeds is going back to the campaign! Help raise awareness in April for Child Abuse Prevention Month! Contact Gateway Imprints in Lebanon at 541-259-4649 and arrange to pick them up there or at our office. They can contact Brian at our Lebanon office on Mondays.

There are also yard signs that stake into the ground are approximately 24” x18”. Each sign says, “Turn Albany Blue, Child Abuse Awareness Month. Save a child, report abuse, support the cause.” “Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime.” These signs are $10 and can also be ordered from Gateway Imprints.

The CASA office is selling Blue Lights for $6 to support the Linn County Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse and their Turn the Town Blue effort in April. We encourage you to tie blue ribbons on your trees, mailbox post or front door to show your support.

Find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty

New CASA Volunteers

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:44:39 +0000

Our new CASA volunteers who were sworn in on

March 4^th at the Linn County Court House

by Judge Murphy.

Find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty

Lebanon turns the town blue!

admin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:13:11 +0000

By Alex Paul, Albany Democrat-Herald

The effort recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month

LEBANON — Dozens of pinwheels in front of the Lebanon Justice Center spun in the breeze Thursday as dozens of people gathered to “Turn Lebanon Blue,” recognizing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The pinwheels symbolize the innocence and happiness of a healthy childhood.

The crowd braved intermittent showers and was encouraged to purchase strings of blue lights to place on their homes and businesses. Dala Johnson, community services officer, said more than 60 sets of lights were sold in the last week.

“Every child deserves to grow up in a healthy and safe environment,” said Bob Elliott, city council president.

Pastor Gary Chambers of the Community Bible Church prayed that God “protect the little ones who suffer unduly.”

Police Chief Frank Stevenson said there are nearly 1 million cases of child abuse reported annually in the United States.

“Many more go unreported,” Stevenson said. “Abuse is not just physical. It’s also emotional, sexual, or the threat of harm and neglect.”

Stevenson said there were 105 cases of first-degree sexual abuse in Linn County last year. The average age of the child was 9.

“The earlier an abused or neglected child can get help, the better his or her chances of breaking the cycle of abuse,” Stevenson said. “Abuse robs children of growing up and affects them negatively for years to come.”

Jenny Gilmore-Robinson, director of the ABC House in Albany, said 661 children were referred to the intervention center last year. Twenty percent were from Lebanon and Sweet Home.

“The numbers keep growing,” Gilmore-Robinson said. “Calls were up 9 percent last year. Part of that may be because we are getting better at recognizing the signs of abuse and reporting it.”

Gilmore-Robinson called child abuse a “secret crime” that must come out of the shadows.

More than 900 children were homeless in Linn County last year, said Marsha Swanson, a volunteer with the Linn County Committee For the Prevention of Child Abuse.

“About half left home because of physical abuse and 20 percent due to sexual abuse,” Swanson said.

Abused children have a greater risk of becoming pregnant as teenagers, becoming involved in crime and doing poorly in school, Swanson said.

Swanson encouraged people to volunteer and to donate funds, noting it is far less expensive to intercede on the part of a child before they get into the justice system.

City councilor Jason Bolen said there were 7,492 founded cases of child abuse and neglect in Oregon last year and 11,599 victims. Of those, 1,177 were from Linn County and 48 percent were under the age of 6.

Statewide, four children died of neglect and 15 from abuse.

Detective Shelly Winters told the heart-wrenching story of Tessalyn O’Cull, a 2½-year-old who died from the abuse inflicted by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend in 1997 in Springfield. Her body was discovered buried along a logging road near Sweet Home. She had four broken vertebrae. She had been beaten, burned, bound and sexually abused.

Her abuser, Jesse Compton, is on death row at the Oregon State Penitentiary and her mother, Stella Kiser, is serving a life sentence without parole.

In closing the program, participants tied dozens of blue ribbons on shrubbery in front of the Justice Center.

Find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CasaOfLinnCounty