The CASA Voice - February 2024

The Passing of Judge David W. Soukup, Black History Month and More

During Black History Month, Texas CASA is taking the time to reaffirm our commitment to creating a brighter, more equitable life for all Texas children and families. We are actively taking steps to uphold this commitment and recognize that transparency is key to addressing disproportionality and disparity issues in the foster care system. According to the DFPS Fiscal Year 2023 Disproportionality and Disparity Analysis, when compared to White children, African American children and families statewide in Texas are:

1.9 times more likely to be reported,
2.1 times more likely to be investigated, and
1.8 times more likely to be removed.

February is also National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Did you know that one out of every three U.S. adolescents experiences some type of physical or emotional dating abuse before they reach adulthood? This statistic is even higher for youth in foster care, who are more vulnerable to becoming victims of intimate partner violence and human trafficking.

While we know these issues cannot be fixed overnight, we can actively contribute to positive change by continuing to learn and grow. We owe it to the children and families we serve to help close gaps in well-being and increase access to opportunity. As a strong statewide network of advocates, we must stay focused on the grounding power of CASA’s vision: a safe and positive future for all Texas children.

The Passing of Judge David W. Soukup, Founder of the Court-Appointed Special Advocate/Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Movement

We are deeply saddened to share with you that Judge David W. Soukup, the founder of the court-appointed special advocate/volunteer guardian ad litem (CASA/GAL) movement, has passed away. We celebrate the life of Judge Soukup and are extraordinarily grateful for his vision, leadership, and remarkable support of the CASA/GAL mission at the local, state and national levels for over 40 years. Our deepest sympathies go out to Judge Soukup’s family and all who were fortunate to cross paths with him.

New Video featuring Texas CASA's ACT Consultant, Rhonda Kuykendall

When we consider the child welfare system, a stark reality emerges: children are at an alarmingly high risk of falling prey to sex trafficking. A study conducted by The University of Texas at Austin revealed that a quarter of youth in care were at risk of trafficking in 2022 alone. Check out this new video featuring Texas CASA's ACT Consultant, Rhonda Kuykendall to learn how we're taking proactive steps with our CASA ACT — Anti-Child Trafficking — framework.

MiShon Landry, CDP, CDE: A Passionate Advocate for Children in Foster Care

This month, Texas CASA is honored to spotlight MiShon Landry, CDP, CDE, a dedicated member of Texas CASA’s Board of Directors. Previously featured on Texas CASA’s video series, The Fix, Landry addresses the critical issue of unconscious bias and its impact on communities within the child welfare system. To delve deeper, we recently sat down with her for an exclusive interview. Our questions revolve around the profound importance she places on being a member of the Texas CASA Board of Directors.

Annual Report of the Health and Human Services Ombudsman

Last year, the 88th Legislature consolidated all existing ombudsman programs, including the Foster Care Ombudsman, administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which was established to provide information and investigate complaints regarding the agency’s programs and services. In December, HHSC released the first annual report for the Texas Health and Human Services Office of the Ombudsman (HHS Ombudsman).

New Episode of The Fix Featuring Liz Griffin

On this episode of The Fix, Creative Director Liz Griffin of Unbound Now discusses the intersectionality of the foster care system and human trafficking in Texas and the organization's Early Intervention Program, which aims to stop trafficking before it starts. Griffin also discusses two in person resources in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for youth who have experienced being trafficked, or who are at risk of trafficking: The Underground and The Reagan.