FY25 Funding Formula Updates

Periodically, Texas CASA reviews its VOCA and HHSC pass-through funding formulas. At the beginning of FY24, a cohort of 16 local CASA program Executive Directors was established to discuss funding formula changes. The cohort included leadership from a variety of program sizes, regions and tenures to ensure diverse perspectives from across the state. Learn more in the link below and see what the cohort voted on for the FY25 formulas.

Help Us Congratulate Executive Director, Rolanda Burns

CASA of McLennan County Executive Director, Rolanda Burns, recently won the Ambassador of the Year award at the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. Burns has worked over 20 years between Child Protective Services and CASA. She proudly states that it is her goal to “collaborate closely with our community to expand our impact of advocating for all children that come into the foster care system” and that she believes “providing safety and stability to children and families cannot only heal hearts but entire communities.” 

Connect Our Kids Webinar Hosted by the Texas CASA CFE Team

You’re invited to join Texas CASA and Connect Our Kids for a webinar training to learn about Family Connections, People Search REC Center (Resources for Engaging and Connection) and All Connected. The webinar will include demos, discussions and real-life examples. This technology is available for CASA staff, CASA volunteers and other child welfare professionals to use in their CFE work. We hope to see you there!

Out-of-State Resource Guide for Child Care Employees + Foster and Adoptive Parents in Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission has developed this guide as a resource for anyone who must complete background checks for Texas child care or foster/adoptive purposes and also previously lived in another state within the last five years. This guide contains instructions broken down by state and U.S. territory regarding out-of-state background checks. Click the link below to learn more about background checks and who they apply to. 

Recruitment Bounty: Tip of the Month

Partner with a local chef/restaurant, movie theater, zoo, etc. to host a bring-a-friend event. Invite current volunteers with the stipulation they must bring a guest who is not currently a CASA volunteer. See what the partnering organization is willing to donate that is special to your group (i.e. private tasting, movie screening or inside access to an attraction). Your volunteers will feel appreciated and you get to tell your CASA story to potential volunteers. It’s a win, win!

Foster Care Ombudsman - Reminders

All children in foster care have the right to report concerns to the Foster Care Ombudsman and the Texas Abuse Hotline at any time while in foster care. When a child in foster care asks to call the Foster Care Ombudsman or the Texas Abuse Hotline, caregivers must immediately provide them access to a phone to make a private call, day or night. All staff and caregivers at the operation must abide by this requirement. This is outlined in Sections 1110 and 3400 of the 24-Hour Residential Child Care Requirements.

Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

1501 West Anderson Lane Suite B-2 | Austin, TX 78757 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.