2011 Annual Report

Story based on real life story of CASA volunteer and youth, but names and key details have been changed to protect the confidentiality of our clients.

Evette entered the foster care system at age 12 when her mother abandoned her.

An outgoing and bubbly teenager, Evette loves gymnastics, dancing and singing, but her grief and anger were made clear through her behavior. Living with a relative at first, Evette ignored the rules of the house, staying out late and partying with friends. Evette was moved to a foster home where she fought with the other children. Then she was sent to a Residential Treatment Center where her aggressive behavior just got worse.

The judge appointed a CASA volunteer named Rachel to advocate for Evette’s best interest. Rachel developed a positive, supportive relationship with Evette and stayed in constant touch with her, giving her the one-on-one attention she craved. Rachel also stayed in touch with Evette’s foster placements to make sure she had a full picture of Evette’s life and see how her needs could best be met.

As part of CASA’s Transitioning Youth Project, Rachel received specialized training for working with teens at risk of aging out of the foster care system. One of the program’s goals is promoting education, so Rachel took Evette to visit college campuses and encouraged her dream of becoming a doctor.

Another top priority for teens is developing healthy long-term connections with adults. During this difficult time, an aunt who lived in Kansas had maintained a positive relationship with Evette. As places for Evette to live dwindled, she travelled to Kansas for a weekend stay with her aunt. The visit was a success. Upon returning, the judge agreed that if Evette stopped fighting, they would work towards sending her to live with her aunt permanently.

Rachel kept Evette focused on her goal of living with her aunt and motivated her to use healthy coping skills. They shared very honest conversations about Evette’s issues with fighting and how she could build better relationships with her peers.

Rachel communicated regularly with Evette’s aunt, caseworker and attorney, keeping everyone up to date on developments with the aunt’s home study process. With the case now involving Family Protective Services departments in two states, the process was time-consuming and bureaucratic but Rachel and Evette’s attorney were persistent in keeping all the different pieces of the process moving forward.

Rachel was always there providing the supportive relationship and honest conversations Evette needed. Rachel never gave up through behavior issues, moves or the long process of finding a permanent home, and Evette opened up to and trusted her dedicated CASA volunteer.

Now 15, Evette lives in Kansas with her aunt. Her fighting has stopped and she is excelling at school. On the phone with Rachel recently, Evette shared what a big relief it was to be with her own family who love her and how life is finally beginning to feel normal again.

Look how we’ve grown!

562

497

444

325

148

43

Active Volunteers

1,412

1,291

1,106

870

456

85

2011

2010

2009

2001

1995

1985

Year Children Served

From the Executive DirectorThanks to you, CASA advocated for a record number of children – 1,412 – last year! We could not have spoken up for the best interest of all of those children without you and the record number of active volunteers – 562 – who generously shared their time and talent for the benefit of children in our community who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Over the past 26 years CASA of Travis County has grown enormously – in terms of the number of children we serve and the number of active volunteers, as well as the size of our professional staff and our budget – and we are poised to grow more. We estimate that 500 children in our community who need a CASA volunteer won’t have one this year, but the CASA board and I have made a commitment to raise the resources, recruit the volunteers and expand our staff to provide a trained volunteer advocate for every child who needs us. It will take several years, but when we get there we will be the first urban CASA organization in the country to do so.

Our growth isn’t just about helping more children – it’s also about enhancing the quality of our advocacy for children. Our growth includes developing innovative programs to meet the specific needs of children and youth, some of which you can read about in our Highlights of 2011. Our vision is to provide the best possible advocacy for every child who needs us.

The growth we anticipate requires planning, so we have expanded our fundraising work to include helping donors think about CASA in their long-term financial plans. Last year, volunteer child advocate Carolyn Nicewarner and her husband Tom decided to make a very special gift to CASA. They designated CASA as the beneficiary of their life insurance plan. They realized they could make a lasting impact on more children’s lives through long-term planning. Their financial advisor helped them decide the best way to make a plan that included CASA. Long-term gifts like the Nicewarners’ will nurture CASA’s future growth.

Like the children we serve, CASA is growing. None of this would be possible without volunteers and donors like you. Because of you, we are inspired to grow and convinced we will achieve the vision we all share: A trained CASA volunteer for every child in Austin who needs one!

Thank you,

Laura D. Wolf Executive Director

1,412Total number of children served by

CASA of Travis County

1,750Total number of children in the Travis

County courts due to abuse or neglect*

2011 By the Numbers

198New volunteers

completed training

562Total active volunteers appointed to children

46%Volunteers who closed a case in 2010 and took a

new case in 2011

Child Case Closure Outcomes

55% Reunified with parents20% Adopted by or live with

relative

13% Adopted by non-relative

8% Aged out of system 4%

Oth

er*

*Includes courtesy work from other CASA programs, Cases dismissed, Other outcomes

562Children’s cases closed with the help of CASA

88%Children’s cases that closed in a permanent placement

(including reuniting with parents, adoption or a permanent living arrangement with a safe family or relative)

170 children were served by CASA staff members

338 children still needed CASA’s advocacy**Approximate Numbers

Of the 1,750 Children in Care:

1,242 children had a dedicated CASA volunteer

29% African-American 17% Caucasian13%

Bi-Racial/Multi-Racial

2% Other/Not Specified

Child Race and Ethnicity

39% Hispanic

Children

Volunteers

Cases Closed

Highlights of 2011

Growth and Collaboration in our Transitioning Youth ProjectOur Transitioning Youth Project, serving our oldest youth at risk of aging out of care, has grown since 2009 from 3 staff members to a dedicated team of 6 specialists supervising more than 150 volunteers in 2011. This project focuses on preparation for adulthood, education and healthy connections. Permanency is the biggest indicator for future success, so we pursue permanent placements for the youth by revisiting biological family and other important individuals in their lives. We are a founding partner of the youth-centered SYNC2 Court (Successful Youth Needing Connections & Community), as well as a partner in the Crossover Court Docket for youth involved in both the CPS and Juvenile Justice systems. According to a recent study by Texas Appleseed, Improving the Lives of Children in Long-Term Foster Care, “CASA is one of the bright spots in the entire process. It is consistently lauded by the courts and other stakeholders. Foster families and child placement agencies also praise the CASA volunteers. Most importantly, the children report they know and can rely on their CASA volunteers.”

Improving Outcomes for FamiliesWhen CASA is appointed to a child the first thing we ask is, “When can this child return home safely to family?” We know that children long to be in familiar surroundings with their family and work hard to achieve that for them. In 2011 the largest number - 421 - and percentage - 75% - of children ever served by CASA were in a family member’s home when their case was resolved. Of the 562 children whose cases were closed, 55% concluded with reunification with one or both parents, up from 45% in 2010. An additional 20% of cases ended with children permanently placed with relatives through adoption or other permanent legal orders.

Volunteers Go to Grad SchoolVolunteers start off with 30 hours of training, but learning never stops as we ask for 12 hours of continuing education each year. This “graduate level” learning provides volunteers with current and specialized knowledge, keeps them engaged in their advocacy and provides better outcomes for children. In 2011 we enhanced our continuing ed program, increasing from quarterly to monthly training offerings with topics like LGBTQ advocacy, early childhood development and gang awareness. We facilitated Knowing Who You Are and Race – The Power of an Illusion workshops to enhance volunteers’ cultural competency.

25%: Foundation Grants - $545,792

19%: Special Events, Net - $417,779

38%: Government Grants - $828,909

11%: Individual/Corporate Contributions - $225,296

7%: United Way/Workplace Giving/Other - $147,514

2011 Fiscal Report

Revenue & Community Support Total: $2,165,290

16%: Fundraising - $322,111

6%: Administration - $130,486

Expenses Total: $2,074,359

78%: Program Services - $1,621,762

Program Services:Volunteer Recruitment

Volunteer ScreeningVolunteer Training

Supervision & Support for Volunteers

Community Outreach& Awareness

Direct Assistance to Children & Families

Special Events:CASAblanca

GalaCASA Kids

Golf ClassicCASA Superhero

RunThird-Party

Events

*based on FY 2011 Auditor’s Report

Donors $100,000+Michael & Susan Dell FoundationThe Meadows Foundation

$50,000 - $99,999Impact AustinRGK FoundationUnited Way Capital Area

$10,000 - $49,999Anonymous3MAustin Community FoundationJessica & Jimmy BlacklockThe Cipione Family FoundationConocoPhillips CompanyConway & Associates, Inc.Denise & Jerry ConwayDell Employee Giving ProgramDr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.Harutunian Engineering Inc.HealthTronicsDebbie & Bryan HolleyIBM CorporationThe Junior League of AustinKasling Hemphill Dolezal & Atwell, L.L.P.Lesley & Morgan LedwellLowe FoundationSue Milburn Charitable Memorial TrustKennedy & John NeffNFL Alumni Inc.Carolyn & Tom NicewarnerPily & Alejandro SimonTexas Bar FoundationTexas Realty CapitalTopfer Family FoundationSharon & Curt Webb

$5,000 - $9,999Garth Bates Jr. Memorial FundAnne & Bud BrighamJennifer BrockwellLorry & Rollie CarlsonClubCorp Charities, Inc.Ila & John FalveyKathy & Ted GrayStephanie & Jerry GregoireNancy & Jon HillLola Wright FoundationThe Long FoundationLesley & Ted LorenzLaura & John MalnarTeresa & Matt McCarty

NordstromKari & Lee PottsSXSW Conferences & FestivalsUnited Heritage Credit UnionLaura Wolf & Fred Aus

$2,500 - $4,999 AnonymousLissa AdamsRebecca & Steven BakerBalcones Pain ConsultantsMavis & Shawn BallDonna & Kevin BellBoon Insurance Management Services, L.P.Paula & R. Sterling BoonBrown McCarroll, L.L.P.Rhonda & Christopher ChandlerBonita Griffith & David ChasisCoca-Cola RefreshmentsConcept ServicesJamie & James CottonTheodore P. Davis Charitable TrustRosemary & Russell DouglassElectric Transmission Texas, L.L.C.Bonnie & Jack FosterFritz, Byrne, Head & Harrison, P.L.L.C.Frost National BankFulcrum Capital Holdings, L.L.C.Jeff GloverSusan & Lance HalgrenJacquelyn & Albert HawkinsKPMG, L.L.P.LCRA Employees’ United CharitiesLisa & Todd LewisJoyce & David LindseyTeresa & Joe LongLucy & Mark MacQueenCara MaglioccoMichelle & Darrel McCurdyLayla & Gregory MilliganMary & Lynn MoakNational InstrumentsErin & Steve NelsonPadgett Stratemann & Co.Bee & Leif PedersenBrian D. RangeTina & John ReckerRoger Beasley MazdaMelissa & David RubinAmy & Tyler RuddDaniel RussoSuperior HealthPlanTexas Capital Bank

Travis County Women Lawyers’ FoundationEmily & Michael WatsonWells Fargo BankYodle

$1,000 - $2,499Kelli & Ryan AgnellAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.Micaela AlemanKathleen & David AllenApplied MaterialsAustin Christian FellowshipDinah & Barry BarksdaleBazaarvoice, Inc.BD DiagnosticsBethany United Methodist ChurchStephanie & Gregory BobrekRebecca M. BrownLauren & Matt BuckGail & James CaldwellJuli & Everett CarmodyZita & Richard CassizziSpring & Orlando CastilloCharfen InstituteTavia & John ConklingCovenant Benefits, P.L.L.C.DMX, Inc.Debbie DupinMary Ellen & John EganKathryn Engelhardt-Cronk & Tom CronkEnoch Kever P.L.L.C.Jenny & William EversoleFirst United Methodist ChurchFleckman & McGlynn, P.L.L.C.Patti & Ray FuentezLori GannJoyee & Randal GoodallGriffin IndustriesJoanna Marie GriffithTracy & Matthew HamiltonDusten HarrisonKara & Jay HartzellHawkins Public Policy ConsultingDeborah & J.D. HeadJack HendlmyerG Herver & Brad HermesKirk HighKim & Kyle HughesElizabeth Hummer & Scott WoodburyDebra & Brett HurtDarla Jones

Donors$1,000 - $2,499 (continued)Brenda & Ed JonesJourneyman ConstructionDaniel KamatDana & Kemp KaslingLaura & John KeatingDebbie & Chick KobelanLouis J. & Millie M. KocurekSavan KotechaKathy F. LaneKathy & Bodey LangfordMary & Bill LaRosaLaw Office of David H. GoodmanLee Tilford AgencyLenovoRobyn & Todd LeszczynskiJill & Kirk LewisSara & Mark LuttrellMeador & Jones, L.L.P.Kirsten & Charles MoodyPatty & John MooreDorothy MoreyMary K. Wolf & Ron H. MossSheri & Russ MunschMargaret & Jack MurrayNovuscell Batteries, Inc.Alyssa NunezJames D. PattersonJana & Rick PerkalPfizer FoundationPlainsCapital BankPricewaterhouseCoopers, L.L.P.The Prudential FoundationCynthia RennaKey & Hank RichardsonMartin RiezebeekPamela & Leonard RussoJoyce & John SampsonCatherine & Charles Sansbury

Debra Schultz & Gary G. SandersSerendipity GiftsJill & Ben SheppardAlexis Simon LandaKathleen D. Smith-Willman & Chad WillmanJacque SoptickSpecialized Safety Training, Inc.Susan & Dale SpiveySpring Frost BoutiqueSt. Thomas More Catholic ChurchTige & Brian StadingSamantha & John StevensThe Superhero Group, Inc.Leigh & Bob TateDouglas A. TaylorWendy & Alan TopferUBS Employee Giving ProgramsSarah & Andy ValenzuelaKay & Michael VanceRachael & Ben Vaughan FoundationWalmart & Sam’s Club FoundationWells Fargo Community SupportWinstead, Sechrest & Minick P.C.Deborah B. ZimmermanMargaret & Byron Zinn

Governmental FundersNational CASA AssociationOffice of the Attorney General of TexasOffice of the Governor, Criminal Justice DivisionTexas CASA, Inc.Texas Center for the JudiciaryTravis County Counseling & Educational CenterTravis County Health & Human Services

In 2011, these donors gave substantial gifts of products or services:Anonymous1379 Family Sports Shop360 Press SolutionsA3 Design Inc.Acclivity Performance Alpha Kappa AlphaAT&T Hotel and Conference CenterAustin American-StatesmanThe Austin ChronicleBethany United Methodist Church - Discovery ClassShari & Robert ButlerC3 PresentsCatapult Systems Inc.CSIdentityCycle Solutions, Inc.Denise & Jerry ConwayCarol & Ken DavidsonThe DomainRosemary & Russell DouglassDr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.Endeavor Real Estate GroupEpic FilmsFit Events, L.L.C.Fox 7 AustinColleen & Rick GardnerHalex International, Inc.Horseshoe Bay ResortKing FloristKLRU-TVNFL Alumni Austin ChapterPower CapesLindsay PowersQuality Seafood MarketQuik PrintRelevant Solutions, Inc.Riverbend ChurchRogue EquipmentSouthwest Key ProgramsStrong EventsSXSW Conferences & FestivalsTransfiguration Greek Orthodox ChurchTrio Life Fitness

If you feel you’ve been left off this list or we misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and kindly let us know so we can properly thank you.

Powerful Voice SocietyThe Powerful Voice Society recognizes donors who give $1,500 or more annually — the cost of providing a child with a CASA volunteer for an entire year. Members are committed to giving

children in our community who’ve been abused or neglected a powerful voice.

AnonymousLissa Adams

Kelli & Ryan AgnellMarsha & Gene AttalMavis & Shawn Ball

Jessica & Jimmy BlacklockLorry & Rollie Carlson

Juli & Everett CarmodySpring & Orlando Castillo

Bonita Griffith & David ChasisDenise & Jerry ConwayJamie & James Cotton

Alicia & Jon Duleba

Stephanie & Jerry GregoireKara & Jay Hartzell

Jacquelyn & Albert HawkinsG Herver & Brad HermesDebbie & Bryan HolleyElizabeth Hummer &

Scott WoodburyDebbie & Chick Kobelan

April & Kris KubikJill & Kirk Lewis

Lisa & Todd LewisJoyce & David Lindsey

Lesley & Ted Lorenz

Mary & Lynn MoakKirsten & Charles MoodyMargaret & Jack Murray

Kennedy & John NeffCarolyn & Tom Nicewarner

Patricia & Robert OttoKari & Lee Potts

Tina & John ReckerKey & Hank RichardsonMelissa & David RubinDebra & Joseph SlapakLaura Wolf & Fred Aus

2011 Board of Directors

Mission & VisionMission:

CASA of Travis County exists to promote and protect the best interest of children

who have been abused or neglected, by training volunteers to advocate for them in courts, in schools and in our community to help them find safe,

permanent and loving homes.

Vision: For every child who needs us, CASA of Travis County envisions a trained

volunteer advocate, a safe home and a promising future.

Lee E. Potts, PresidentTodd Lewis, Vice President

Jessica Blacklock, Secretary/Treasurer Lissa Adams

Orlando CastilloJamie Cotton

Matt HamiltonAlbert Hawkins

G HerverDebbie HolleyKemp Kasling

April Kubik

Kirk LewisLaura MalnarErin NelsonJohn ReckerDavid Rubin

Andy Valenzuela

A Project of

7701 N Lamar Blvd, Ste 301Austin, TX 78752

www.casatravis.orgcasa@casatravis.org

Phone: 512.459.2272Fax: 512.459.4550

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