June Anniversaries
We have 24 volunteers celebrating their anniversary this month! Thank you for consistently advocating for your CASA kiddos – no matter the circumstances. Happy Anniversary June CASAs!
Meet Maureen!
Maureen Copp and her husband John have lived in Tulsa for 25 of the past 28 years. In her free time, Maureen enjoys traveling with her husband and children when possible. She and John have four adult children who live in Tulsa, Hong Kong, Chicago and New York City. She also enjoys staying active through hiking, biking and exercising, doing crossword puzzles, cooking, and reading. A little known fact about Maureen is that she taught French for a few years!
Maureen got involved with Tulsa CASA in 2018. She has done a variety of other community work in the Tulsa area, including Reading Partners, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, St. Bernard Catholic and Bishop Kelley Advisory Council. She and her husband had been foster parents and Maureen was missing the work they did advocating for the children in their home. CASA was a good avenue for her to continue that mission but with a commitment that better fit their current situation. Maureen currently works with our Safe Babies Court Team, advocating for children aged 0-3.
What do you enjoy most about being a CASA?
I like being part of such a caring, capable, and supportive team! CASA and SBCT are truly devoted to finding resources and services that help build strong families and protect children. CASA builds a network of advocates who are looking out for the best interest of children as they navigate the complex child welfare system, and who also want to end the cycle of abuse and neglect in Tulsa.
My work as a CASA varies from calls with DHS and families, to staffings and court hearings, but the best responsibility is meeting with the child. My favorite moments on a case are when I can witness a child reach their developmental milestones and build healthy and loving bonds!
A Note from her Advocate Manager
Maureen is a joy! She has developed such a close relationship with her CASA child and the foster family through her advocacy efforts. I always look forward to reading Maureen’s monthly Optima entries detailing her visits, because she shares her interactions with the child in a way that makes me feel as if I am right there with them.
Every milestone, every new step in the child’s life, Maureen is there to celebrate and share this beautiful child’s story. Maureen has helped expedite the adoption process when it was in danger of getting lost in the system. She is a phenomenal CASA advocate!
May Anniversaries
Happy anniversary month to our May CASAs! Thank you for all that you do on behalf of Tulsa CASA #ChangeAChildsStory
National Volunteer Week
Happy National Volunteer Week! Last year, we had 201 Court Appointed Special Advocates serving children in Tulsa County. This week, meet the volunteers who make our program so special! Head over to our “Meet the Volunteers” page to see some of our volunteer testimonials from this year. To every Tulsa CASA volunteer – THANK YOU for Changing A Childs Story and happy National Volunteer Week!
Our staff had some fun this week showcasing how we’re working from home! From new workspaces, kiddos and fur babies, and things that are just making us smile, check out what we’ve been up to while we’re working at a distance. See all of the pictures on our Facebook Page! www.facebook.com/TulsaCASA
It has been 3 weeks since Tulsa CASA officially suspended in-person visits to children and families. Some of our volunteers haven’t seen their CASA kiddos in a month or more! While social distancing is hard, our advocates have not missed a beat. They’ve even gotten quite creative in their virtual contacts with families, using apps and games over FaceTime to keep in contact and maintain connection. We just want to say THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers. Many of them are juggling work, “homeschooling”, family life, and CASA. We are so proud of the commitment and dedication they give to the families they work with everyday.
Meet Heather!
Heather Streich has lived in Tulsa for 26 years. She and her husband have been married for almost 27 years, and they have three children. Their oldest son just graduated from OSU, their 20-year-old son plays basketball at UCO, and their daughter is a junior at Jenks High School. They have a 12-year-old lab named Frisco and since the whole family is all under one roof for the time being due to COVID-19, they also have their son’s 1-year-old golden doodle, Brodie.
Heather is mostly a stay-at-home mom, and used to be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She currently does premarital counseling for her church at First Baptist Tulsa. Aside from CASA, she has been involved in many areas of volunteerism. Heather and her husband have fostered six children, and participate in various activities within their church. Heather has been the chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk and also does community work with Unite My City.
In her free time, Heather enjoys playing tennis and organizing friends for supper. She got involved with CASA when a friend mentioned that they should attend a Tulsa CASA Lunch and Learn, because their kids were too old to need them as much anymore. She completed training in June 2019 and started on her first case in July. Heather works with our Safe Babies Court Team, ensuring the needs of children aged 0-3 are met expeditiously by the court system.
What do you enjoy most about being a CASA?
Connecting with the kids and finding practical ways to help. Recently, I brought one of the boys’ bikes home to have my husband fix the chain. The boys I see love stories so I enjoy digging through my kids’ old books and sharing stories I used to read to them with my CASA kids.
I love when I see the children at court and they run up and practically tackle me, jumping in my arms. I am hoping the children will move from temporary to permanent placement with their mother this month.
CASA offers Tulsa a chance for very different people to get to know each other and learn to work together. In turn, we find out that we have a lot more in common than it appears. Find something that you enjoy and jump in to volunteer!
A Note from her Advocate Manager
Heather started her journey with CASA in July of 2019 and has been on the same case since then. She has developed a bond with not only the kiddos on her case but the mother as well. Heather is constantly in contact with the family, has assisted them through good and bad times, and fights for what is in the children’s best interest.
The impact Heather is making on her case is monumental and these kids are able to thrive because of her. It is such a pleasure to get to work with Heather and she is an asset to our program. I feel so blessed that I get to be her advocate manager and witness the difference she is making in this world! – Kaitlin Brasher
April Anniversaries
Happy Anniversary month to our April CASAs! Thank you for giving children in Tulsa County a voice and making sure their best interest is heard.
As our staff works from home, our volunteers do as well! They are on FaceTime calls with their CASA kiddos, checking in with service providers, and making sure the families have everything they need during this time of uncertainty. We’re feeling extra thankful for them this month!
Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Help us bring awareness to child abuse and neglect by using our profile picture frame on Facebook and wearing a virtual blue ribbon (in the spirit of social distancing!) 💙💙💙
Click here to add our frame to your Facebook profile picture during the month of April
According to Oklahoma Human Services, 2,849 children in Tulsa County were confirmed to be victims of child abuse and/or neglect last year. Can you be their voice? #ChangeAChildsStory#STOPChildAbuse
In the midst of this unprecedented pandemic, children and families are struggling to make it through each day, one day at a time. Many of our families, already engaged with the child welfare system prior to COVID-19, will have an even more difficult time than the average family.
Fortunately, CASA volunteers can still be strong supporters and advocates for the children they are appointed to and their families, while still observing social distancing and self-quarantining protocols.
As of March 18, Tulsa CASA, Inc. has suspended all in-person visitations, though virtual visits are encouraged to provide consistency and support to CASA children during this time of uncertainty.
The Tulsa CASA Inc. office and building are closed until further notice. Staff is working remotely from their homes. All forms of communication will be over phone or email until the office is reopened.
We have cancelled all in-service trainings for current advocates through April 30, 2020 and all pre-service training for new volunteers has been moved to a completely online/virtual meeting format.
While advocates are unable to visit with children and families in person, Skype or FaceTime, email, texting or calling are great ways to stay in touch. Volunteers are encouraged to make weekly check-in calls to caregivers and children, and inquire about things such as . . .
- Health of all household members — physical and mental
- How are school/distance learning assignments being completed? What was sent by the district/teacher? Is the teacher available via email or help, if needed? How can the CASA assist virtually?
- What is the family doing to keep busy daily?
- Is anyone in the household still working outside of the home?
- Has the child/children had any issues behaviorally since being home from school?
- If the child’s visitation has been suspended due to COVID-19, have they been able to stay in touch with their parents/sibling(s) by phone?
- Is the household having any other challenges? (Financial, shortage of food, childcare for healthcare workers/first responders, etc.)
- Are there upcoming non-urgent medical/dental appointments for the child/children? If so, has DHS been consulted to determine whether these appointments can be postponed?
- Does the caretaker have supportive individuals they are relying on right now to stay sane and healthy?
Volunteers are also encouraged to make contact with anyone else involved with the child’s care during this time to determine what their status is currently in relation to the child (if services are being suspended, being offered remotely, etc.). This includes contact with the natural parents, even if the child is not currently in their care.
Crisis in health, mental health, domestic violence and child welfare may arise during this stressful time. Some important information and contacts to have on hand:
Oklahoma Child Abuse Hotline
Be alert and keep an eye out for signs of abuse and neglect, even more than usual, because abuse and neglect have been shown to increase during times of crisis/natural disasters. If you suspect child abuse and/or neglect, call the OK Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511 as soon as possible and alert your Advocate Manager.
Domestic Violence Hotline
Being quarantined at home is not always safe. Domestic Violence Intervention Hotline can be reached at 918-7HELP-ME (918-743-2763) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The DVIS hotline can provide help to anyone experiencing domestic violence or if you want to help someone who is.
2-1-1 Hotline
2-1-1 Oklahoma will enable everyone to get help or provide help. 2-1-1 Oklahoma offers information and referral across the spectrum of human need, including but not limited to rental assistance, food pantries, affordable housing, health resources, child care, after-school programs, caregiver support, financial programs, literacy, and job programs.
And if you have any questions about COVID-19 here are some reliable sources to get updates from:
The World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html