East Texas Child Advocates Inc

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BY CREATING A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AS WELL AS RECRUITING AND TRAINING HIGHLY QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY, PROTECTION AND PERMANENT PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN.

EAST TEXAS CASA RECRUITS, TRAINS, & SUPPORTS VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED & NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN GREGG, RUSK, & UPSHUR COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES & PLACED INTO THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE A VOICE IN THE COURT SYSTEM FOR THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE & ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, & SOCIAL NEEDS ARE BEING MET DURING THEIR TIME IN FOSTER CARE. EAST TEXAS CASA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME & PLACED INTO CARE. AS WE STRIVE TO ATTAIN THIS OUTCOME, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON THE NEED FOR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY BY EMPOWERING OUR VOLUNTEERS WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION RESOURCES, SPEAKERS, & TRAINING PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED EVERY TIME THEY WALK INTO A COURTROOM OR INTO A CHILD'S PLACEMENT. CASA IS WORKING TO IMPLEMENT COLLABORATIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN OUR AREA THAT PUTS A ROUND TABLE APPROACH TO FAMILY SESSIONS AND ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR PLACEMENT OPTIONS & TO REACH A CHILD'S PERMANENCY. EAST TEXAS CASA SERVED 549 CHILDREN IN FY21. THE CASES IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED ON SEXUAL ABUSE AS WELL AS PHYSICAL ABUSE. WITH CHILDREN BEING AT HOME FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO COVID, ABUSE HAS TAKEN LONGER TO DETECT, THUS BEING MORE SEVERE. TYPICALLY TEACHERS ARE YOUR FIRST REPORTERS OF ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT. COVID FORCED CHILDREN THAT WERE ISOLATED IN THEIR ABUSE AND NEGLECT TO SUFFER LONGER. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LONGER CASE TIMES AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS OR SERVICES NEEDED.

GETTING TOGETHER SAFELY ("GTS") PROVIDES A SAFE, NEUTRAL, AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES INTERACTION BETWEEN NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS A PARENT THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH THEIR CHILD WHEN THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED TO BASED ON COURT ORDERED RESTRICTIONS. THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO OBSERVE THE VISITS & RECORD THE INTERACTIONS OF THE PARENTS & CHILDREN FOR COURT RECORDS IF NEEDED AT LATER HEARINGS. GTS FOSTERS THOSE VITAL CONNECTIONS WITH THE HOPE THAT DOWN THE ROAD THE PARENTS WILL MANAGE THESE VISITS ON THEIR OWN. WE PROVIDE A SAFETY NET AT AN INSECURE TIME.