Volunteering Makes the Perfect New Years Resolution.

Volunteering makes the perfect New Years Resolution because volunteerism provides countless benefits for community, and the health and happiness of people who commit to sharing themselves as a volunteer.

Here are just a few reasons to sign up to volunteer today:

1. Volunteering has been linked with increased levels of happiness and decreased depression. The Huffington Post Article, Volunteering Could Boost Happiness, Decrease Depression And Help You Live Longer: Study, written by Sara Kondrath, PhD, reviews new research into the topic of volunteerism, health, and happiness.

2. People who volunteer report physical, mental, and emotional health benefits. Doing Good is Good for You, A United Health Group study reveals key benefits of volunteering that make a positive impact on people’s health including feeling better mentally, physically, and emotionally.

3. Volunteers help create and support healthy communities.  CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for abused or neglected children in court and in the community.  As a CASA Volunteer you help ensure that children are placed in safe, loving homes where they can thrive.

4. Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers help make a difference in the lives of abused or neglected children.  To learn more about becoming a CASA visit the  Volunteer section on the CASA of the Continental Divide website.

I Am For The Child in 2017.

Volunteering can easily become one of those back burner activities. The type of activity that always seems like a nice thing to do, but loses steam when it comes to reaching out and signing up.

Make volunteering a reality this year. Many organizations have made it easier than ever to find opportunities and sign up online. Visit https://mtncasa.org/volunteer/volunteer-overview/ to find out all the ways that you can make a difference for abused and neglected children.

There has never been a better time to commit to volunteering in the New Year. Help us at CASA of the Continental Divide support children dealing with abuse and neglect find a voice and an friend  in an overwhelming and confusing system.

October CASACD Office Changes.
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October at CASACD.
There will be some big changes in the CASA office this month! Hannah Olszewski is leaving her post as Advocate Manager. She will be having another baby boy in February to her busy. Hannah appreciates her time on staff with CASACD and will miss the volunteers immensely. Her last day is October 29. Her personal email is hannaholszewski@gmail.com and I would love to hear from you!
Renie Krummel will be leaving her post as administrative assistant this month as well. She is in the process of selling her home in Summit County after 30+ years and hopes to move to the front range soon. Her last day is October 15.
We would like to introduce you to CASA of the Continental Divide’s new Administrative Assistant and Bookkeeper, Allison Bustin. Allison recently celebrated her third anniversary with her husband and their son’s second birthday. She grew up in Mifflintown, PA and also started her family there. In November 2014, she and her family moved from Mifflintown to Steamboat Springs, CO so that her husband could pursue a career in law enforcement. From Steamboat, the Bustins relocated to Kremmling, CO. Allison has many years experience in office management and bookkeeping at the former Richard S. Mills, Inc. Mechanical Services and Beacon of Hope Counseling. She is very excited to bring her experience and knowledge to CASA of the Continental Divide and looks forward to working with current staff, volunteers, and board members.
Resources and Trainings
Compassion Fatigue, Secondary and Vicarious Trauma: Part 1
This is a recording of a 3 part series from a CASA program out of Oakland, CA. The speaker covers the topic of self-care when working in highly emotional situations. Click Here.

Animated CASA Explanation. Here is a CASA video that can help explain the role for you to share with those around you. Click here to watch a video on You Tube.

Former Foster Child Speaks about her CASA. Here is a presentation from the National CASA Conference with a girl speaking about her CASA. Click Here.

Jean Becker-Sullivan is replacing Hannah’s role as Advocate Manager October 21. Jean grew up in Denver, CO and started her family there. She joined her husband in Summit County in 1995, where they raised their 4 children and operated their family business, Summit Systems. Jean attended the University of Northern Colorado where she earned a B.A. in Applied Sociology and a M.A. in Clinical Counseling. Jean has worked as a counselor specializing in care for adolescents and also families experiencing divorce. She has also been committed to volunteering as a domestic violence advocate and at organizations that serve adolescents. Jean enjoys yoga, rollerblading, cooking and outdoor activities. As you can see, Jean has a lot of experience in working with children and families in adverse situations. She will be as asset to our team.
Colleen Supervision
Summit/Lake/Clear Creek Counties- meet at the CASA office; conference room 101: Wednesday October 7 from 10am-12pm and Monday October 19 from 5pm-7pm

Eagle County- meet at the Avon Library; small meeting room: Wednesday October 14 from 5pm-7pm and Tuesday October 20 from 10am-12pm

Hannah Supervision
Summit/Lake Counties – October 21st from 9:30-11:30am in CASA 101. *See note
Clear Creek County – October 14th from 10-12 in Georgetown Courthouse meeting room. **See note
***Hannah would like to meet contact with all of her volunteers this month, so if these dates/times don’t work, please let her know hannaho@www.mtncasa.org

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CASA CD NEWS

Trainings Available

Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
16-minute video.  Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.
https://youtu.be/95ovIJ3dsNk

May Lunchtime Learning: Marital Therapy
The Summit County Lunchtime Learning is returning. Our first event for the year will be on Wednesday, May 27th at 12:00pm in the Ten Mile Room of the Medical Office Building on the hospital campus in Frisco. This learning series is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about subjects specific to behavioral health and is presented by mental health professionals in your community.
Upcoming trainings will be:
June 24th: Child and Adolescent Therapy
July 22nd: Compassion Fatigue

Marijuana, Children, and Families

Mandated Reporter Training Webinar  
This is a webinar put on by Colorado Child Welfare Department.  Plan on it taking about 2 hours.  You need to follow the link and choose the first training listed under “Mandatory Reporting for Colorado Professionals”.  http://www.coloradocwts.com/community-training

Activity for Your Kids 
You can watch together or suggest your assigned child watch Tracy Beaker, a 20 minute children’s show about a 10-year-old foster girl who comes off as having “behavioral problems” by adults, but she tells stories of her mother being a Hollywood star who is busy making films, which is why she can not visit her daughter.  This is a British show that can be found on you tube.
The Tracy Beaker Show

CASA Library of Books
We have quite a few books covering all sorts of topics that will help volunteers understand the dynamics of their assigned children and families.  Stop by and take a look!

CASA of the Continental Divide is excited to announce that our 9th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Thursday June 25, 2015. Continuing with our tradition of stunning venues, this year’s tournament will be held at The Club at Cordillera – Summit Course in the heart of Vail Valley. www.cordillera-vail.com
If you would like to volunteer with this event, let us know!  It’s a fun event to put on.

Group Supervision

Colleen:

Hannah:
May 6 from 9-11am at Leadville Courthouse
May 7th from  9:00-11:00 in CASA 101

Other meetings individually arranged.