Blog & Events

Recently we celebrated the career of retired Judge Stephen Galvin, and this coloring page is in honor of all Judges who have an impact on children's lives! Created by local artist Joe Lee, this drawing honors the work of all those in the judicial system! Please download and print the image and color it. Then share your creation with us! Can you find the hidden C-A-S-A in the image? And here's the finished version, completed by Joe Lee!   This project is funded by the City of Bloomington Arts Commission. We appreciate their support, along with Joe Lee's creativity, in ...

October is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) awareness month. ADHD is an extremely relevant neurodevelopmental disorder in the lives of children, teens, and adults. As CASA volunteers, we see that there is certainly a high prevalence of ADHD in children; however, oftentimes trauma symptoms are mistakenly covered up with an ADHD diagnosis. Below, you can find more information on what ADHD is and the prevalence of ADHD in foster care children.   What is ADHD?  According to the Centers for Disease Control (2023b), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is “one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood,” and is typically diagnosed in childhood, ...

Fall is here, and so is a new coloring page from Monroe County CASA! Created by local artist Joe Lee, this image celebrates what makes fall so much fun! Please download and print the image and color it. Then share your creation with us! Can you find the hidden C-A-S-A in the image? And here's the finished version, completed by Joe Lee!   This project is funded by the City of Bloomington Arts Commission. We appreciate their support, along with Joe Lee's creativity, in bringing this project to life.

The following are book recommendations from the Monroe County CASA Staff, intended to further your knowledge and understanding of topics that intersect with the work of a CASA volunteer. These are also great books for interested community members as well!  Demon Copperhead - By Barbara Kingsolver   This co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize, and the winner of the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction, is a coming-of-age story following the life of a boy born into institutional poverty, navigating the foster care system, love, loss, child labor, and school, with a determination for survival, set in the mountains of southern ...

Our next coloring page, designed by local artist Joe Lee and sponsored by the City of B loomington Arts Commission, is now available! In honor of our participation in this weekend's Pridefest, this one is designed especially for Pride! Can you find the C A S A hidden in the design below? Click the image to save the coloring page and print it for yourself. Once you've colored it, please take a photo, share it on social media, and tag us! We would love to see your finished work!

  Monroe County CASA Training Coordinator Job Description GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Training Coordinator provides professional pre-service training to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers using a locally adapted curriculum developed by the National CASA Association.  The Training Coordinator will also coordinate monthly in-service training sessions for current CASAs.  This is a contracted position for up to 300 hours per year or 78 hours per quarter, with evaluations annually. This position will include evening hours, but the specific schedule will vary depending on the training schedule.     QUALIFICATIONS The Training Coordinator should have the following education, skills, and experience: Bachelor's degree ...

Mayor John Hamilton has officially declared April 1st as Child Abuse Awareness Day. April 1st is also the first day of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Check out the proclamation below and stay tuned to our social media for more information all month long.

What are ACEs? ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences; these include potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. Some examples of potential ACEs include: Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect Witnessing violence in the home or community Having a family member attempt or die from suicide Substance use within the home Parental mental health problems Instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison This is not an exhaustive list as there are many more experiences that can cause trauma. How common are ACEs? About 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported they had experien ced ...

Anyone who has had a dog will tell you the emotional impact they have on people. Our dogs are always there for us, whether we are celebrating good news or going through a difficult time. A dog can lend the emotional boost we need to get through these tough times. The experience can be frightening and emotionally taxing for children going through the court system. Having to recount the terrible things that have happened to them, let alone face the people who did them, can make a child feel unable to give vital testimony. That’s where facility dogs come in. ...