Michigan CASA & DHS Partner for Michigan’s Children

New leadership and an aggressive new hiring drive at the Michigan Department of Human Services have provided a unique opportunity for collaboration between Michigan CASA and DHS.

DHS Director, Maura Coorigan and Michigan CASA Executive Director, Christie Lypka agree that understanding the role of CASA volunteers in the system should be made clear to all new employees as well as to those currently working in the department. In-service training sessions for DHS staff, conducted by Michigan CASA, will focus on the history of CASA, the role of the CASA volunteer and the relationship between DHS and CASA.

Michigan CASA is excited to work together with DHS and focus our efforts on protecting vulnerable children in Michigan.

View DHS Training PowerPoint Presentation.

Michigan CASA Fall Conference

I AM FOR THE CHILD

One Person Can Mean the World to a Child

Court Appointed Special Advocates

Michigan CASA Fall Conference

Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Lexington Lansing Hotel

Lansing,MI

2 Day Conference Fee = $85

1 Day Conference Fee = $45

Register for Conference

View Full Agenda

Reserve a Room at Lexington Hotel

Meet Sharie Latham: New Kalamazoo County CASA Director

My early childhood was not the most stable. We moved around a lot, there was substance abuse, economic instability, and while I experienced some abuse and neglect, I was never taken away from my family. I wouldn’t say that I am grateful for having had a traumatic childhood, but, I will say that out of that trauma came a passion to protect children.

I graduated from Calvin College in 2—- with a degree in Criminal Justice. Since then I have worked as a residential aid in a juvenile treatment facility, case manager for a transitional housing program, family advocate, foster care worker, corrections officer and now  CASA Director.

Before taking this position I had a general idea of what a CASA volunteer was, had had one assigned to a case I was the worker for, but had little contact with her. I’d had no idea of the training, commitment, or dedication required of a CASA volunteer. I now have a greater understanding and appreciation of CASA volunteers and hope that as your new Director I can provide you with the support and direction you need.

Sincerely,

Sharie Latham

Meet Becky Carson: New Executive Director of CASA for Kids Barry & Eaton County

Becky Carson, Executive Director CASA for Kids Barry and Eaton County

I am truly honored to join CASA for Kids, Inc. Barry and Eaton County as the Executive Director. I have an incredible passion for children and youth in the foster care system, and have committed my life to serving them and ministering to their needs.

Prior to joining CASA, I spent 18 years working for the same organization with children/youth from the neglect abuse system receiving treatment in a residential program. My professional experience ranges from direct care in my very early years, to management and program leadership. I have expertise in advocacy, client rights, investigations, referral and intake, educational coordinating, volunteer management, treatment programming and ensuring compliance with governing body standards. I have additionally led numerous program quality improvement efforts over the years. I possess an unwavering desire to see that children in the system receive the services they need and I am committed to partnering together with individuals and agencies to ensure that decisions are in the best interest of children.

On a personal note, I am from Lansing and live with my beloved dogs. I have a special place in my heart for kids aging out of the system and have a goal to have a large ‘family’ of aging out youth – impassioned to changed the world for good.

Achieving Our Dreams

Christie Lypka, Executive Director Michigan CASA

As the Executive Director of Michigan CASA I am proud to carry the message of CASA throughout the state. Neglected and abused children need our voices to support their goals for permanency and child well being. As professionals involved in these cases often change, it is your consistency with children that allow them to trust and have hope. We are making a difference.

For a number of years Michigan CASA was under an umbrella agency. It was only within the last two years that we became a stand alone agency. We are very proud of what we have accomplished since our inception. We presented our state wide conference last November and plans for the 2011 conference are nearly complete. We have established a Michigan CASA office in Ann Arbor. We have created a Michigan CASA web site. CASA in Livingston County came into existence and we are working with two communities interested in developing their programs. We will conduct training of DHS workers at the Child Welfare Institute on the role of CASA. While accomplishing these activities, we have continued to assist all local programs to deliver quality advocacy to over 900 children.

Michigan CASA has dreams to grow even more. We want to serve more children. We want to expand to more courts. We want to market CASA so everyone is aware of the needs of our most vulnerable children. We want to advocate our legislators for a statute supporting CASA. We want to better support our local programs. We want to find better ways to support each of you.

I write to you today to ask for both your continued personal support and for your financial support of Michigan CASA so we can achieve our dreams. I would love you to become a member of Michigan CASA or continue your membership in November if you joined last year. By having 100, 200, or 1000 members, our voice for children becomes stronger. By being a member at any level you help us sustain and grow resources. Membership begins at $25 per year.

You may know others in your community, or even your family, who may not have the time or tolerance of the system to be an advocate but are passionate about children. Please invite them become a member.

Michigan CASA needs to increase its voice for children. You give your voice one case at a time but Michigan CASA wants to increase its impact for all children coming into the child welfare system.

Please help us reach our goals by becoming a member of Michigan CASA today.  You can fill out this form and mail it with your check to the Michigan CASA office located at 4624 Packard Road, Ann Arbor, MI  48108.

Thank you for your commitment to this wonderful cause.

Best Regards,

Christie