Separating the Myths From the Facts About 2nd & 3rd Hand Smoke & the Truth About Dipping

Wings for L.I.F.E.
(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)
Presented By
Gisselle Keyes, Smoking Cessation Coordinator

Learn how guests and volunteers can be eligible to win an IPOD or Digital Camera

Roswell Boys & Girls Club
201 S. Garden
SUNDAY, January 30, 2011
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
For Questions call: Shelly @ 317-2042
Dinner served between 6:00 and 6:30 PM only. Arts & Crafts for Children
in a family friendly environment
(Sitter available)

New Podcast: Families Living in Poverty

New National CASA Association Podcast: Families Living in Poverty

In this podcast, Monica Boguki, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, discusses issues around families living in poverty, their battle to get out of poverty and ways that CASA/GAL volunteer advocates can assist these families. Listen to this podcast at their website.

In Their Shoes: Dating Violence and Youth in New Mexico

In Their Shoes: Dating Violence and Youth in New Mexico
Date: February 22, 2011
Time: 8am – 5pm
Location: Double Tree Hotel, Albuquerque
Cost: FREE

Trainers:
Meg Wills, Enlace Comunitario – and youth from her program
Anna Nelson, NM Forum for Youth
Karen Wyman, NMCADV

Description of Training:
This one-day training will focus on dating violence in youth populations in New Mexico. This highly interactive day of learning will include some of the state’s leading experts on dating violence among youth as well as opportunities to hear from youth directly about the issues impacting their lives.
Participants will use an innovative training tool called “In Their Shoes” which provides the chance to experience the day-to-day realities of youth experiencing dating violence.

This FREE training is designed for both youth-serving organizations and domestic violence service providers. Register now! Space is limited. Click here to register.

Serving Child Victims of Sex Trafficking

OVC Web Forum Guest Host To Discuss Serving Child Victims of Sex Trafficking: January 19

On January 19, 2011, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Mollie Ring on best practices for serving child victims of sex trafficking. Ms. Ring is the Director of Anti-Trafficking Programs at the Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE) Project, a nonprofit organization working to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults. She coordinates direct services for domestic minor and international victims of human trafficking and leads outreach, training, and public education efforts.

For more information, visit the OVC Web Forum.

Eagle Scout Project 5K Benefits CASA

The Boy Scouts Conquistador Council in conjunction with the Roswell Parks and Rec. and the Roswell Runners Club will be sponsoring the 1st Annual Race for Backpacks.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 5th 2011 in Cahoon Park. It will be a 5K run and a 5K walk. A school backpack is the entry fee to participate that will be later donated to Chaves County CASA. Race day pre-registration will be from 7:30am-8:30am and the race will begin at 9:00am in Cahoon Park located at 1101 W. 4th. Overall awards go to first place male and female. Ribbons to first thru third place and both male/female finishers in all age groups. T-shirts go to the first 100 participants. For more information please contact Parks & Recreation at 624-6720 or Matt Gardner at 623-2627.

CASA is grateful to Matt Gardner for choosing to benefit CASA with his Eagle Scout Project.

Human Trafficking Awareness

January 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

For more information about this horrrible, but very real, issue go to:

http://www.humantrafficking.org/

Courthouse Dog Training

Seattle Prosecuting Attorney Ellen O’Neill-Stephens

& Celeste Walsen, Executive Director of Courthouse Dogs

Presentation on the legal issues and protocol of using an assistance dog to assist victims from forensic interview through trial

Since 2003 courthouse dogs have provided comfort to sexually abused children while they undergo forensic interviews and testify in court. The dogs also assist drug court participants in their recovery, visit juveniles in detention facilities, greet jurors and lift the spirits of courthouse staff who often conduct their business in an adversarial setting.

Courthouse dogs assist individuals with physical, psychological, or emotional trauma due to criminal conduct; these dogs are professionally trained to service dog standards by an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.

The use of courthouse dogs can help bring about a major change in how we meet the emotional needs of all involved in the criminal justice system. The dog’s calming presence creates a more humane and efficient system that enables judges, lawyers, and staff to accomplish their work in a more positive and constructive manner.

Friday, January 28th
1:30 to 3:30 Chaves County Courthouse

Sponsored by the Chaves County CASA Program with a grant from CJAAG

More info: CASA at 575.625.0112, www.casakids.org and www.courthousedogs.com

January Happenings

Join us for great training opportunities in January!

Childrens Law Institute, Albuquerque - January 12-14

CASA Child Centered Meetings (CCMs) - Wednesday, January 19

Brown Bag In-Service, Samantha Reed of Counseling Associates, Safe and Stable Family Services - Thursday, January 20 noon in the CASA office

Courthouse Dog Training - Friday, January 28, 1:30 to 3:30 Chaves County Courthouse

IRA Holders Can Still Make 2010 Charitable Distributions

Persons aged 70½ or older can again enjoy tax savings by making charitable gifts directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), thanks to a provision of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which was signed into law December 17, 2010. The act also allows charitable distributions made from an IRA in January 2011 to be declared as 2010 gifts, should the IRA holder wish to do so.