Emma and Tasha in Therapy Dog Training

Natasha Sing (we call her Tasha) is in Santa Fe this week getting intensive dog handler training with Emma, our new Therapy/Courthouse Dog. She wrote and sent pictures:

Just wanted to let everyone know what Emma and I are up to. Tomorrow we have class at the mall and at Santa Fe Bar and Grill to try out our commands and behaviors in public. Emma is a great team mate and she is doing a wonderful job of training me! I cannot wait to tell you guys all about the experiences and share all the interesting and informative things I have learned about these incredible dogs that are being trained here. Our class is very small with only three other handlers and dogs. Emma has the focus of a business lady as we work together from nine in the morning till five in the afternoon. We spend our evenings resting and doing some bonding experiences so that we can pass our Assistance Dogs International test next month and make the rest of our CASA team proud!
xoxo,
Tasha and Emma


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

November Happenings

Save the Dates:

4th - 11:30 to 1:30 - Come and Go - Emma's Dog Shower

11th - Veteran's Day - Office Closed

12th - 11:00 to 2:00 - Thanks For Giving Luncheon

16th - noon - Brown Bag In-Service Training - Self Defense with Penny Beavers

18th - 5:00 - Winter Wonderland Auction - Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event - First American Bank

25th & 26th - Happy Thanksgiving - Office Closed

New Podcast—Advocating for Children with Developmental Delays

New Podcast from the National CASA Association

Learn from a CASA volunteer from Washington State who has both personal and professional experience dealing with families affected by developmental delays. She discusses how to advocate effectively either for children with developmental delays or for children whose parents have delays. Listen to the podcast now, or subscribe to receive the newest podcasts automatically.

Santa Fe CASA Kids To Be Featured on Nick News

Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, on the Nickelodeon TV channel, will feature 8 foster youth in a story called “Foster Care: A Reality Check” this Sunday, Oct 24, at 9pm ET/PT. Two of those youth are Santa Fe's own Consuelo (Connie) and Estrellita Starr)!

Go here for more info.

It's a Dog Party!

Meet Emma, CASA's Therapy and Courthouse Dog, for a Dog Shower November 4th

Chaves County CASA is proud to announce the addition of a new staff member, Emma the CASA Dog. Emma is a Therapy/Courthouse dog that has been trained by the Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe. We are excited about the numerous opportunities that Emma brings to traumatized children served by our program.

Emma has been trained to serve CASA children in two ways: as a therapy dog with CASA during visitation and as a courthouse dog helping children testify in court.

Please join us for cake on November 4th at 11:30 in the CASA office as we welcome Emma and shower her with gifts.

Emma's Wish List:

• Dog beds for home and work
• Collapsible dog crate
• Recreational toys like ball and tug toys
• Plush toys are her very favorite thing (stuffed animal toys)
• Basket for her toys
• Bowls and mats
• Natural treats (no rawhide please, they contain formaldehyde)
• Grooming mitt
• Soft brushes for our CASA kids to use on Emma (really calms down a traumatized child)
• Freshening spray (for in-between grooming)
• Furminator products (ooh, that Golden Retriever hair can be something else)
• All natural dog wipes
• Dental chewing products
• Doggy Doo Bags (but Emma toilets on command - very cool)
• Retractable leash
• Bandanas for every season
• Freezer for the hamburger meat that has been donated
• Preference dog food additive

Save the Date: Children's Law Institute January 12-14, 2011

The Annual Children's Law Institute will be held this year at Hotel Albuquerque.

Note the following special CASA events on Wednesday, January 12th:

- 9:00 to noon: CASA Pre-Conference Session with Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, author of Trauma Stewardship.

- Noon: CASA Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, Fransiscan Room

- 3:30 to 5:00: CASA Non-Profit Board Development Opportunity

Watch for CLI information and registration at http://www.childrenslawinstitute.org/

Upcoming Events

October

18th - Child Centered Meetings

26th - noon - Brown Bag In-Service Training movie: The First Years Last Forever

29th - Halloween Party for Foster Children - CYFD

29th - Winter Wonderland Set-up - First American Bank

November

1st - Winter Wonderland Opens - First American Bank

4th - 11:30 - CASA Dog Shower - Meet Emma, our Therapy/Courthouse Dog

12th - Thanks For Giving Luncheon

18th - 5:00 - Winter Wonderland Auction Event - First American Bank

December

3rd - 6:00 - CASA Kids Christmas Party - Country Club Church of Christ

17th - CASA Kids Christmas Store

ABA Practice and Policy Brief: Advocating for Very Young Children in Dependency Proceedings

The ABA's Health of Court-Involved Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers project has released a new practice and policy brief that may be of benefit to CASA/GAL volunteers. Advocating for Very Young Children in Dependency Proceedings: The Hallmarks of Effective, Ethical Representation by Candice Maze, JD, focuses on the ways that attorneys and other advocates representing very young children can profoundly influence the health, development and well-being of their clients. The brief sets out four hallmarks of advocacy to enhance effectiveness of representation and strengthen an advocate’s ability to handle ethical dilemmas. While the brief is written for attorneys, we hope the information will also be useful to CASA volunteers and staff. Find it online at the ABA website.