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“Info about the Eighth Judicial District Court.”

Category Archives: Abuse & neglect

September 14, 2021 Learn how you can change a child’s story through an Online orientation for the CASA Program

Have you been searching for that way to give back and waiting until the time is right? There are children is foster care who need you. A new slate of online orientation sessions will reveal how you can change a child’s story as a court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Find out what it takes to be a CASA though one of the online orientations:

  • Wednesday, October 6 (noon – 1 p.m.)
  • Friday, October 8 (9 – 10 a.m.)
  • Wednesday, October 20 (6 – 7 p.m.)
  • Friday, October 22 (noon – 1 p.m.)

Those who are interested can submit an online application form at HTTPS://NV-8TH.EVINTOSOLUTIONS.COM/VOLUNTEERAPPLICATION

Who should volunteer to be a CASA?

  • PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT CHILDREN
  • PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEGAL EXPERIENCE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF KIDS
  • PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR FULFILLING WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AND PAY IT FORWARD

The CASA program, which is part of the Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of hundreds of foster children annually. The advocates represent the children in school, child and family team meetings, and in court. Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend quality time with the children to advocate for them. For more information about the CASA program call 702-455-4306, visit WWW.CASALASVEGAS.ORG or visit WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/#!/CASALASVEGAS.

April 8, 2017 Wind blows – pinwheels spin – kids need help

Scarlett Bagunu came with her mom to volunteer to put up pinwheels
Karen Barfield
Have a heart – be a CASA
Scarlett & Stephanie Bagunu help put out more than 300 pinwheels at Family Court to remind people that there are more than 3,000 children in our community who need someone to speak up on their behalf.
Sheila Parks Program Administrator for CASA
CASA volunteer pay it forward

Karen Barfield
Jacqueline Phillips

Friday, April 7 was a warm and windy day.  A group of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers braved the winds to plant 300 pinwheels to attract attention and make a point. April is child abuse awareness and prevention month. The pinwheels are supposed to draw attention to the issue and hopefully spurred interest for people in the community to get involved to help by volunteering as a CASA.

Karen Barfield showed up for the pinwheel event with a hat and gloves, ready to take on the challenge in the same way she has taken on the challenge of serving to speak up for abused and neglected children.  Karen has been a CASA volunteer for seven years. A few years ago in another city, she was a foster parent. From her experience, she knew that children in foster care need an advocate to speak up for them in court. As a foster parent in another state who cared for children, she didn’t have a say in court on what happened to them and what was in their best interest. As a CASA she does. That’s why she got involved in CASA. She said, “I get satisfaction that maybe I’m helping a child start a normal life.”

Jacqueline Phillips is a retired corrections sergeant. She served the North Las Vegas Police Department for 26 years and has seen first-hand what years abuse and neglect does to people. Jacqueline has been a CASA for five years. It’s her way of breaking the  cycle. She praised the CASA team and said she that she never feels alone and gets a lot of support with helping the children in her cases.

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Shelia Taube

Sheila Taube is retired clinical psychologist who has been a CASA for just over a year and a half. She said, “I care about the kids. I let my voice be heard by the court.” Her deep green eyes light up when she descries the children she helps and four year old girl and her little 2-year-old brother who she calls, “a fire engine.”

The CASA program recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of hundreds of foster children annually. The advocates represent the children in school, child and family team meetings, and in court. Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend quality time with the children to advocate for them. In 1980, Judge John Mendoza led the creation of the Clark County CASA Program. The CASA mission continues to be fully supported by Family judges.

For those interested in volunteering with CASA, monthly orientations are held on the third Wednesday of each month to provide more information about the program. Upcoming orientations will be held at the Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. For more information about the program please call 702-455-4306, visit www.casalasvegas.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/CASALasVegas.

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April 3, 2017 300 Pinwheels to be planted at Family Court to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and a great time to volunteer as a CASA.

Pinwheel casa

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 300 pinwheels will be planted at Family Court to symbolize the more than 3,200 children in our community who face abuse and neglect and are receiving services under the supervision of Family Court. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers and those who want to help kids are invited to join the pinwheel planting at the Eighth Judicial District Family Court flagpole on April 7 from 10-11:30 a.m. at  601 N. Pecos Road. The pinwheel plant will visually depict the free spirit that kids should enjoy and encourage those who see it that they are needed as volunteers to advocate for children in foster care.

“Almost everyone loves pinwheels. They’re fun; and in this case, we hope the pinwheels will remind people of the many children who deserve to live free from abuse and neglect, and to just be kids.” said Family Court Judge Frank Sullivan, who oversees the CASA program. “By volunteering just a few hours a week to serve as a CASA, volunteers can make the difference of a lifetime for a child.”

The CASA program recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of hundreds of foster children annually. There are currently around 325 CASA volunteers who serve as a voice for those children. The advocates represent the children in school, child and family team meetings, and in court. Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend quality time with the children to advocate for them. In 1980, Judge John Mendoza led the creation of the Clark County CASA Program. The CASA mission continues to be fully supported by Family judges.

“Our hope is that those passing the pinwheel display think about the children who need someone and take the step to volunteer. For each of the 300 pinwheels, there are more than 10 children who need a Court Appointed Special Advocate to volunteer to speak on their behalf,” said Presiding Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin. “CASA’s give children in foster care a very important and much needed voice.”

For those interested in volunteering with CASA, monthly orientations are held on the third Wednesday of each month to provide more information about the program. Upcoming orientations will be held at the Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. For more information about the program please call 702-455-4306, visit www.casalasvegas.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/CASALasVegas.

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October 18, 2016 Have a new purpose this holiday season – Upcoming CASA Orientations Offer Opportunity To Join To Make A Difference For Kids  

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There is a big need for CASAs in Clark County. Several opportunities are upcoming for people who want to have a positive impact on the life of a child. Those who want to help abused and neglected children are invited to one of the upcoming CASA orientations: Oct 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. For more information about the program please call 702-455-4306, visit www.casalasvegas.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/CASALasVegas.

There are 351 CASA volunteers serving as a voice for foster children in our community. Many more volunteers are needed to advocate for the nearly 3,500 children receiving services under supervision of Family Court. Last year, more than 900 children had a CASA volunteer to help them navigate through the system, and deal with school challenges and home life. The goal is to get a CASA volunteer for every child in foster care.

The CASA program recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of hundreds of foster children annually. The advocates represent the children in school, family team meetings, and in court. Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend quality time with the children to advocate for them. In 1980, Judge John Mendoza led the creation of the Clark County CASA Program. The CASA mission continues to be fully supported by Family Court judges. For those interested in volunteering with CASA, monthly orientations are held on the third Wednesday of each month to provide more information about the program.

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August 16, 2016 19 people swear as CASA volunteers to ensure needs of 48 abused and neglected children are heard

 

Friends and family brought flowers and came to show their support for the newest group of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who took an oath to speak up for abused and neglected children at a swearing-in ceremony on Monday. The CEO of the Nevada Donor Network attended in show of support for an employee who was a new volunteer for CASA.  Speaking up for our community’s most vulnerable is definitely something of which to be proud. There are currently more than 357 CASA volunteers serving as a voice for foster children in our community. Many more volunteers are needed to advocate for the nearly 3,500 children receiving services under supervision of Family Court. Last year, more than 900 children had a CASA volunteer to help them navigate through the system, and deal with school challenges and home life. The goal is to get a volunteer to be a voice for every foster child.

The CASA program recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of hundreds of foster children annually. The advocates represent the children in school, family team meetings, and in court. Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend quality time with the children to advocate for them.

For those interested in volunteering with CASA, monthly orientations are held on the third Wednesday of each month to provide more information about the program. Upcoming orientations will be held at the Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. For more information about the program please call 702-455-4306, visit www.casalasvegas.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/CASALasVegas.

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