2018 CASA Blues · 2018/5/4 · Country Blues Sponsors: Ingalls Shipbuilding • Jerry Lee’s Grocery• Mississippi Export Railroad• Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association• The

An agency of United Way for Jackson and George Counties since 1999

Jackson County CASA, Inc. 4903 Telephone Road Pascagoula, MS 39567

Phone: 228-762-7370

Fax: 228-762-7385

www.jccasa.net

2018 CASA Blues

April 2018 Volume 5: Issue 4

Court Dates 2

County Conferences 2

Latest Program Statistics 2

April Birthdays 3

In-Service Dates 3

Spring Training Completed 3

CASA Blues 4

FYI 7

Child Abuse Prevention Mo. 8

Volunteer Appreciation Wk. 8

Inside this issue:

Abuse Hotline 1-800-222-8000

Our third annual CASA Blues was hosted on March 2 at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pas-

cagoula. Thanks to our sponsors and all of you who attended, it was an amazing success. We

would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to each of the following sup-

porters for their contribution to the event. We could not have done it without them.

Frances L. Allsup

Executive Director

Brenda M. Lancaster

Permanency

Coordinator

Amy L. Guidry

Volunteer

Coordinator

Board of Directors:

Marilyn Montgomery

Dawn Bradley

Allison Cook

Zachary S. Dotson

Tonya M. Fowler

Sherri Hodges-Thornton

Ken Rice Misty Russell

Shannon Vincent

Karen Whitford

Honorary Board Member

Troy Ross

Presenting Sponsor: Bozo’s Seafood Market & Deli

Mississippi Blues Sponsors: City of Pascagoula/Main Street Pascagoula • Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty , Inc•

Pascagoula Men’s Club Foundation, Inc. Rhythm & Blues Sponsors:

Keesler Federal Credit Union • David O. McCormick, P.A. Rock & Roll Blues Sponsors:

The Chemours Company/First Chemical Corporation• Hancock Bank/Whitney Bank• Navigator Credit Union Country Blues Sponsors:

Ingalls Shipbuilding • Jerry Lee’s Grocery• Mississippi Export Railroad• Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association• The People’s Bank

Boogie Woogie Blues Sponsors: Burrow Law Firm • Chevron Products Co. Pascagoula Refinery • Edd’s Drive In•

First Federal Savings & Loans• Foster-Brimm Consulting, LLC • Heidelberg Steinberger, P.A. • Merlin Wagner’s Contracting

In-Kind Sponsors: Biloxi Shuckers (Schooner)• Chandeleur Island Brewing Company • Coca-Cola Bottling Co. • Ft. Bayou Wine & Spirits • Four Seasons Produce Inc. • Grand Magnolia Ballroom & Suites• Good Games Printing• Junior Auxiliary of Pascagoula-Moss Point • Lazy Magnolia • Lowe’s, Gautier • Mississippi Security Police• Mitchell Distributing • N2 Blue Band• Scranton’s Restaurant• WGUD • WLOX TV-13 • WXXV 25

Silent Auction Donors: Anntina’s Beauty Salon • Applebee’s • Aunt Nita’s Seafood & Burger• Auto Zone, Gautier • Aztecas Restaurant & Cantina, Gautier• Betsy Ann Riverboat, Biloxi • Big Lots• Biloxi Shuckers• Brady’s Steaks

and Seafood•Bridget Blue• Dr. Joel Brunt • Buffalo Wild Wings• Burnham's Drugs, Gautier• Carrabba's Italian Grill, Mobile• Castaways Bar & Grill• Charisma • Charred, a Steak & Oyster Bar • Chick-Fil-A• Chili’s • Classy Chassis Car Wash• Coastal Bling, Hurley • Cole’s Service Center • Dad's Super Pawn• Rebecca Davis • Downtown

Buffet & Grill • El Saltillo • Debbie Frederic • Firestone of Gautier• Foster's AC• The Fresh Market, Mobile• The Froghead Grill • Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino• Goodyear Auto Service• The Grand Theater• Grants Menswear & Peter Grant Clothiers • Gulf Hills Hotel & Conference Center• Gulf Sales & Supply, Inc. • Half Shell Oyster House• Hard Rock Hotel and Casino• Hayden Taylor Boutique• Hickory Hill Country Club• Hillyer House• Hilton Garden Inn• IP Casino Resort Spa• Jack’s by the Tracks• Johnson Brothers Jewelry• The Latest Look •Lee Tracy Boutique•

Lincoln on Demand•Liquors Unlimited• Main Street Pascagoula • Mary Mahoney's Old French House• Massage En-vy• The Menagerie on Market• Moe’s Southwest Grill • Mosaic Tapas Restaurant & Bar • Murkey Waters• NAPA

Auto Parts, Ocean Springs • New Orleans Steamboat Company• New York Pizza • Newk’s Eatery • Off the Hook • Ohr-O'keefe Museum of Art• Olive Garden• O'Reilly's Auto Parts, Gautier • O'Reilly's Auto Parts, Ocean Springs• O'Reilly's Auto Parts, Pascagoula• Palace Casino/The Preserve Golf Club• Panda Palace •Paradise Deli & Grill• Pas-cagoula Country Club• Paula’s Beadworks• The Peabody Memphis• Perkin’s Tire & Polaris • The Pet Connection•

Phoenicia Gourmet Restaurant • Po-Boy Express, Ocean Springs • Poppy's• Posies & Puddles • Red Lobster• Rejuve-nation Station• ReMinkie Memory Bears• Ruby Tuesday• Sav-Rex Pharmacy• Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort• Shear Attitude Studio• The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint •Shearwater Pottery• Shell Landing Golf Club• Singing River Health System Foundation• Southern Bells Like Big Bows• Spanish Trail Lanes• Sports Shack• Tato Nut Donut

Shop• Tractor Supply Co. • Twin Peaks • Walter Anderson Museum of Art• Wayne Lee's Grocery & Market• White Pillars• Willis Furniture• Woody's Roadside •YMCA • and many Anonymous Donors


Court Dates

County Conference's

Page 2 CASA CONNECTION

County Conference's are held every six months to discuss and review the permanent plan of the child/children in foster care. Your attendance and input is requested. The review is NOT a court hearing, however, the testimony delivered during the conference will be provided to the Court to aid in making decisions about the Child’s best interest. Please contact the CASA staff if you

Your Court date is very important. Your presence is needed at all Court hearings. However, if you are unavailable to attend, please contact the CASA office and provide an update of your case. CASA staff will present your report to the Court. Your input is essential. Your child/children are counting on you to provide their voice in Court. Please review the schedule carefully. If you have any questions contact Amy or any staff for assistance.

JC CASA is a volunteer–powered organization that advocates for the abused and neglected children of our county. We have an amazing group of dedicated volunteers that provide a voice for these children throughout their court process. As of February 28, 2018 we have 120 Volunteers serving 132 children from 71 families with 1,786 donated hours of service. We want to thank our Volunteers for making a difference in the lives of children in need.

Latest Program Statistics


CASA CONNECTION Page 3

April Birthdays

To maintain your CASA standing you are required to complete 12 hours of In-Service training each year. Be sure to include any completed In-Service hours on your monthly reports. We would like to discuss topics that would be beneficial to you. Please contact the CASA staff if you have special requests. April 2, Jackson County Board of Supervisors will proclaim the month of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation will be presented at their monthly meeting, held at the Jackson County Service Complex, 2915 Canty Street, Pas-cagoula. The meeting begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room, #2031. The CASA and CPS staff, along with Judge Siga-las will be there to accept the proclamation. We would like the community to see our army of volunteers that are fighting for the children who are victims of abuse in our own community. Your attendance and support is encouraged. April 12, District Attorney, Tony Lawrence will present Expand the Circle, Reach All Victims, a community event to support victims, victims’ services and crime prevention. The event will be held at Pelican Landing, 6217 MS-613, Moss Point from 4:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m. There will be free food, entertainment, door prizes and more. Come join the CASA staff as they host an Exhibit Table to spread the word of our mission. April 15-21 is Volunteer Appreciation Week. To show our appreciation for our Volunteers, Board of Directors and Friends of CASA we will host a Banquet in their honor on APRIL 26, 6:00—8:00 p.m. Location details coming soon!! Honorable Sharon Sigalas will be our keynote speaker. We strongly encourage you to attend this special dinner. In order to prepare for this event, reservations are required by April 20. Contact any staff to make your reservations. A POP-UP PICNIC IN THE PARK will be held this month. Watch for emails announcing this event. These picnics are a wonder-ful opportunity to get together and meet some of the many members of our CASA organization. This is also the perfect time to share ideas that could help you with your cases. So, watch for the announcements, pack your lunch and join us at the designated

location for a relaxing lunch.

In–Service Dates for Volunteers

Spring Training Completed Our Spring Volunteer Training was held throughout the month of March. Ruthanne Adams, Alisa Bourgeois, Tracey Davison, Evon

Easterling and Florence Motes began their training March 5 and concluded with the Induction ceremony on March 22. This was

the first group to participate in training with the new Volunteer Training Curriculum, mandated by National CASA Association.

The training was conducted by the CASA staff and guests facilitators that have received training certification from National CASA

Association. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to those who assisted with the training; staff Amy Guidry and Brenda

Lancaster and Volunteers Karen Bradley and Patty Waters.

The big night finally arrived. On the evening of March 22, the new volunteers proudly stood before Judge Sigalas in a courtroom

filled with special guests and family members as they accepted the CASA Oath and became advocates for children of abuse and

neglect. This was definitely a proud moment for all. Meet our new Volunteer Advocates for 2018.

April 1 Gwendolyn Kennard April 2 Ricky Wolbrecht April 4 Vickey Lovorn April 5 Tim Billings

April 18 Joan Pylate April 24 Nancy Gager Regina Krebs April 26 Mark Roberts

Alisa Bourgeois Ruthanne Adams Tracey Davison Evon Easterling Florence Motes



CASA Blues Highlights

Ginger Dunaway

Right: Presenting Sponsor, Bozo’s Grocery &

Grill, Evelyn Delcambre, a CASA Volunteer,

accepts grifts of appreciation on their behalf

Left:

1) Richard Lucas, our Master of

Ceremonies

2) Richard recognizes Jackson

County Board of Supervisors as

honorees for 2018 CASA Blues;

Supervisors Troy Ross and Ken

Taylor, accept plaque on their

behalf

Below: Nita Bosarge with Honorable Sharon Siga-

las (right), Jackson County Youth Court Judge who

provided closing remarks

Right: 1) Richard Chenoweth and

Amy Chenoweth of the Grand Magno-

lia / Scranton’s are honored for their

support; 2) Frances Allsup with Mark

Roberts, Chairman of the Fundraising

Committee, a.k.a. CASA Kid; He is

the man that made CASA Blues hap-

pen!

Above: Jackson County CASA, Inc. Board of Directors

Back row: Sherri Hodges-Thornton, Karen Whitford, Marilyn Montgomery, Ken

Rice; Front row: Tonya Fowler, Lucy Selman, Dawn Bradley; Not pictured: Allison

Cook, Zachry Dotson, Misty Russell and Honorary Board Member Troy Ross



CASA Blues Highlights continued

Ginger Dunaway

Left: N2 Blue Band; featuring Sam Owens (a CASA Volunteer), Rob Smith,

Kristi Canfield, Buck Canfield, Jennifer Waltman and Mark Ladner

Above: N2 Blue performs

Below: Jackson County CASA, Inc. staff, Frances Allsup, Brenda Lancaster,

Amy Guidry

Left: Marta Williams, pic-

tured on far right, owner of

Ft. Bayou Wine & Spirits

provides beverages for the

event

Right: Special guest Schooner, mas-

cot for the Biloxi Shuckers, dances

with CASA Volunteer Evelyn Douglas

Left: Coastal CASA program directors

join the fun; Frances Allsup of Jackson

County, Jeannie Herrin of Harrison

County & Cynthia Chauvin of Hancock

County

Above: Also helping with Silent Auction were the

ladies of Pascagoula-Moss Point Junior Auxiliary;

Front row: Dylan Demouey, Taylor Sublett; Back

Row: Lacie Jordan, Cayla Switzer, Brandi Borho,

Amy Chenoweth

Below: Trudi Dixon helped

with Silent Auction & deco-

rations



CASA Blues Highlights Continued



FYI Frances Allsup and our Board President, Marilyn Montgomery, attended United Way for Jackson and George Counties Annual Meeting on February 2. The meeting provided a review of the past year and the campaign that will help them to get ready for the upcoming year. February 6, staff, board members and volunteers attended Pascagoula’s City Council meeting. Jackson County CASA was the business spotlight for February. Tim Wall, Public Relations Coordinator for the city, had prepared a beautiful video about our program that was shown at the meeting and shared on their website. If you have not seen it, look at it on our Facebook page. Our Executive Director Frances All-sup and Board President Marilyn Montgomery ad-dressed the City Council to thank them for their sup-port and the opportunity to share our mission. Oth-ers attending the meeting were CASA Board members Karen Whitford and Misty Russell, CASA Staff Brenda Lancaster, CASA volunteers Lee Anne Coleman, Lucy

Hurst-Gordon, Charlotte McClendon and Joyce Nelson and CASA family support-ers Buddy Whitford and Jason.

2018 has gotten off to a busy start with our speaking engagements. February 7, Amy Guidry attended the lunch meeting of the Fort Nightly

Club of Moss Point and Brenda Lancaster attended the Pascagoula Men’s Club meeting at the Pascagoula Country Club that evening. These were welcomed opportunities to spread the word of our mission and recruit potential volunteers and supporters. February 20 was a busy day for our Executive Director, Frances Allsup. She was joined by Mark Roberts, CASA Blues fundraising chairman, on a journey across the coastal counties to collect donations for the CASA

Blues event. As the big day for the CASA Blues grows nearer, the fund-raising committee takes every opportunity to publicize the event. Later that afternoon, Frances Allsup joined Richard Lucas at WXXV studio to film a segment for their Coastal Connection show. The day was topped-off with an In-Service, hosted by the CASA staff at Jackson County Youth Court where a teenager, who is currently in custody and a CASA child, gave her testimony of her journey through the Youth Court system with a CASA volunteer by her side. The presentation was AMAZING! We were grateful for this once in lifetime opportunity. The presentation was attended by Honorable Sharon Sigalas, CASA staff, board members and volunteers and members of Child Protection Services.

February 23 presented another opportunity to promote CASA Blues. Sherri Hodges-Thornton, board member and Sam Owens, CASA volunteer and member of N2 Blue Band that will play for the event, were invited to WLOX 4 O’clock Show where they talked with Dave Elliott and Karen Abernathy. March rolls in with speaking engagements on the 1st. CASA Volunteer Lucy Hurst-Gordon addressed the Friendship Civic Club of Ocean Springs at their meeting which was held at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Later that evening, Lucy attended Trivia Night at Green-house on Porter. Thank you, Lucy, for helping the staff

during such a busy time. Courtney Poole, founder of my BELONGings, delivered more bags for chil-dren in custody on March 7. These bags are filled with basic needs, change of clothing and hygiene products, for the children to receive when they are taken into custody. This will insure that they have something of their own. The bag can be used as a safe place to keep their belongings and will go with them from placement to placement. Courtney was joined by her daughter Audrey and McKenzie Williams. March 20, Courtney and her daughter Halle were greeted by the CASA staff and Youth Court Judge, Sharon Sigalas when she delivered my BELONGings bags for older youth in custody.

Marilyn Montgomery &

Frances Allsup CASA staff, board members & volunteers attend Pas-

cagoula City Council meeting in appreciation of JC CASA

being selected as business spotlight for the month

Pascagoula Men’s Club

Above: Richard Lucas & Frances

Allsup at WXXV interview

Sherri Hodges-Thornton, Dave Elliott, Karen Abernathy &

Sam Owen at WLOX 4 O’clock show

Back row: Courtney Poole; Front

row: McKenzie Williams, Audrey

Poole Judge Sigalas, Halle and

Courtney



FYI March 10, Frances Allsup joined the Ingalls team as they participated in the Heart Walk, sponsored by the American Heart Association. Walking with Frances were Donna Stewart, United Way for Jackson and George Counties and Anna Walters, Mississippi Department of Health. March 13, Frances had another opportunity to spread the word or our CASA mis-sion when she spoke to PEO, Philanthropic Educational Organization, at their monthly meeting. CASA of Harrison County hosted their annual fundraising event, P’CASA, March 15 at the Beaux Rivage in Biloxi. Supporting our Coastal CASA program at this event were our Executive Director, Frances Allsup and a member of our Board of Direc-tors, Karen Whitford along with CASA of Harrison County Executive Director, Jean-nie Herrin.

March continues to present opportunities to spread the word of our mission. March 20, Frances Allsup spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Pascagoula at their lunch meeting. The Kiwanis has been a Friend of CASA for a very long time. We appreciate their support.

March 21, Biloxi-Ocean Spring Junior Auxiliary pro-vided Easter Baskets for our children. Frances met with Ashley Grayson, BOS JA member to collect the baskets. Volunteers will pickup the baskets from

the CASA office and deliver them to their kids. Our “March Madness” ended with the induction of five new volunteers on March 22. (see page 3 for more information) They accepted the Oath from Jackson County Youth Court Judge Sharon Sigalas. What a perfect way to end the month.

Donna Stewart, Anna

Walters, Frances

Jeannie Herrin, Frances Allsup,

Karen Whitford

Ashley Grayson, BOS JA

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Volunteer Appreciation Week April 15-21 is Volunteer Appreciation Week. This time provides an opportunity to recog-

nize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they

care about in their community. Their stories help to inspire others to find ways to take

action that creates change. We are fortunate to have a wonderful army of CASA Volun-

teers that are making an impact on the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, our children

who suffer from abuse and neglect. We would like to take this opportunity to express our

deepest gratitude for their service and to all of you who donate your time, talent, voice

and support to any worthwhile cause in your community.

In 1983, by presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, April was declared National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every year since, the President rededicates the month with a new proclamation. Many State Governors and local Governing bod-ies also issue proclamations to encourage public awareness as well as recommit resources to the cause and promote community involvement through State and local activities. During this month, people across the country come together to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention. You continue to make a difference year-round through the donation of your time as a CASA advocate. Throughout this month, be sure to wear your blue ribbon and help bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month. We hope to see each of you at the Jackson County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 2 as they proclaim April as National Child Abuse Prevention month.

Ready for the Oath are Ruthanne Adams, Evon Easterling,

Alisa Bourgeois, Florence Motes and Tracy Easterling with

Honorable Sharon Sigalas

Documents

2018 CASA Blues · 2018/5/4 · Country Blues Sponsors: Ingalls Shipbuilding • Jerry Lee’s Grocery• Mississippi Export Railroad• Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association• The