Jackson County CASA Received National Certification Recognizing the Quality of Its Work for Abused and Neglected Children

8/24/2010 - Pascagoula, MS – The Jackson County CASA, Inc. of Pascagoula, MS has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. This certification recognizes that Jackson County CASA is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy.

According to Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says Jackson County CASA has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

Jackson County CASA, Inc. was established in 1985. Jackson County, Pascagoula, Mississippi was the first site of the CASA Programs in the state. Today, we are leading the way in of all local programs in the state in numbers of volunteers and support from the community!

Honorable Sharon W. Sigalas stated “for many years, the CASA volunteers have helped guide many families through the difficult and often confusing youth court process. They have been the eyes and ears for the Court, always keeping the Court informed of the needs of the children they serve. Volunteers constantly go above and beyond the CASA requirements in an effort to serve the families of Jackson County. The Jackson County Youth Court would be lost without the CASA program and it’s wonderful volunteers”.

Today, there are more than 950 National CASA member programs across the country, with more than 70,000 men and women serving as CASA volunteers. Jackson County CASA is an agency of United Way of Jackson & George Counties.

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Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteers Provide Haven for Children in Court System for Past 25 Years

3/2/2010 - Pascagoula, MS 
by: Susan Stachowski
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pg 38
South MS Living
March 2010

Abused and Neglected Children Will Benefit from Jewelers for Children Grant to Jackson County CASA, Inc.

1/20/2010 - Pascagoula, MS 
The Jackson County CASA of Pascagoula, Jackson County was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from Jewelers for Children (JFC) to increase the number of volunteers who represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. The award to Jackson County CASA is part of a $500,000 grant that JFC made to the National CASA Association. Through a competitive re-granting process, all of this funding has been awarded to local CASA and GAL programs that recruit, train and supervise volunteers advocating for children in foster care. {download entire press release}

5 Graduate Child Advocacy Program [view gallery]

6/23/2009 –By April M. Havens

PASCAGOULA Jackson County's Court Appointed Special Advocates for children welcomed five new volunteers Monday afternoon.

CASA is an organization that takes on cases of abused and neglected children to act as an extra set of eyes and ears for the Jackson County Youth Court. CASA volunteers spend time with the children, their families and others, which helps them make recommendations for the child in court.

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Volunteers honored at United Way ceremony; CASA receives community service team award.

4/23/2009 –By AMBER CRAIG

PASCAGOULA Three men and woman, two youth and two civic organizations were among the honorees Thursday at the 22nd annual Volunteers are Important People event sponsored by the United Way of Jackson and George Counties.

The volunteers were honored during a ceremony at LaFont Inn in Pascagoula for their service to the community.

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Jackson County CASA to Host 'Stroke for Hope' Golf Tournament

4/9/2009 – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (or CASA) is raising money to help to end the cycle of child abuse in our community by hosting the 1st Annual Stroke for Hope Golf Tournament on April 18th, 2009.

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Child advocacy group needs money to continue work

By Patrice Clark
4/14/2009 –The Court Appointed Special Advocates say more than 1600 cases of child abuse were reported in Jackson County in 2007.

"There are too many cases out there where there is no love, where the child doesn't know how to love," Robert Standfield said.

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"Dreams Do Come True" Fundraiser a Success!

3/19/2009 - Over 350 member of the community filled the Jackson Co. Civic Center Tuesday night to support two local non-profit programs - CASA and the Jackson Co. Drug Court. The sit-down dinner was only part of the 2-hour fundraiser which included a silent auction, door prizes, and various entertainers including special guest Jenny Nolen, Alabama's Funniest Lady. Celebrity waiters and waitresses topped off the fun. Roughly $8000 was made and will be spilt evenly between the programs.

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Christmas with Jackson County CASA

Monday, December 9th, 2008 - December will be a special month for children supported by Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) directed by Frances Allsup, and the Youth Court, presided over by Judge Sharon Sigalas.  Santa Claus becomes a reality for local children due to community contributions to the CASA effort and the Youth Court.

In the picture: Judge Sharon Sigalas, Melissa & Robert Stanfield, Frances Allsup, Laura Taylor and Vickie Miller, Director & Service Chairman of Quota International of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

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CASA Floats in Two Jackson County Parades - Wins "Most Spirited" Float in Gautier Rotary Club Parade

Monday, December 8th, 2008 - The Jackson County CASA threw thousands of beeds, tissue boxs, crazy-eyed reindeers, and more to the eager parade-goers in the Pascagoula and Gautier Parades over the weekend.

But having fun and creating awareness wasn't the only reward CASA received. The Gautier Parade judges named our float the "most spirited" float of the 50+ float parade. Way to go, CASA. Job well done!

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O.S. Teen Donates Goodies to Kids in Youth Shelter

Monday, Nov 24th, 2008- The children in the Jackson County Youth Shelter will have lots to do over the Thanksgiving holidays because of the kindness of one Ocean Springs 8th grader. 13-year-old Kevin Kovacevich spent the last few months gathering all sorts of games, toys and treats and dropped the goodies off at the shelter today, just in time for the holidays. The Jackson County Youth Shelter is a short-term faculty that houses abused or neglected children in the court system while they await a foster home. Youth Court Judge Sharon Sigalas says donations like this show the children someone out there cares about them. Right now there are 450 children going through the court system in Jackson County. Four of them will be staying in the youth shelter over the Thanksgiving holidays.

In the picture: (from left to right) Frances Allsup -CASA Executive Director, Judy Kovacevich, Brian, Kovacevich, Kevin Kovacevich, Deborah Stallworth - Shelter Supervisor, and Judge Sharon Sigalas.

CASA Cruisin' with Coast Corvette Club

October 11th, 2008 - Some 20 volunteers, board members, and staff from our organization manned the CASA table at the Gulf Coast Covette Club, Inc's Cruisin' the Coast location.

Thanks to Vettes for giving us the opportunity to bring more awareness to our group. And thanks to all of the people who showed up to support us - Brenda and Justin Ramsey, Mary Spalding, Elizabeth Lassarre, Laura and Jeff Taylor, Bill McChester, Dana, Tim, Lexi, and Ethan Mitchell, Mark Spicer and his Daughter, Jimmy, Frances and Katie Allsup and Fritz Deegen.

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United Way Appreciation Luncheon

October 2nd, 2008 - United Way Appreciation Luncheon. All member agencies will set up a booth. State Director plans to also be in attendance. 11:30 - 12:30pm. Gautier Convention Center.

The Jackson County CASA set up a booth and gave out small trinkets like fans, keychains, and tissue to folks stopping by to learn about our organization.

CASA Gives out Educational Goodies at Moss Point Back to School Rally

Friday, August 15th, 2008

The Gulf Coast Vetter Halves and Biloxi Quota Club donated all sorts of school supplies to the Jackson County CASA - notebooks, folders, crayons, pens, pencils, and more. And all of these learning tools are going to good use. CASA volunteers set up a booth on Friday, August 15th, at the Moss Point School Disrict annual Back to School Rally and handed out the donated supplies to excited district kids and their families.

The school district holds this event every year to get the community pumped up for learning after a long summer break. All of the kids and teachers who filled bags with CASA supplies were happy to have some extra goodies to start school with this year.

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