CASA For Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties condemns violence and discrimination against members of the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community. As we affirmed following the killing of George Floyd, violence and hate have no place in our community. We acknowledge the pain and suffering of the victims and the impact on all of society.

In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King said:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Violence multiplies violence in a descending spiral of destruction … The chain reaction must be broken or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

As an organization dedicated to supporting our communities’ most vulnerable children, CASA stands committed to working for a just society as we honor the inherent worth and dignity for all its members.

CASA AND COMPUSCORE TEAMED UP

To Help Children in Foster Care

This 100+ mile virtual RUN concluded on JULY 15TH

Proceeds benefitted CASA’s programs serving local children in foster care

We sincerely thank COMPUSCORE for their support of our work!

CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties continues to monitor the rapidly changing situation around COVID-19. Our commitment to our children remains as strong as ever and we are in regular contact with our Advocates, and State and Community Partners.

To ensure that we take all prudent measures for the health of our employees and the community we serve, beginning Tuesday, March 17th our Burlington and Mercer County offices will be closed to the public. Staff will work remotely and will respond to voice and email as quickly as possible, as we carry on with the important work of this organization.

Our office is closed to the public until further notice. We are currently gearing up to offer trainings, information sessions, and interviews online, and hope to begin that soon. Please check back for details.

We are very grateful for the support of our community, and will keep you updated as together we work through this unprecedented situation.

In a strong showing of support for safe kids and safe communities, CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties mobilized volunteers, staff and trustees to participate in the 2018 National Night Out across 19 towns on August 6 & 7. The annual event, organized by police departments on the first Tuesday of August, offer CASA a chance to connect with thousands of neighbors in a single evening to recruit more volunteers to speak up in family court on behalf of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect.

This marked the first year that CASA launched the outreach event on a large scale. Close to 40 volunteers – armed with brochures, clipboards, colorfully painted signs and large cut-out “cardboard kids” – shared their passion and commitment for an organization that depends on hundreds of volunteers who provide consistency for children languishing in the family court system.

The concept of getting out a “Call for Volunteers” germinated from a meeting with Senator Troy Singleton, who represents the Seventh Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate and his introduction to the Burlington Police Chiefs Association. “We appreciate the wonderful introduction to the Police Chiefs Association from Senator Singleton. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with our police departments across Burlington and Mercer Counties and our involvement in National Night Out is a great beginning. CASA also has many dedicated advocates who are retired police officers and we are looking to grow these numbers this year,” stated Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director, CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties.

CASA participated in these Burlington County towns at National Night Out: Bordentown, Burlington City, Evesham, Lumberton, Maple Shade, Medford, Pemberton, Westampton and Willingboro.

CASA participated in these Mercer County towns during National Night Out: East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Lawrence Township, Princeton, Robbinsville, and West Windsor.

CASA reached across the border to also participate at National Night Out in Morrisville, PA.

See our National Night Out Gallery for more photos.

For more than 25 years, the national philanthropic project of Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation has been Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Both college and alumnae chapters host events throughout the year to support their state and local CASA organizations.

Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority gives to CASA in many ways: As thoughtful advocates, committed volunteers and generous donors. Every year the Princeton Panhellenic Council puts on a Powderpuff tournament between the three sororities at Princeton University: Kappa Alpha Theta -“Theta”, Pi Beta Phi, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. The prize is $300 to be donated to the winner’s philanthropy partner. Theta has dominated in recent years, and 2018 was no different! The women of Theta were proud to compete for CASA and even more proud to bring home the win!

CASA thanks Kappa Alpha Theta for their generosity and competitive spirit!

For nearly 40 years the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CASA) has advocated for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. One of our guiding principles is that children are better off when they remain with their families of origin if safely possible.

We also know the long-term effects of trauma that children experience when they are separated from their parents, which are most often detrimental to their well-being and can have long-term negative impact.

While CASA programs and volunteers work in family or juvenile court systems, not the federal court system, we support best-interest advocacy for all children. We have been deeply concerned about the family separations at the Southwest border and thank those who have spoken out on behalf of these children. We join with these voices.

If children involved in immigration proceedings become involved in family or juvenile court, we urge the appointment of a CASA/GAL volunteer to advocate for the child’s best interest and help the court make the most well-informed decision in these tremendously important matters.

We ask our nation’s legislators to carefully consider the impacts on children when they address immigration legislation so that no child is subjected to further trauma.

View PDF version

CASA welcomed 15 employees from Church & Dwight in Princeton for a fun afternoon of volunteering to brighten the lives of children in the foster care system. The Church & Dwight volunteers chose CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties during a “week of service” to help kids in the local community who are in need of essential items and services.

The enthusiastic volunteers, who are chemists or technicians by profession, divided into small teams to create a dozen “no sew” fleece blankets for CASA foster youth who are often shuffled between housing or residential facilities with very few possessions. The “no sew” blankets were created in bright patterns and presented to the CASA staff, who will distribute them to the youth from our service area of Mercer and Burlington Counties. The fleece blankets represent hope and happiness for children who have many challenges as they move through the family court system.

More than 60 volunteers, staff, family court judges and board members attended the 2018 Burlington County CASA Appreciation Awards dinner at Casamari in Burlington, NJ on May 15. CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties is celebrating the volunteers with years-of-service pins and certificates. This year a special service award was established in memory of Eileen Fralinger, a dedicated CASA volunteer who passed away in November 2017. Eileen’s daughter, Erin Fralinger, and sister, Lorraine Reilly, accepted the plaque in her memory.

The recipient of the First Annual Eileen Fralinger Service Award was presented to Phyllis Kepner of Burlington, NJ. Phyllis has been an advocate for four years and has advocated on two cases. Her last case lasted most of the time she has been an advocate, given the complicated situation her children were facing. On her case, Phyllis played a big part in finding her children’s forever home. Phyllis has also served the organization by assisting at community recruitment events and being part of the Advocate Committee. Phyllis is very passionate about helping

the children she serves and will thoroughly investigate each aspect of the situation until she has all the answers. She is someone that will be involved in her children’s lives as long as they wish and have received support from her even after her role as CASA has been done. Phyllis is an inspiration to all who know her.

CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington County was the 2018 recipient of the Community Enrichment Award at the Voice of Business Awards Reception and Ceremony on April 30 at the Merion in Cinnaminson, NJ.  This award recognizes a non-profit organization or agency that makes Burlington County a better place by making a positive impact on the lives of Burlington County residents.  The recipient demonstrates specific examples of its far-reaching commitment to the community.  Katherine Carmichael, Executive Director, CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties accepted the award on the organization’s behalf.

CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties planted pinwheel gardens this spring to highlight the children in out-of-home placement who have a CASA volunteer speaking up in their best interests. The pinwheel gardens are part of a national movement to highlight the thousands of children across the Nation who are in foster care at any given time.