2023 Impact Report

Fairfax CASA

Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,


On behalf of the Board of Directors, our incredible staff, our exceptional volunteers, and the children that we have the honor of serving, it is with great pleasure that I present the FY23 Annual Report for Fairfax CASA.


FY23 proved to be a challenging year across the child welfare system. Our agency experienced a 138% increase in cases referred by the Court (over FY22), and we served the largest volume of children, in over a decade (367). Once again, our dedicated volunteers stepped up and we were able to assign 176 children with a CASA.


The year was filled with many ups and downs, but I am incredibly proud of the impact we made in the lives of the nearly 400 children we served. I am proud of the staff and our volunteers, for their compassion, dedication and hard work.


Thank you for your continued support of our program. Without you, we would not be able to do this very important work we are entrusted to do by the Court, by the Legislature, and by the community. I hope that this report provides you with a better understanding of the work we do and the impact we are making in Fairfax County.


With gratitude,



Darcy Hubbard

Executive Director/CEO

Staff

Darcy Hubbard

Executive Director


Corrine Cavaliere

Finance Manager


Mary Mulvenon

Program Manager & Supervisor


Emily Rea

Training Manager & Supervisor

Alexis Shield

Recruitment Manager


Tara Shimp

Supervisor


Amy Prestidge

Supervisor


Priscilla Jahanian

Supervisor

Lindsay van Kuiken

Supervisor


Keenan Goldsby

Supervisor


Fabiola Garcia

Communications, Events, & Fundraising Specialist

Board

President

Kevin Riley- Business Owner


Vice President

Amy Ghandi - Senior Director of Compliance & Internal Audit, Evolent Health


Treasurer

Kathy Williamson- Former Managing Partner, Axiom Resource Management


Secretary

Lisa Walsh- Cooper Middle School

Directors


Marjie Alloy- Former Fairfax CASA Volunteer, Philanthropist


Michael Becketts- Director, Fairfax County Department of Family Services


Wendell J. Chambliss- VP/Deputy General Counsel, Freddie Mac


Barbara A. Favola- Virginia Senate (D-31st District)


Zoila Grijalva- Tadessa- Analyst, United Healthcare


Nicholas Lichwick- Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, Union Home Mortgage


John Simek- Vice President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.

Happy family outdoors

Our Mission

The mission of Fairfax CASA is to advocate for the best interests of each abused and neglected child referred by the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court through the promotion and support of quality volunteer representation.

Our Vision

Our vision is of a world where every abused or neglected child is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.

Memorable Moments

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October 2022

The 4th Annual Dennis Carluzzo Invitational was held to benefit Fairfax CASA and Prince William County's "Beat the Odds" foundation on October 10th.

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October 2022

Twelve new CASA volunteers were sworn in on October 19th by The Honorable Judge Clayton.

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November 2022

Fairfax CASA hosted a successful Giving Tuesday campaign that mobilized eighty-two individual donors and raised over $16,000.

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December 2022

CASA volunteers, staff, and board members came together to enjoy a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

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February 2023

Twelve new CASA volunteers were sworn in on February 15th by The Honorable Judge Sotelo.

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May 2023

Fairfax CASA participated in Run The Greenway, an annual race hosted by the Dulles Greenway, and raised over $70,000.

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May 2023

Six new CASA volunteers were sworn in on May 3rd by The Honorable Judge Frieden.

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June 2023

Fairfax CASA closed out fiscal year 2023 having opened 176 new cases, the most since 2012.

"CASAs can be invaluable to helping a judge make the best decision for the child. They are another arm of the court to make sure the child's wellbeing is addressed."

- The Honorable Gayl Y. Branum Carr, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

By The Numbers

367

Children

Served

210

Families

Served

141%

Fairfax CASA experienced a 141% increase in the number of cases received from the court between FY22 and FY23.

107

Cases Closed

51

Reunifications

20

Adoptions

176

New Cases

Assigned

284 Court Reports

written and submitted by volunteers.

1,857 Recommendations

made by volunteers were adopted and ordered by the court.

7,797 Visits

between volunteers and their CASA youth.

22,461 Hours

spent by volunteers advocating for the youth they served.

36,522 Contacts

made by volunteers with the parties involved in their cases.

116,696 Miles

travelled by volunteers to complete their duties.

Making cookies with grandma

Hailey’s Story

Hailey* was assigned to Fairfax CASA in March of 2022 at seven years old. Hailey’s mother became increasingly unable to take care of her, due to substance abuse and mental health concerns. Hailey was missing a lot of school, often being left at home alone, and found to be living in unsafe conditions. With a protective order in place, Hailey was moved to her grandparents’ home and assigned a CASA volunteer.


At first, Hailey was very shy with her CASA and hesitant to engage with her. Through frequent visits, often spent playing games and coloring together, Hailey began to open up and share her feelings and concerns with her CASA. Hailey’s CASA relentlessly advocated for Hailey to receive therapy to help her address her trauma and was diligent in monitoring Hailey’s school attendance and performance. Not only did Hailey’s attendance improve, but her teachers shared with her CASA that she began communicating with them effectively and asking for the help she needed in class. When Hailey’s mother had a second child, Hailey leaned on her CASA to help ease her anxiety around visiting with her mother and new baby brother.


With the support of her CASA, Hailey has found a loving and positive home with her grandparents, who filed for custody of her and plan to be her permanent caregivers!

*Name changed for confidentiality

Our Youth

Youth Demographics

Asian

3%

189 children experienced DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

31 children were born SUBSTANCE EXPOSED.

35 children experienced SEXUAL ABUSE.

Children who have experienced abuse or neglect fare better with a CASA by their side. Research shows children who have a CASA are:

House with a Heart

More likely

Score A+ School Exam

More likely

Person Growth Silhouette

Less likely

to find a safe, permanent home.

to succeed in school.

to re-enter the foster care system

Most importantly, children assigned a CASA report feeling

HIGHER LEVELS OF

Stars
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Happy black mother hugging daughter on tree farm

The Jones’ Story

Fairfax CASA is committed to the path of reunification when it’s in the best interest of the children involved. For the Jones* family, coming back together after violence in their home would be a difficult, lengthy, but worthwhile process.


The four Jones siblings- ages nine, ten, twelve, and thirteen at the time- were removed from their mother’s home after witnessing several violent altercations. Mrs. Jones* was arrested due to an incident involving firearms in her home and the children were separated as they were placed in two different foster homes. Mr. Jones was involved in the children’s lives, and initially expressed interest in caring for them, however he did not complete the necessary assessments and services for the children to be placed with him.


The children were assigned a hopeful CASA who was by their side through multiple foster homes and residential facilities. During their time in care, two of the children lived in two placements, one lived in three placements, and one lived in five different placements. The youngest Jones child struggled with mental health and suicidal ideations and was placed in a residential facility out of state. Unphased by the physical distance, the CASA continued to monitor this child’s well-being and took a flight to visit the child in her new placement. All the Jones children engaged in therapy to overcome the trauma they experienced, and their CASA went to lengths to ensure each of them was safe, happy, and receiving the care they needed.


Despite two incarcerations, Mrs. Jones was determined to have her children return home safely. She took all the measures ordered by the court including psychological evaluations, parent-child assessments, and drug screens. Through regular management of her medication and therapeutic services, she became stable and took part in weekly visits with her children. Her participation in parenting class, anger management class, and family therapy became a testament to her willingness to improve herself for the sake of her family. Mrs. Jones was a strong advocate for her youngest child’s care while in the residential facility. After a year apart, the children did several overnight visits with their mother in her home. They were placed back with their mother for a trial period, and all took a trip for the first time on an airplane to visit the youngest child at her residential placement.

With her own persistence, and the help of the CASA, social workers, foster families, and other professionals, Mrs. Jones was granted full custody of her children and they resumed life together. This family’s work is not done, but they have overcome countless obstacles to being together.


“The Jones family is so close, if you meet them, you will see that they are a fortress, they are all so intertwined and constantly protecting each other.” said the Fairfax CASA supervisor overseeing the case.


*Names changed for confidentiality

Our Advocates

"Being a CASA is part of my fabric and I have a commitment to these children and families to be there for them."

- Lisa Merhaut, Fairfax CASA

154 Active Volunteer Advocates

35 New CASA Sworn In

31 CASAs Took A Second Case

86%

Fairfax CASA had a volunteer retention rate of 86% during Fiscal Year 2023.

Volunteers Demographics

African American

4.5%

2022 May Cook Heart of Gold Recipients

Mary Coan

Kevin Weir

In Loving Memory

Connie Dineen

July 21, 1951 - May 20, 2023

"Hope is the one thing that no one can take away from the children, and it is the one thing I want to help them hold on to." - Connie Dineen

Connie was an exceptional woman with a big heart. She dedicated eight years to serving the abused and neglected children of Fairfax County as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Her death leaves a tremendous void in our organization and in our community. The staff of Fairfax CASA is grateful to have worked alongside Connie, as she inspired hope in the lives of these vulnerable children.

Three siblings sitting on porch steps with dog

"You’ve volunteered to take on, what I truly believe, is the most solemn and crucial duty of our court, the protection of the welfare of our children. You will be helping to re-write the future for those children, and by extension, for our entire community."

- The Honorable Jonathan D. Frieden, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Thank You, CASAs!

Jack McGirl

Retired after 23 years as a CASA. Served 47 children from 12 family groups.

John Nelson

Retired after 20 years as a CASA. Served 28 children from 11 family groups.

Patti and Ed Rager

Retired after 23 years as a CASA. Served 12 children from 3 family groups, and stayed on the same case for 10 years through 22 placements.

Alicia Ritchie

Retired after 11 years as a CASA. Served 8 children from 3 family groups.

Barbara Elbeze

Retired after 10 years as a CASA. Served 11 children from 10 family groups.

Anne Whipple

Retired after 7 years as a CASA. Served 6 children from 4 family groups.

Elizabeth Parks

Retired after 5 years as a CASA. Served 7 children from 4 family groups.

Karimah Thomas

Retired after 5 years as a CASA. Served 2 children from 2 family groups.

Reruitment and Training

450

235

Inquiries Received

Info-Session Attendees

Pre-Service Training

48

35

Fairfax CASA held three training classes throughout Fiscal Year 2023. Each pre-service training consisted of over 35 hours of education for new CASAs, including topics relevant to their work in the child-welfare system. Training was conducted by Fairfax CASA staff members as well as guest speakers including a Guardian ad litem, County Attorney, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, and a panel of tenured CASAs. Additionally, CASAs in training are required to complete a Court observation.

Applicants

New CASAs

21

Continuing Education

Each CASA is required to complete 12 hours of continuing education to stay active. Our staff held 23 sessions and offered over 70+ educational opportunities within the community.

Virtual Info-Sessions

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Jayden’s Story

Jayden* was born substance-exposed, tested positive for cocaine and experienced serious substance withdrawal symptoms for the first few weeks of his life. His condition required an extended hospital stay and resulted in a Department of Family Services (DFS) Child Protective Services investigation.


Jayden was placed with a foster family while DFS looked for family members who might be a placement option. Jayden was assigned a CASA who took the time to get to know him and his family. Jayden’s parents were unable to care for him and their parental rights were ultimately terminated. Jayden’s aunt stepped forward and agreed to undergo a home study so that she could take Jayden in with a goal of adopting him. Jayden’s CASA observed the relationship built between them as they progressed from supervised visits to unsupervised visits, and even overnight visits, all while DFS conducted a thorough home study.


When the home study was abruptly halted due to a clerical paperwork error, Jayden’s foster family was asked to adopt him, so that Jayden could achieve permanency through adoption as quickly as possible. Jayden’s CASA knew the importance of keeping children within their biological family whenever possible, and the long-term positive impact family connections can have on the child’s life. Both the CASA and the Therapeutic Foster Care case worker shared these beliefs. Together, they advocated their position to DFS, and for the aunt’s paperwork to be reconsidered. DFS has since reconsidered Jayden’s aunt as an adoptive placement and is providing her with the time and resources needed to submit her paperwork.


Our CASAs know that children benefit greatly from connections with their biological family members. In this case, the CASA had witnessed firsthand the loving bond Jayden shared with his aunt. The CASA spoke for Jayden and now he will have the opportunity to thrive in the care of his family!


*Name changed for confidentiality

Run The Greenway

A New Run for Our Children

In 2011, Fairfax CASA put on their first RUN FOR THE CHILDREN race event. The event became a beloved family-friendly Fairfax County event, which not only raised funds for the program, but also raised awareness.


Fairfax CASA hosted the event for over a decade, pivoting to a virtual run during the COVID-19 pandemic, and back to an in-person run in 2022. While always a fun day and so worthwhile, the event was a heavy lift, requiring hundreds of volunteers, permits and permissions, and upfront costs.


In 2023, Fairfax CASA was offered the opportunity to take part in the Dulles Greenway “Run the Greenway” event, as a charity partner. The event didn’t require any upfront expense or volunteers. Every dollar we raised would go straight to Fairfax CASA and any sponsorship money we secured would also go to our organization. In addition, the Dulles Greenway offered thousands of dollars in incentive prizes for the top fundraising organization, the top race registration organization and the top fundraising individual. We decided to give it a shot!


A WINNING Combination!

The Run the Greenway Event was a huge success--with nearly 2,000 runners/walkers taking part and raising over $268,000 for charity partners. Because staff didn’t have to work the event, many ran the race!


Fairfax CASA swept every category of prize incentives offered by the Dulles Greenway, with longtime supporter (and former volunteer) Rick Froehlich raising the most funds as an individual (for CASA!). Fairfax CASA raised over $82,000 through this event. Thank you to our incredible sponsors: AT&T, Angles All State, Clark Construction, Crescent Counseling Center, FGM Family Law, Freddie Mac, PingWind, Potomac Law Group, and Sensei Enterprises, as well as all of our CASA volunteers and their families, who came out to take part on race day! We are excited for 2024's event!

Our Financials

Total Income FY23

$991,697*

Corporate Donations

2.7%

Total Expenses FY23

$946,401*

*Does not include $754,452 in kind donation value of volunteer hours.

Our Supporters

Lifetime Major Donors

Individuals giving $25,000+ since 2000

Betty and Wayne Angell

Brian and Shiela Bates

Cameron Baird Foundation

W. Brad Clark

James W. Clauson Jr.

Mary and Ken Coan

James and Patrice Comey

Freddie Mac Foundation

Barbara and B. Mark Fried

Rick and Carol Froehlich

Betty and Bob Gates

Rod and Karen Gancas

Cecilia “Ceal” Hayes

Debra and Timothy Howard

Edward and Paula Hughes

Riea and Steven Lainoff

Elaine and Alan Montgomery

Eugene & Agnes E. Meyer

Foundation

Vicki and John Nelson

The Norton Family

Sharon Nelson and John Simek

Patsy and Howard Norton

Scott Plein


FY23 Event Sponsors

Those supporting our mission through fundraising and awareness events

Angles Allstate

Assembly

AT&T

Clark Construction

Collin Comey Guardian Angel Fund

Crescent Counseling Center

Dulles Greenway

FGM Family Law

Fairfax ACE Hardware

Freddie Mac

High Side

PingWind

Potomac Law Group

Sensei Enterprises

The Carluzzo Family

The Froehlich Family

The Montgomery Family