Casa of Oklahoma County Inc.

“A copy of the organization's form 990 was provided to the board of directors for their review before it was filed.”

“The policy is reviewed at the first meeting of duly elected directors, annually with all staff, and with each new member of the staff at the time of his or her hire.”

“A human resource committee met and reviewed the executive director position requirements, the salary study, and recommended to the board the job description and salary level. The board approved it in executive session.”

“The organization makes its governing documents available to the public upon request.”

“Casa volunteers are trained and court appointed to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system with a goal of achieving a stable and permanent home for each and every child. The volunteers provide the court with information the judge needs in order to make decisions that are in the child's best interest.”

“Volunteer completed over 32 hours of specialized training. The training program continues to utilize two styles of basic training; our traditional training curriculum (40 hours of class training) and our flex model. The 32 hour flex training model combines in-class sessions with an online occupational approach, thereby encouraging the non-traditional learner and helping casa of okla county diversify our volunteer base by age, gender and race. Casa of okla county has maintained national casa's fostering futures training program designed to equip volunteers and youth ages 14 to 21, who may be on track to age out of the system, with the necessary skills to not only survive but to thrive. This training provides advocates with effective advocacy tools and resources for helping a youth identify his or her positive traits, hopes and attainable dreams for the future. Annually, casa of okla county provides over 60 hours of continuing education opportunities. Collaborations have been expanded to include education advocacy highlighted through our partnership with the local p3 initiative, the performance partnership pilot; casa of okla county's partnership with entities involved in the children and family council of oklahoma county to assist okdhs with devloping action plans aimed at utilizing the closed shelter facility for the improvement of services in oklahoma county. Casa of okla county continues to work with the okla county juvenile family drug court, a collaboration with the department of mental health as a means to help expedite family reunification in those cases wherein substance has been identified as the primary reason for a parent's involvement in the deprived system. Our partnership with the university of oklahoma's anne and henry zarrow school of social work practicum program remains strong with multiple students assigned each year. Students receive understanding and systematic hands-on training with child welfare and the court system. Expanded in 2014 to incorporate okdhs practicum students, casa of okla county continues to incorporate okdhs practicum students, msws and bsws into the program. Not only are we encouraging and training the future work force, this model is truly proving to be one of the best means of cross training the work force for improved working relationships, collaborations, and ultimately improved outcomes for children. Casa of oklahoma county provides a voice and a caring adult to children during a very scary time in their lives. We are the only agency in which the court (in oklahoma county) is authorized pursuant to our oklahoma children's code, 10a o.s. 1-8-102, to appoint trained community volunteers (lay persons) to act as court-appointed-special-advocates for the best interest of abused and neglected children in juvenile proceedings. These trained volunteers, who are supervised by casa staff, often serve as a catalyst for positive changes in the child's life, and also frequently become the most stable part of the child's life. Annually the children we serve are surveyed. Here is some of what casa of oklahoma county learned from our casa children, ages 6-11 and 12-18 when they were asked the following: "why do you think your casa volunteer comes to see you?" in their own words, here is some of what the kids had to say: "my casa thinks i need help and my casa helps me." "he makes me read and takes me fishing...sometimes we even have fun" "to check if i'm sad, to help me understand why i'm here, to talk to me. To make sure i'm okay. She shows me how to do math. So i can see my baby brother." "because they love me. That's why." "because she wants to hang out and to help us with any problems we have and just somebody to talk to." "because something happened with my parents." "to spend time with us." "because she cares about us and we care about each other." "to check to see if everything's alright." "our problems and help us get through problems." "to help us and talk to us." "because she listens to me”

“Direct fundraising expense 54,803 direct fundraising expense -54,803”