Vigilant Voices™ hosted by Jeannine Panzera and Kristin Blalock from Henrico CASA

Henrico CASA

In our work at CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. And that’s what this podcast is all about. Each podcast episode is aimed at providing education and training to help our listeners be more effective advocates for children. Join us as we explore topics relevant to creating safe homes, healthy childhoods, and thriving communities... because every child deserves a safe, healthy, loving home for good. read less

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Coming Soon: Vigilant Voices

Coming Soon: Vigilant Voices

Welcome to Vigilant Voices, Henrico CASA's new podcast, hosted by Jeannine Panzera and Kristin Blalock. Henrico CASA, aka Court Appointed Special Advocates, supports children and families involved in the court and child welfare systems. In our work at CASA, we’re learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. And that’s what this podcast is all about. Look for episodes to drop the first and third Tuesday of the month, starting in March 2023. In the meantime, learn more about Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and follow Henrico CASA on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. *** Meet the hosts of Vigilant Voices: Jeannine Panzera, Executive Director, has been advocating for children with Henrico CASA for more than 10 years. Jeannine graduated with her Juris Doctorate from University of Richmond School of Law, after graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. Jeannine is often asked to present at conferences and conduct trainings on the needs of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and best practices in volunteer management. She is also an active member of the Virginia CASA State Leadership Team. Kristin Blalock, Community Engagement Coordinator, joined CASA in 2021. She has a master’s degree in Business Administration from Xavier University. Kristin left a career in HR consulting to venture into small business ownership, then transitioned her project management and communications skills to the non-profit world. Her outreach and engagement work, including social media management, have received recognition at a local and national level. She is dedicated to supporting children from hard places in both her professional life and personal life.

Episodes

Voices: Elizabeth Scholla

Voices: Elizabeth Scholla

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Elizabeth Scholla, the Division Manager for Prevention and Protection at Henrico’s Child Protective Services. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can Prevent Neglect

YOU Can Prevent Neglect

Neglect, in it's simplest definition, is a failure to provide for a child's basic needs... and the majority of the cases that Henrico CASA is appointed to involve child neglect. Join us to learn more about the signs of neglect and strategies for prevention. Click to access the prevention strategies that we reference, as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can Have the Full Picture

YOU Can Have the Full Picture

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are walking through history to better understand how we got to where we are today in terms of child welfare policies and practices. Learn more in our April blog posts at www.HenricoCASA.org/blog/. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Voices: Anna Shenk

Voices: Anna Shenk

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Anna Shenk, Co-Director of For Richmond.⁠⁠⁠ For Richmond helps unite churches and communities behind issues that are larger than any one organization can tackle…. They cultivate the space and focus for individuals to have greater impact through unity of vision and resources. Learn how you can get involved at https://www.forrichmond.org/getting-started. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can Protect a Child

YOU Can Protect a Child

There is a long list of risk factors that can increase the likelihood of abuse and neglect... but there are also protective factors that decrease the probability of abuse or neglect. Learn the FIVE protective factors that you can help incorporate into families' lives. For reference, Visual aid for today's episodeCDC's Prevention Strategies ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can be a Fairy Godmother

YOU Can be a Fairy Godmother

Cinderella was the lone recipient of her stepmother's abuse... as are "target children" in real life stories. If you see signs of abuse, neglect, or trauma in one child, but not their siblings, don't talk yourself out of reporting the abuse. There most definitely could be something going on in that home. In today's episode we reference this Psychology Today article about scapegoating. You will also need this link to check out Dave Pelzer's "A Child Called "It", the book we ask you to read for today's call to action. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Voices: Valerie L'Herrou

Voices: Valerie L'Herrou

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Valerie L'Herrou⁠, Deputy Director of the Center for Family Advocacy at the Virginia Poverty Law Center. ⁠ Valerie is passionate about resourcing families so that they can stay together, with their children, when it is safe to do so. She joins us to talk about her work with the Virginia Family Preservation Project. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can Combat Racism

YOU Can Combat Racism

Prolonged stress with no release impacts a child’s developing body and mind... so much so that it hinders important neurological connections from forming. And living with racism or facing injustice is a significant stressor. So connecting the dots, racism is a form of trauma that negatively impacts child development. See the science behind this connection at Harvard University's Center for the Developing Child: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/racism-and-ecd/ ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠.

YOU Can Build a Better Brain

YOU Can Build a Better Brain

Children are equipped to handle healthy doses of stress, but chronic, ongoing stress has a wear and tear effect on their developing bodies and brains. For children dealing with toxic stress, the one true stress buster is the presence of a stable adult in their life. Explore this topic more with these resources: Stress effects on the body (apa.org)Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development You could be the one – the caring, consistent adult – by volunteering your time with Henrico CASA as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Learn more at HenricoCASA.org/advocate/ ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠.

Voices: Allison Gilbreath

Voices: Allison Gilbreath

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Allison Gilbreath, Sr. Director of Policy and Programs at Voices for Virginia's Children. Allison leads the organization’s child welfare policy work as well as the implementation of advocacy programs, elevating policy conversations across all policy areas. We specifically applaud her for creating the Foster Care Policy Network and Youth in Action programs. Use the links below to follow-up on Allison's call to action! Virginia's KIDS COUNT data snapshotFind My Legislator We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠.

YOU Can Have Influence

YOU Can Have Influence

Children and their families feel the effects of high level legislation every day... even if they don't realize it! Join us as we walk through the high level systems and policies that impact the well-being of children. You can influence the legislative process! Take a first step, today, by signing up for Virginia Voices for Kids' email updates regarding their advocacy work with the General Assembly. Sign-up here. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠⁠ and on social media: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠.

YOU Can Be On a Mission

YOU Can Be On a Mission

Happy New Year! Before looking ahead to 2024, we pause to reflect on the vision, mission and values that we are carrying into the new year. What do you value? What is most important to you? What impact do you want to have on the well-being of children this year? Great things to come in 2024! ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠ and on social media: ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠.

Voices: Eric Reynolds

Voices: Eric Reynolds

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Eric Reynolds⁠. As the first ever Director of Virginia's Office of the Children's Ombudsman, he has a voice at not only the local level, but the state level, as well. An 'ombudsman' is an official appointed to investigate individuals’ complaints against maladministration, especially that of public authorities. Join us as we learn more about Eric and his staff's efforts to investigate, advocate, and educate on behalf of Virginia's children and families. A full report on their 2022 impact is here. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at ⁠www.HenricoCASA.org⁠ and on social media: ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠.

YOU Can Make the Holidays Bright

YOU Can Make the Holidays Bright

Whether the holidays are a cheerful or challenging time, they are almost always full of big emotions! This is especially true for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Joins us as we answer the questions: - Why are the holidays difficult for vulnerable youth? - How can we best support them through the holidays? ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Be the Village

YOU Can Be the Village

It takes a village. EVERYONE can play a part… individuals like coaches, neighbors, police officers, and healthcare providers... AND organizations such as schools, churches, and businesses! In this episode, we reference a few points of inspiration to remind you that YOU are part of "the village"! Check out this visual from the PACEs Connection of everyone who can make a difference in a child's life.Watch Henrico CASA's animation that shows how "the village" can change the trajectory of a child's life. Be a part of GIVING TUESDAY! On this day we give, to change a child's tomorrow. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Look Beyond Behavior

YOU Can Look Beyond Behavior

Knowing what a child needs to heal often requires that we look behind their behaviors to see their underlying needs... Needs that must be addressed in order to move forward in a healthy way. Join us in talking through the question: ‘what is this behavior telling me?’ Thank you to Georgetown University’s Center for Child Development and Health for publishing their tutorial on Trauma Signs and Symptoms. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Voices: Denise Purgold

Voices: Denise Purgold

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Denise Purgold, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Adoption Supervisor at UMFS. The services that Denise offers, including parent coaching, are available to families for FREE thanks to state funded Regional Post Adoption Consortium Services. Click to learn more at or submit a referral here. We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. Be sure to listen all the way through to Denise's call to action... you'll need the following resources to follow-through! Remembering Trauma (15 minute film)The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog (book)Trauma Stewardship (book) ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Bounce Forward

YOU Can Bounce Forward

Every child responds to trauma differently. How can we help them bounce back or, even better, bounce forward? Join us as we discuss resilience, the ability to overcome or lessen the negative impact of trauma. Today's episode references the following two articles related to resilience: What is Resilience and Why is It Important to Bounce Back? (positivepsychology.com)Bouncing Forward After Adverse Childhood Experiences | PACEsConnection ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Be Family

YOU Can Be Family

Sometimes children are removed from their home because sadly, it just isn’t safe for them to remain there with their family of origin. Ideally, these children aren't placed with strangers, but instead with relatives or people that they already know. In this episode, we explore the benefits of kinship care placements. Learn more about kinship care and how we can support these families in Henrico CASA's September 2023 blog posts. ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Voices: John Richardson-Lauve

Voices: John Richardson-Lauve

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome John Richardson-Lauve, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Trauma-Informed Care Specialist, and the current Director of Outreach at St. Joseph's Villa. Learn more about the brain science related to trauma in John's series of video shorts that he created when he served as Childsaver's Director of Trauma and Resilience Education and Mental Health. Our favorites for caregivers and educators are: What Does it Actually Mean to 'Flip Your Lid'? The Difference between ADHD & Trauma We hope our guest episodes help you feel connected to a community of people who, like you, have a heart for supporting children. Be sure to listen all the way through to John's call to action! ***** In our work as Court Appointed Special Advocates, we’ve learned that it’s important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces abuse, neglect, or trauma. Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.