1. State Directors’ Meeting
National CASA and
State Directors’ Meeting
November 14, 2016

2. Chief Executive Officer
Welcome
Tara Perry
Chief Executive Officer

3. State Development Initiative: Participant Report from
The Kentucky CASA Network
Andrea Bruns
State Director

4. The Kentucky CASA Network: The Progress of a Developing State CASA Association
Andrea Bruns The Kentucky CASA Network Project Director/State Director – 2012-Current

5. State Association in 2012 - Snapshot
Informal Network
Sharp Deviation from Standards by Some Disengaged Local Programs
Previous Board Dissolved
Lack of Funding
Group of Local Program Directors created Leadership Committee
Part-Time Contractor
Local Programs not Unified

6. Successes of the Kentucky CASA Network ( 2013-2016)
Achieved State Funding of $3 Million Dollars for CASA in the Biennial Budget in the 2016 Legislative Session. These funds are in the form of grants to Local Programs of $1.5 million each fiscal year. The KCN received a $150,000 grant from this fund in 2016.
Collaboration and Trust of Local Programs and the State Office which enabled local programs to vote to diversify the KCN Board to include-- as the majority-- board members who are not affiliated with Local Programs.
Annual Statewide Fundraising Event has yielded $140,000 over the past 3 years which the KCN passed through roughly 80% to Local Programs
Diversification of Funding: Large Statewide Foundation Grant, State Funding, NCASA Grant Funding, Program Dues, Annual Event

7. Challenges facing the KCN
KCN Board Development. New By-Laws switched Board Membership from all Local Programs to Non-Profit Board. Building a diverse well rounded board to govern the organization.
Long Term Sustainability. Short term funding is strong but long term sustainability for 3 FTE’s and 2 Contractors.

8. Future Plans for Growth
Development of New Statewide Strategic Plan for Increasing Number of Children Served by Local Programs in Kentucky
Currently have 41 of the 120 Counties in Kentucky Served by CASA Programs. 7 Counties are currently in development and have applied for NCASA Provisional Membership with strong assistance from the KCN (2 separate programs). 5 Additional Counties with plans to develop a CASA Program in the Spring of existing programs with plans to develop into surrounding Counties.

9. Support from National CASA
Guidance and technical assistance to KY’s informal network by NCASA staff
Partner visits to stakeholders during the transition and crisis of the past state association
Assistance with data and state funding legislative support
Grant funding in to the informal network to help develop a state organization
State Development Grant(s) in 2016

10. QUESTIONS

11. Legal & Advocacy Officer
Update on capta
Re-authorization
Mercedes Scopetta
Deputy Chief
Legal & Advocacy Officer

12. CAPTA Guardian ad Litem Mandate to states
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) language: …in every case involving an abused or neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding, a guardian ad litem, who may be an attorney or a court appointed special advocate (or both), shall be appointed to represent the child in such proceedings – (I) to obtain first-hand, a clear understanding of the situation and needs of the child; and (II) to make recommendations to the court concerning the best interests of the child

13. Timeline for Re-Authorization
CAPTA not likely to be taken up by the
lame-duck Congress
On agenda for new Congress
National CASA continues to track and monitor timing for consideration and any proposed amendments
National Child Abuse Coalition

14. Items related to
Capta re-authorization
Quality Improvement Center on Child Representation Study (QIC)
Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Guidance to States and Tribes on client-directed attorney representation of children
HHS Office of Inspector General Study on CAPTA Guardian ad Litem appointments

15. primary qic study
Seven year, $6 million grant to University of Michigan Law School
The Study is again delayed but will be published by the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law as a book called Children’s Justice and available November 2016
Main propositions are that attorney training model improved ‘case-related activities’
Three child outcome measures tracked, only one impacted
Multiple recommendations on child rep, ABA Model Act, Public Health Model and others

16. Hhs Children’s bureau Guidance
HHS has stated publicly that they will issue a “Guidance” to States, Courts and Tribes that all children before the court due to abuse or neglect should have an attorney to represent their legal interests

17. National CASA and HHS Meeting on guidance
Guidance will recommend client-directed attorney representation for every child
Not to the exclusion of CASA/GAL best interest representation
Offered to help build our network and recruit volunteers
Requested messaging language and tweets which National CASA has provided

18. Capta gal appointments
HHS OIG Study on
Capta gal appointments
To examine States’ implementation of child representation (guardian ad litem) under CAPTA
The study is not specifically linked to the reauthorization of CAPTA but will likely impact reauthorization
Heavily data driven
This work will likely result in a set of studies reporting out on individual states – first state chosen is Indiana
OIG completion target date is mid 2017

19. Re-Authorization Communications Plan
National CASA
CAPTA
Re-Authorization Communications Plan

20. Master Q&A document to represent the Association’s position
Materials in process
Best interest advocacy key messages, talking points, background document
Master Q&A document to represent the Association’s position
Review past input from network QIC workgroup, state directors and seek guidance from Legal and Advocacy Committee

21. ACTIVITIES IN PROCESS Communications planning/material preparations
Shared suggested talking points on HHS Guidance and social media tools with HHS contacts
Inventory of key stakeholders/plan of action
Monitoring for release of reports/guidance

22. PLANNED ACTIVITIES
Outreach to specific stakeholders at review of released materials
Garner “endorsements” of best-interest advocacy (from judges, etc.)
Guest author columns, write op-eds, etc. 
Develop a white paper on the unique, essential role of best interest advocacy

23. QUESTIONS

24. data collection protocol Director of State support
Janet Ward
Director of State support

25. Data collection protocol
Consensus from SD meeting, June 4, 2016, Washington DC:
Accurate and timely data is critical to the CASA/GAL network at every level
National CASA and state organizations share a commitment to increasing data accuracy and streamlining data collection efforts and tools
The capacity of state organizations to review, collect and report local CASA/GAL program data to National CASA varies significantly

26. Data collection protocol
Action taken:
A draft protocol was created with several reviewing and reporting options for the Annual Survey and the Six-Month Report to accommodate diverse state organization capacity
State organization collection and reporting of local program data to National CASA is voluntary
The document was reviewed at the 10/26/16 meeting of the State Leadership Committee and is now being shared with all State Directors for review and input

27. Data collection protocol
Action needed:
Each state organization should:
review the draft document
provide feedback to Sally Erny on any changes to the draft; prior to COB on November 30
Note – state organization involvement in local program data collection and reporting remains voluntary. Because NCASA believes that it will increase data accuracy, we will work toward this model with our state organization partners.

28. QUESTIONS

29. State Leadership Council Update Co-Chair, State Leadership Council
Cindy Bizzell
Co-Chair, State Leadership Council

30. State Leadership Council transition
New Members for term
Five positions open beginning January, 2017
Announcement went to State Directors in October containing:
SLC Member Position description
Application Form
Timeline
Application Deadline is 11/23
Appointment will be made by William Collins, President, National CASA Board of Trustees, before end of the year

31. Updates and Announcements Director of State support
National CASA
Updates and Announcements
Janet Ward
Director of State support

32. NCASA staff updates
Michelle Olson – Chief Advancement Officer (DC) Erica Owens – Director Member Services (Seattle) David Forrester – Information Technology Officer (Seattle) Brad Ray – National Strategic Partnership Officer (Seattle)

33. Registration will open in mid-November
National CASa Updates
National CASA/GAL Conference
March 11-14, Seattle, WA
Registration will open in mid-November
Awards of Excellence Nominations Open
Conference Scholarship Applications Open
Survey Results - State Director Workshop Track
Topics for State Director & Reps meeting?

34. Local Program Self-Assessment
National CASa Updates
Local Program Self-Assessment
Over 500 local CASA/GAL programs have already participated in Waves 1, 2 and 3
The existing Self-Assessment system will be used to complete the current cycle so all programs are held to the same standards
The timeline and due dates for upcoming Waves 4, 5 and 6 will be announced after the first of the year

35. Local Program Self Assessment (continued)
National CASa Updates
Local Program Self Assessment (continued)
Local programs will be advised of their assigned cycle one month before the opening of the Self-Assessment
They will then have four months from the opening to submit the completed assessment and supporting documents
National CASA will redesign our quality assurance system with significant input from state organizations.

36. National CASA Grants to State Organizations:
National CASA Updates
National CASA Grants to State Organizations:
Capacity Building, Development and Growth grants totaling $1,992,000 were awarded in October of 2016
$500K is still to be awarded in support of state organization development opportunities
Details regarding the award of the remaining funds to be determined

37. National CASA Grants to Local Programs:
National CASA Updates
National CASA Grants to Local Programs:
$500K will be available to fund Capacity Building grants in the $20-40K range
$750K will be available to fund Growth grants
in the $40-100K range
Applications will be posted on the NCASA website
this week and due 12/16/16
Letter of Support from State Association will be required
Grant term - 1/1/17 to 12/31/17

38. QUESTIONS. OTHER BUSINESS. Next Meeting: December 12, 2016 11 a. m
QUESTIONS? OTHER BUSINESS? Next Meeting: December 12, a.m. Pacific; 2 p.m. Eastern