Voices: Denise Purgold by Vigilant Voices™

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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!

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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

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:

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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

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.

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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

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.

YOU Can Bust Stress

Preventing child abuse could be as simple as preventing unhealthy responses to stress. Often, there is a stressor that is an underlying cause of abuse or neglect. When we find ways to prevent that stressor or help someone cope with it, we can in essence stop abuse before it even starts.

The stress busters shared in this episode originate in the PACEs Connection Stress Busters Handout, found here.

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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 Help a Child Learn

Children have needs that must be met before they can engage in learning. These needs (physiological, safety, and belonging) are the foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Click here for a helpful visual while you listen to this episode.

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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: Abbey Philips

There are many 'Vigilant Voices' in our community, speaking up for the wellbeing of children. Today, we welcome Abbey Philips. Abbey has more than ten years of experience in advocacy work: professionally on a policy level, and personally on an individual level as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

You'll hear about Abbey's passion for advocacy in today's episode, but you can also read more about her in this article by Style Weekly. Abbey was one of their Class of 2023: Top 40 Under 40.

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 Abbey's call to action!

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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 Learn Even More

Any and all resources are useful in our attempt to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families, in order to ensure NO child continues to face abuse, neglect, or trauma. Even fiction books can leave us with lessons learned that apply to helping vulnerable children.

We hope you enjoy our two recommended novels:

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
Look for Me by Lisa Gardner

You can find additional book recommendations from Henrico CASA's staff on our blog.

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Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Learn More

The more we KNOW about the challenges facing children and families, the more effective we can be at ensuring NO child faces additional abuse, neglect, or trauma. And for our team at Henrico CASA, part of knowing is reading! We are continuous learners, knowing there is always room to know better and do better.

Join us as we discuss three non-fiction books that have been impacting our thinking:

What Happened to You? by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
GRIT by Angela Duckworth
Childhood Disrupted by Donna Jackson Nakazawa

In this episode, we discuss the role Court Appointed Special Advocates play in the lives of vulnerable children. Would you be interested in learning more about this skilled volunteer opportunity that truly changes lives? Visit our website or register for our August 2023 virtual information session.

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Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

YOU Can Find Calm Outdoors

Being outside is good for our minds, bodies, and souls. It especially calming for children who have experiences trauma, because it's a place of imagination, belonging, and awe. Join us as discuss how the outdoors can offer an opportunity for healing.

A special thank you to Beth Wright, Director of Camp Alkulana, for leading a recent education session for our CASA volunteers. Her presentation was the inspiration for this episode!

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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 Plan for Independence

There is so much to learn as we each transition into adulthood. Gaining the knowledge and skills needed for future success is extra challenging for youth who have not had a parent role model. How can we support teens aging out of the foster care system during this transition? Join us as we brainstorm ways we, as individuals and as a community, can provide wrap around support to these teens.

Our CASA volunteers facilitate connections between at-risk teenagers and the supports they need. A special shout out to programs like these that are supporting youth aging out of foster care:

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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 Communicate Without Words

Communication goes way beyond just our words... but how do we communicate with littles ones who don't yet have words? That challenge is one of many reason why infants and toddlers are disproportionately at risk for maltreatment. Join us as we talk through some intentional communication games and activities that we can incorporate into our interactions with babies and young children. After listening, hop online to learn the five simple steps to the 'serve & return' from our friends at the Center for the Developing Child (Harvard University).

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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.

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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 training 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.

Column: Want to Stop Mass Shooters? Address Childhood Trauma.

Our hearts break at every act of violence. In reflection, we wanted to share a column written by host Jeannine Panzera and published in the Richmond Times Dispatch on March 14, 2023. This column is a compilation of thoughts considering the causes of youth violence and what we can do to support children in way that prevents violence.

Column: Want to stop mass shooters? Address childhood trauma

YOU Can Know Ages & Stages

No two children are alike. But in general, they follow a similar sequence of growth and development. We’re talking about the ages and stages of child development in this episode because a lack of understanding about child development is a risk factor for abuse and neglect.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

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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.

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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 training 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.

YOU Can Help Kids with Anxiety

Mental Health issues are on the rise for youth and considered to be at a crisis point. Children and teens struggle with a variety of mental illness including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today's episode focuses on anxiety because it’s the most common mental health concern for children.

Notes:

Mental health statistics referenced in this episode were updated in 2023 on The Zebra.

Learn more tips about what to do and not do when children are anxious in this Childmind.org article by Clark Goldstein, PhD.

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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 Foster Care 'Myth Buster'

Permanency is a key to a healthy childhood. Sometimes foster care is needed as a short term solution to allows for establishing a long term plan for a child’s security. You can help make more positive foster care stories. Speak up for children in foster care. They are not bad…. They are not hopeless… They just need to process their trauma with a stable adult by their side.

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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 One"

We can all be "the ONE." Identify a child in your life and commit to being a consistent presence in their life. The difference you make for one, represents the wish you have for all.

Learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences, ACEs, in this PACEsConnection handout.

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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 Report Child Abuse

We all have a role to play in preventing abuse. We should report our suspicions and then let the professionals take over. Our call to action this week is to simply learn the number for Virginia’s child abuse hotline: (804) 786-8536. More information on Virginia's Child Protective Services is available on the Department of Social Services website.

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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 an Advocate

We all want, and deserve, to be seen and heard. When we can't speak up for ourselves, we need an advocate to stand up for us. Join us today, as we discuss the three main types of advocacy and how you can take the first step to become an advocate for the children in your life.

A special shoutout to our friends at Voices for Virginia's Children who advocate for policies that improve the lives of Virginia's children.

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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.

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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 training 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.

YOU Can Prevent Child Abuse

Welcome to our first episode of Henrico CASA's new podcast, Vigilant Voices™!

At CASA, we've learned that it is important to KNOW about the challenges facing children and families to ensure NO child faces continued abuse, neglect, or trauma. Join us as we explore how YOU can make a difference.

Learn more about the challenges facing families in our community, as well as the impact we can have when we speak up for vulnerable children. https://henricocasa.org/2022-impact/

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Follow Henrico CASA's mission, work, and impact at www.HenricoCASA.org and on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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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.

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.

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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.

Vigilant Voices™

By Henrico CASA

Available on