Fifth Circuit CASA South Dakota

🏆 Employee of the Month 🏆

After an extensive review process and fierce competition, we are proud to recognize our Advocacy Support Specialist on her three-month anniversary with the Fifth Circuit CASA Program!

Over the past three months, she has demonstrated remarkable adaptability, a consistently positive attitude, and an impressive ability to keep the Executive Director on task and moving in the right direction.

While her official title may be Advocacy Support Specialist, she has also served as our Emotional Support Specialist, Easter Event Specialist, Smoked Meat Specialist, and all-around CASA Event Specialist. Whether she's supporting volunteers, helping with case management, organizing events, or stepping in wherever needed, she approaches every challenge with enthusiasm and a willingness to help.

Thank you for everything you do to support our mission and the children we serve. We are lucky to have you on the team. Congratulations on three months, and on being Employee of the Month! 🎉

More about Wren Hagan

What did you want to be when you were a child?
- I always wanted to help people when I was a kid and changed my mind 100 times of what I wanted to be until I was around 10 years old and found out what a therapist was and now that's been the goal ever since.

Favorite Drink:
- Redbull

Favorite Color:
- Forest Green

What about CASA most aligns with you?
- The ability to help those in need and using your own voice to speak up for those that can't

Most memorable moment so far at CASA?
- Prepping for the Easter event! I was so excited to have my own office... just for it to be covered in 3,000+ Easter eggs. It definitely was a lot of fun and I'm so glad we had a great turnout this year.

Favorite Quote?
- "Bloom where you are planted"

Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Hopefully in the process of getting my Master's, still working here if Gloria doesn't get sick of my bad jokes, and maybe with another cat.

What motivates you?
- Being able to grow and learn from every experience.

Last Tuesday, June 9th, we had the pleasure of hosting The Salvation Army Aberdeen, SD WEAVE (We Are Volunteer Explorers) youth group.

We discussed the volunteer role of CASAs and then took a walk with the Executive Director, Gloria Hutson, to our Board Chairperson's, Adam Altman, office where the kids got to meet with the Executive Board of Fifth Circuit CASA to learn about the importance of volunteer Board of Directors and their role in non-profits.

Afterwards, we split up into small groups, with kids alternating between designing buttons with Wren and journaling/drawing prompts with Gloria, on reflection over kids in foster care, community building, and what types of non-profits the kids would enjoy helping with.

It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed your company!

Special thanks to Kristie Martin and Ashley Hofland for coming to discuss your roles.

June is National Family Reunification Month! On June 11th we celebrate not just the families who have been able to reunify, but also the importance of preventing removals and separations whenever possible and keeping families intact through advocacy, supports, and services. Celebrating family unification means honoring parents and their communities of support who fight tirelessly every day to keep their families intact.

Today we want to celebrate one of our very own volunteers, Angie. Thank you for everything you do and thank you for being an advocate!

Today we want to celebrate one of our very own volunteers, Bev. Thank you for everything you do and thank you for being an advocate!

Shout out to our newest community partner, Avera! We look forward to working together.

Today we want to celebrate one of our very own volunteers, Christina. Thank you for everything you do and thank you for being an advocate!

There is something so beautiful about the work being done statewide now that there is a CASA in every court district. It was even mentioned by the CASA commission how they have noticed an improvement in quality state wide. We are happy to be here making a difference with all of you!

Thank you for the sweet treat and providing a safe place for kids to spend time with their family during difficult circumstances!

May is Supervised Visitation Awareness Month 🧡

Tomorrow, we encourage everyone to wear orange in support of children, families, and the importance of safe, healthy connections. Orange represents hope, strength, healing, and awareness for the families served through supervised visitation programs.

Together, we can help shine a light on the importance of creating safe spaces where families can continue to build and maintain meaningful relationships. Thank you for standing with us and helping spread awareness by wearing orange tomorrow! 🧡