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Discover how CASEN grew
from concept to community
The concept for CASEN was born when Chris’s father asked him a simple yet profound question: “Is there anything you wish you had learned in school that could help kids today?” After thoughtful reflection, Chris replied, “I wish someone had taught me how to be appropriate on social media, just like I was taught life skills in the classroom.”
Chris went on to share that he had experienced cyberbullying across various social media platforms. Fortunately, his father and his father’s friends stepped in to guide him, monitoring his online presence and teaching him what to post, what to avoid, and how to choose his digital circle wisely. But Chris realized that not every child has a supportive village like he did, and he wanted to create something that could serve those who didn’t.
That vision became CASEN. Its mission is to help children develop social wellness by learning how to navigate social media safely, respectfully, and confidently. Designed as a stepping stone to traditional platforms, CASEN Connect prepares children, especially those who are neurodivergent, for the digital world by teaching them how to engage online with awareness, empathy, and responsibility.
About Chris Clark Jr.
Chris Clark Jr. is a passionate youth advocate and entrepreneur, best known for co-founding CASEN LLC (Collaborative Advancement for Social-Emotional Needs) alongside his mother, Dr. Myava Clark. Driven by his own lived experiences with bullying, anxiety, and depression during his teenage years, Chris was inspired to create a safe digital space for children with learning and thinking differences.
In his freshman year of college, Chris envisioned a platform where children could feel protected, supported, and prepared to navigate the complexities of social media, without fear of being laughed at, picked on, or excluded. Recognizing the gap between what children are taught in schools about bullying and emotional safety versus what they actually experience online, Chris pitched the idea for CASEN to his mother. Together, they launched a groundbreaking initiative that bridges this critical divide.
Today, Chris serves as President of CASEN and plays a key role in the development of its core programs, including CASEN Connect, CASEN Education Social Network Wellness Academy, CASEN Parents and CASEN Outreach. Through these platforms, children learn vital skills in social-emotional development, bullying identification, mental health awareness, and social media readiness.
Chris also created CASEN Connect, an invitation-only social media platform where children can practice these skills in a monitored, protected space before transitioning to mainstream social media. It is designed to empower kids with confidence, kindness, and the digital tools to advocate for themselves and others.
Through CASEN Outreach, Chris regularly speaks to youth about online safety, digital footprints, and the importance of social wellness. He is deeply committed to making sure every child feels seen, safe, and celebrated.
Chris is a best-selling author of Living All Out. When he’s not working on CASEN, Chris works in retail, and he is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, enjoys listening to podcasts and music, and continues to grow his entrepreneurial mindset. He believes every child deserves dignity, confidence, and the chance to thrive.
“I want to prevent kids from struggling on social media and have a safe social space.”
About Dr. Myava Clark
Dr. Myava Clark is a passionate advocate, educator, and best-selling author who co-founded CASEN LLC (Collaborative Advancement for Social-Emotional Needs) with her son, Chris Clark Jr. Together, they created a unique, child-focused social media platform designed to bridge the gap between social-emotional learning in schools and in the community, specifically for neurodivergent children ages 9–13.
Dr. Clark holds a Ph.D. in Professional Studies with specializations in Higher Education and Leadership & Administration. She brings a powerful combination of personal experience and professional expertise to her work. As a devoted mother of two adult children and an experienced educator, she understands the emotional, educational, and social challenges families face when raising neurodivergent children. Her own journey navigating the special education system with Chris, as well as the 504 Plan with her daughter, Kyra, deeply shaped her mission to advocate for inclusion, safety, and celebration, not just tolerance of neurodivergent children.
In addition to her work with CASEN, Dr. Clark serves as the Program Director for a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program. She is a licensed respiratory therapist and a clinical instructor with years of academic and healthcare experience. Her leadership extends into publishing, where she is the author of six books and a workbook, including the Amazon bestselling HELP! Support for Parents of Children with Learning and Thinking Differences to feel Confident, Capable, and Fulfilled, The Parent and Caregiver’s Guide, and Levels of Faith.
Through CASEN Parents, Dr. Clark launched the Mothers of Exceptional Kids (MOEK) Parent Support Group, a safe space for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children to receive emotional support, avoid burnout, and learn strategies to guide their children toward meaningful relationships.
As a proud member of Literacy Nation Inc., Dr. Clark believes in the transformative power of storytelling. Her work is grounded in the belief that lived experiences, when shared, can heal, inspire, and empower others, especially those navigating the unique challenges of parenting neurodivergent children.
“Everyone needs a safe space to feel trusted, respected, and valued. CASEN is that safe space!”
2017
CASEN Concept Initiated
- CASEN Connect is a social media platform designed for students with social-emotional needs, as well as other differences. CASEN originated as CASEN Connect in 2017. CASEN Connect is used as a precursor for students before going on mainstream social media platforms. CASEN is meant to support adult leaders such as teachers, parents or caregivers, social workers, psychologists and anyone who works with student groups with children who have a social deficit. In addition to the adult leaders using CASEN’s social media platform as a tool to provide learning content, CASEN provides a question of the day to build critical thinking and social awareness skills.
2018
CASEN Connect was created
- CASEN Connect is a social media platform designed to support neurodivergent children as they build the skills and confidence needed to navigate online social spaces safely and successfully. Originally launched in 2017, CASEN Connect serves as a developmental precursor to mainstream social media, offering a guided and protected environment where children can practice healthy digital interaction.
The platform is uniquely designed for use by adult leaders, including teachers, parents, caregivers, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals who work with children facing social challenges. CASEN Connect allows these adults to facilitate meaningful learning experiences by integrating social-emotional lessons and digital citizenship directly into children’s online interactions.
More than just a social network, CASEN Connect is an educational tool and a safe community, a place where neurodivergent children are not only protected, but empowered to be themselves, practice communication, and grow socially in a space where they are celebrated, not just tolerated.
2019
CASEN Outreach begins community engagement
- CASEN Outreach is the community engagement arm of CASEN LLC, designed to bring vital education and awareness about safe social media use directly to children and the adults who support them. By partnering with churches, camps, community centers, and youth organizations, CASEN Outreach promotes a healthy, informed approach to digital life, especially for neurodivergent children.
In Summer 2019, CASEN Outreach was invited to present at Camp Xtreme in Norristown, Pennsylvania. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, CASEN delivered two weekly one-hour sessions over a six-week period. The first session served children ages 7–10, and the second focused on youth ages 11–13. The program began with awareness-building around the risks and realities of social media use, followed by engaging lessons on critical topics such as:
- Types of bullying and cyberbullying
- Identifying child predators
- Discussing sexting and its legal implications
- Key social media statistics and safe online behavior
CASEN Outreach also presented a two-hour workshop at the Bethel Deliverance International Church Education Conference, again in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. This session engaged children ages 9–13 and focused on digital safety, bullying prevention, and responsible social media habits.
Through CASEN Outreach, the organization continues to be a trusted presence in the community, equipping children with the tools they need to thrive online and in life.
- Types of bullying and cyberbullying
2020
CASEN Education Social Network Wellness Academy was introduced
- CASEN Education Social Network Wellness Academy, developed in 2020, is an innovative online learning platform designed to teach social wellness to children ages 9–13. Unlike traditional education programs that often focus solely on a child’s deficits, the Wellness Academy begins by identifying and building on each student’s unique strengths, creating a foundation for growth, confidence, and connection.
At CASEN, they believe that in order for children to navigate social media responsibly, children must first understand and develop social wellness (the ability to build healthy relationships, express themselves appropriately, and make safe, respectful choices online). The Academy bridges the gap between social-emotional learning (SEL) taught in schools and real-life digital experiences, helping students apply SEL concepts in meaningful, practical ways. These concepts include self-awareness and emotional regulation, respectful communication, and bullying and cyberbullying identification.
The goal is to empower children where they are, spark curiosity, and help them build lifelong skills they can apply both online and offline. The CASEN Education Social Network Wellness Academy is more than just a course, it’s a transformative experience that helps children grow into confident, connected, and emotionally healthy digital citizens.
2021
CASEN Connect Reconstructed and introduced to users
- To bring their vision to life and elevate their mission, CASEN LLC partnered with experienced consultants and web developers to streamline their platform and create a more powerful and engaging user experience. The result is the fully reimagined CASEN Connect, a proprietary, CASEN-owned social media platform built to empower children in a safe, structured, and supportive environment.
CASEN Connect is designed for children of all abilities, with a primary focus on neurodiverse children. Often referred to as “social media with training wheels,” CASEN Connect offers a unique blend of social interaction and guided learning. The platform helps children build essential digital communication skills while learning how to engage respectfully and safely in online spaces.
Every interaction on the platform is carefully monitored, with multiple safeguards in place to detect and prevent bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behavior. The invitation-only access ensures that only verified users can join, dramatically reducing the risk of unwanted or unsafe contact from outsiders, including online predators.
CASEN Connect is a powerful, practical stepping stone for children who are not yet ready for mainstream social media. It provides the tools, supervision, and emotional safety they need to grow their confidence, improve their communication, and prepare for real-world online experiences, all while being seen, supported, and celebrated.
2022
- CASEN courses were initially piloted with a diverse group of students, including typically developing and gifted children through a community-based Zoom platform, as well as students in an in-person high school autistic support classroom. This intentional diversity in pilot settings allowed CASEN to gather a wide range of feedback from both students and facilitators, ensuring the curriculum would be inclusive, engaging, and effective across different learning needs.
Based on this valuable feedback, CASEN made thoughtful revisions to improve lesson clarity, engagement, and accessibility for all learners.
To enhance the curriculum further, CASEN partnered with a company specializing in social-emotional learning (SEL) content, educational curriculum development, and children’s journals. This collaboration strengthened the SEL components of the program, helping to create a seamless and developmentally appropriate learning experience that integrates academic learning with real-world social-emotional skills.
The result is a refined, student-centered curriculum that not only supports the needs of neurodivergent learners but also resonates with a broad range of students—empowering them with the tools they need for social success both online and offline.
2023
- CASEN Parents was created to empower parents and caregivers with the same knowledge, tools, and strategies used to support their children’s social and emotional growth. This program equips families with practical resources to help keep children safe on social media, while also guiding them in teaching concepts like social wellness, digital responsibility, and bullying identification.
Parents enrolled in CASEN Parents have access to adapted versions of the same CASEN Education courses their children take—delivered in a way that resonates with adult learners. This shared learning experience enables parents to reinforce key lessons at home, extend important conversations beyond the classroom, and better understand the social-emotional challenges their children may face.
In addition to educational content, CASEN Parents fosters community and connection. Whether navigating the complexities of social media, advocating for their neurodivergent child, or simply seeking encouragement from others on the same journey, CASEN Parents provides the tools and community support families need to thrive—together.
CASEN Education
Social Network Wellness Academy Courses
Children and their parents can complete the entire CASEN Education program to become a CASEN Ambassador or create an individualized learning experience by completing select courses.
Social-Emotional Development in Children
Mental Health Development in Children
Academic Development in Children
Bullying Identification in Children
Physical Development in Children
Social Media Readiness
CASEN’s future plan is to build a social media platform for children on different levels of the Autism Spectrum, including nonverbal children. We also desire to create a financial opportunity for children to earn an income who otherwise would not be afforded financial compensation.
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