News and updates for CASA program staff and leadership
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Texas CASA Annual Survey Results + Action Plan
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We are happy to share with you the results of and response to the Fiscal Year 2025 Texas CASA Annual Survey. The survey went out to Executive Directors, Program Staff and Board Members to gain a clearer picture of the Local CASA programs' satisfaction with the services we provided in FY 2025.
Thank you so much to all who participated in the survey! We’re grateful for your feedback which will help strengthen and connect the CASA network throughout Texas.
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Standards for Local Programs Updated
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Texas CASA Standards outline the rules and requirements for the operation and advocacy of local CASA programs. On January 23, 2026, the Texas CASA Board of Directors approved a revised version of the Texas CASA Standards. Please see the updated Standards in the link below.
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2025 Impact Report is Live
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In case you missed it: the 2025 Texas CASA Impact Report is LIVE! We accomplished so much last year and we are so grateful to the entire CASA network and our community partners. Collectively, CASA programs in Texas traveled over 1.2 million — yes, MILLION — miles for case-related advocacy.
We look forward to advancing all of our initiatives and working together for the greater good of children and families in Texas. Check out the Impact Report at the link below.
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Anti-child trafficking (ACT) advocacy is safety advocacy, and it is a vital part of the CASA mission. Being aware of the risks that could lead a youth to be trafficked is core to prevention. The CSE-IT screener is our single biggest tool for the prevention of human trafficking, and it is considered the only validated human trafficking risk assessment. With universal screening now required under House Bill 451, we have an opportunity to stop exploitation before it begins. Doing so requires everyone to understand what trafficking looks like, how the CSE-IT tool works and what prevention programs and resources are available.
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STAR Monthly Zoom Hosts a Panel Discussion Regarding Extended Care
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Please join us on February 23 from 12:00 - 1:00p.m. for an informative panel discussion regarding Extended Care. We will be joined by Alina White, Lead Extended Care and Supervised Independent Living Program Specialist for DFPS, Sarah Worthington, Director, Texas Foster Youth Justice Project and Valerie Hallam, Director of Systems Advancement, Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS). We will be discussing the:
- Benefits of Extended Care and Supervised Independent Living (SIL)
- Judicial matrix of Extended Care
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Role of the court and the study completed by TACFS with young adults across Texas
We will also be discussing best practices for CASA advocacy with youth in Extended Care and sharing new resources to support your CASA advocacy.
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Upcoming CFE 201 Training
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CFE 201 is an interactive virtual training designed for those who have completed CFE 101 or previous CFE For All training and are ready to take their Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) practice to the next level. This session dives deeper into how CFE can be applied across program management, volunteer advocacy and casework. Participants will explore how to support children of all ages and stages of their case and CASA involvement, using CFE principles in meaningful and practical ways.
The training will be offered twice during the year, on February 19, 2026, and August 20, 2026. Both sessions take place from 1:00pm to 4:00pm CT. Each session includes the same content, and you are welcome to attend either one.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST |
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Resource Available to Help Youth Acquire Their ID Documents
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| Child Protection Court Hearing Notification Service (Notification Sent by the Children's Commission)
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| Upcoming February Training of Facilitators Workshop
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We want to hear from you! The Texas CASA Communications team wants to tell stories of your success.
Have an inspiring volunteer or staff story to share? Send us the story, or even just the idea, and we will help shape it for the network and the wider community.
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