89th Regular Legislative Session Concluded: Moving Forward as an Empowered and United CASA Network

With the Governor’s veto deadline behind us, the 89th Regular Legislative Session has officially concluded. Thanks to the Texas CASA Public Policy Team and CASA legislative advocates across the state, we moved forward on multiple fronts with new laws, critical funding and long-overdue accountability measures that will make a difference for children and families. Read the full message from CEO Vicki Spriggs to hear about the results of the Texas CASA priority bills and funding, Community-Based Care bills and what's next.

New Texas CASA Learning Center Launched

We are excited to announce that we have officially launched the new Learning Center on the Texas CASA website. You can access the Learning Center through the main menu dropdown which features a search bar and a list of resources by topic. As a reminder, the Learning Center is for CASA Volunteers, child welfare community members and anyone else interested in learning more about effective advocacy and the child welfare system in Texas. The Program Portal is for local program staff and board members. More information about how these two platforms are used, along with CASA College, will be coming soon. 

CFE For All: Statewide Training

CFE For All is a virtual training held quarterly for those who are implementing Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE). The CASA network, Child Protective Services and Community-Based Care staff are invited to come together to learn about the fundamentals of CFE and have the opportunity for practical, hands-on application of the skills and tools presented. The next three-hour virtual training will be held on July 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. All participants will need to complete the 2-hour CFE E-Learning before attending the training session.

STAR Monthly Zoom: A Presentation about Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs)

Please join the STAR team in welcoming Stephanie Holmes at our July 28 STAR Monthly Zoom for a presentation about Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs). Holmes is part of the HHSC CRCG team, which is housed in the Children's Mental Health section of HHSC’s Behavioral Health Services division. 

More exciting news: At the monthly Zoom, a new resource will be launched! We know how difficult it can be to identify local resources to meet each individual family's needs, therefore in coordination with information on Community Resource Coordination Groups, we will also share our new resource: a Local Service Directory Template and ideas on how to create a living Local Service Directory for your program's volunteers and families. 

HGTX Training: Engaging with Youth in Foster Care

Join the Heart Galleries of Texas on July 18 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. for their training by Erika Settles, LMSW, Permanency Training Coordinator, Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing. The objectives of the training are to understand why empathy is essential for effective engagement, illustrate the importance of creating a safe and trusting environment for youth and learn techniques to engage with youth by building rapport and connection.

Rees-Jones Center Training Repository

The team at the Rees-Jones Center is excited to have a Training Repository accessible online to families, community partners and anyone looking for information on working with children and youth who have experienced trauma. Their Training Repository includes recorded trainings, some with free Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and informational resources available to share with families and colleagues. Visit the link below to view trainings and learn more.

Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

1501 West Anderson Lane Suite B-2 | Austin, TX 78757 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.