New Reports from the Department of Family and Protective Services & Community-Based Care Update

DFPS released three new reports for you to review: Rider 39 Conservatorship Caseloads, Community-Based Care Quarterly Report and Rider 15 Community-Based Care Update. The Texas CASA Public Policy Team has also provided an update on Community-Based Care (CBC). Additionally, the Public Policy team recently developed a new resource highlighting the importance of CASA advocacy during every stage of CBC transition, which is available for programs to utilize here. 

Virtual Pre-Service Training Facilitator Workshop: May 2024

Texas CASA is excited to announce dates for our next virtual Art of Facilitation for Pre-Service Training workshop! This training is designed to introduce participants to the foundation of facilitation, explore creative and effective ideas for bringing pre-service content to life and build relationships across the CASA training community. After completing this workshop, participants will be qualified to lead pre-service training per National CASA's standards. 

Supporting Older Youth in Foster Care & CFE For All: Statewide Training

The Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) Team has two exciting training opportunities in May! Join us on May 7 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. to hear about the resources available for supporting older youth in foster care. We will hear from the local CASA program staff, as well as youth who have successfully transitioned out of foster care. Then on May 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., CFE will host their quarterly CFE For All: Statewide Training for those who are implementing CFE. 

Understanding the Roles in a CPS Case

In 2023, Texas CASA partnered with the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission to develop five handouts and accompanying videos to help explain the role of each of the professionals in a Child Protective Services (CPS) case to individuals, such as parents, youth or kinship caregivers who are involved with the Department of Family and Protective Services in some way. The handouts are available for download and printing in English and Spanish, and the videos are available publicly on YouTube. 

New Continuing Education Podcast on Best Practices for Working with Parents' Attorneys

One of the Texas CASA guiding principles is respect for the parents we walk alongside, as well as respect for all parties involved in the case. This episode is brimming with insights from our guest Cindy Dyar, Director of the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Family Defense Project on how we can approach collaboration with parents and their attorneys with an open mind and a commitment to understanding. Cindy has practiced family law for more than a decade and shares some powerful insights for CASA advocates. 

Recruitment Bounty: Tip of the Month

We know it is impossible for you to be everywhere all at once, so let banners do the talking for you! We recommend asking businesses in your community to sponsor your banner for a day, a week or however long you agree upon. Simply put up your banner in their business and give them a shout out on social media. Be sure to leave behind some marketing materials or set up a QR code that directs visitors to your website. Check out this post asking for banner sponsors and this example of their banner at work from Child Advocates – CASA of Red River.

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