News and updates for CASA program staff and leadership

NEWS

New CASA ACT Video: Stages of Change

The CASA ACT Anti-Child Trafficking's video The Stages of Change Model: How CASA Volunteers Can Understand Youth Affected by Sex Trafficking explores how CASA volunteers can effectively support youth affected by sex trafficking. This resource guides you through the Stages of Change model — Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance and Termination. Watch the video to learn more about practical ways to assist youth as they navigate their path to recovery.

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Daughters Watch Party

Daughters is a new Netflix documentary that follows the stories of four young girls preparing for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. The Texas CASA staff recently held a Daughters watch party and used the watch party guide to have a group discussion. We encourage the local programs to consider the film as a Continuing Education (CE) resource due to its powerful connection to themes in CASA advocacy work and to host a watch party of your own!

EVENTS & TRAINING

Making Hope Possible for Older Youth: CFE Webinar

Have you ever advocated for a youth in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) or in a specialized placement that seems like they have no one? What about a youth in juvenile detention or a youth without an authorized placement? The connection work with these youth can be daunting as you try to engage a network of support for them. During this webinar you will hear from local CASA programs and youth with lived experience. Please join us on October 17 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Upcoming STAR Monthly Zooms

The STAR Team will be changing things up for the October Zoom! The meeting is on Tuesday, October 8 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. with special guest Marco Quesada, Division Administrator for Master Investigations and drug testing expert. Quesada will present on the fundamentals of drug testing and reporting, drug testing on children, and different drugs such as Cannibus, CBD and Delta 8. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from and ask our guest your drug testing and reporting questions.

RESOURCES

Culturally Competent Care Webinar Recording

Youth Voices Rising recently hosted a webinar about Culturally Competent Care where their experts delved into the significance of vulnerability and openness to learning about the diverse cultures of youth, providing valuable insights on what not to do and how to avoid stereotypes, archetypes or tokenization. The discussion also explored data driven approaches to culturally competent care. Youth Voices Rising gives individuals who have experienced foster care, homelessness and juvenile justice journalism training opportunities. Check out the webinar in the link below.

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Centers for Independent Living

The Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure that Texans with disabilities have access to quality Independent Living Services. The SILC manages the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) which can be an important resource for birth families, foster parents, CASA volunteers and youth. The CILs support individuals in finding housing, developing independent living skills, searching for jobs and obtaining the tech they need, such as hearing aids. They can also connect them with a support network.

Recruitment Bounty: Tip of the Month

Mix up your information sessions to tie them into awareness months, holidays or events in your community. Use the time to not only talk about your program and being a CASA volunteer, but to share facts about the foster care system that specifically relate to what’s currently going on -- and it doesn’t hurt to have a cool name for your sessions! Check out how CASA in the Heart of Texas celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month during their Facts and Snacks information session.