May 2023
Reminders and Deadlines for CASAs
April Volunteer Hours
Please use this form to submit your March volunteer hours. Remember to include time spent driving to and from visits, meetings, and other CASA-related destinations.
VFC Office Closures
VFC staff continue to primarily work remotely; however, limited access to the office is available to CASAs. Please reach out to your advocacy supervisor if you need to come into the office. Staff will be out of office on the following holidays:
Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day)
Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
Tuesday, July 4 (Independence Day)
Chesapeake Office Drop-In Hours
Voices for Children’s Chesapeake office now has dedicated drop-in hours. If you need to access the office to pick up a gift card, a car seat, or any other prearranged item, please prepare to stop by Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – noon or 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Continuing Education
All scheduled Small Group and Continuing Education sessions will be conducted remotely unless noted otherwise. As a reminder, all active CASAs are required to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education each year in order to be in compliance with the National CASA Standards and California Rules of Court. In January 2023, Voices for Children began tracking CASA completion of continuing education hours on a fiscal year basis. Please contact your Advocacy Supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.
Digital Dilemmas: A Practical Guide to Resolving Digital Misuse
Wednesday, May 3
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join us for an interactive workshop with Jamie Nunez, Western Region Manager at Common Sense Media, to explore ways digital media use impacts our youth today. From reducing media imbalances to rethinking social media posts, participants will learn how to speak with and support their case-youth in how to create tech boundaries and expectations, understand how social media impacts young people’s social and emotional development, and simple ways to highlight positive experiences online and build healthy online skills and habits. To attend, RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Kristen Brandley at KristenBr@speakupnow.org by Monday, May 1.
Open Topic Small Group
Wednesday, May 10
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Please join us for a Small Group meeting to discuss your case with peers and an advocacy supervisor via Zoom. To participate, RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Alexia Martinez at AlexiaM@speakupnow.org by Friday, May 5.
Working with Teenagers Small Group
Wednesday, May 17
5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Please join us for a Small Group meeting to discuss how to best support your teenage case youth with peers and an advocacy supervisor. To participate, please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Tanya Ehlert at TanyaE@speakupnow.org by Friday, May 12.
Juvenile Justice Basic Advocacy Training
Wednesday, May 24
5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Are you assigned to a juvenile justice or dual-status case or interested in learning more about the juvenile justice system? This Zoom training will teach you how to navigate the juvenile justice system and advocate for youth on probation. To attend this training or learn more about VFC’s Juvenile Justice program, RSVP to Juvenile Justice Advocacy Supervisor Sabrina Gonzalez at SabrinaGo@speakupnow.org by Friday, May 19.
Self-Care Workshop
Saturday, June 10
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Civita Park, 7960 Civita Blvd.
VFC’s Trauma-Informed Care Committee invites CASAs to join an interactive Self-Care Workshop in the park. This in-person continuing education opportunity will give volunteers the chance to individually assess their self-care needs, share strategies to promote wellbeing, and develop personalized self-care plans to prevent stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Light refreshments will be served. To participate and earn CE credit, please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Tianna Travis at TiannaT@speakupnow.org by Friday, June 6.
Drop-In Small Group
Wednesday, June 14
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Please join us for a Small Group meeting to discuss your case or ask any questions with fellow CASAs and an advocacy supervisor via Zoom. RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Shea McCall at SheaM@speakupnow.org by Friday, June 9.
Working With LGBTQIA+ Youth Small Group
Tuesday, June 20
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join us for a special Small Group dedicated to CASAs who work with LGBTQIA+ youth. To participate, please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Sabrina Gonzalez at SabrinaGo@speakupnow.org by Monday, June 19.
Polinsky Children’s Center
Thursday, June 29
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Join us for an informative webinar to gain more insight on San Diego’s 24-hour temporary emergency shelter facility. Vilma Martinez, Policy Analyst and Training Conductor, will discuss Polinksy Children’s Center (PCC), what happens when children go to PCC and during their time there, and what CASAs need to know when they visit youth who are detained at PCC. We will also hold a Q&A session at the end of the presentation. To attend, please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Tianna Travis at TiannaT@speakupnow.org by Thursday, June 22. Please submit any questions along with your RSVP.