November 2019
Reminders and Deadlines for CASAs
October Volunteer Hours
To submit your October volunteer hours, please click here. When submitting your hours, remember to include hours spent driving to and from visits, meetings, and other CASA-related destinations. Thank you.
VFC Office Closures
Monday, November 11 (Veterans Day)
Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving Day)
Friday, November 29 (Day After Thanksgiving)
December 24, 2019-January 1, 2020 (Winter Break)
Meadow Lark Office Closure
Voices for Children, in collaboration with Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, Child Welfare Services, and the Juvenile Court, will renovate the VFC office at Meadow Lark (ML) to create a Transitional Age Youth Resource Studio. This room will include all new furnishings, technology, flooring, and critical resources for CASAs and transitional age youth. During the renovation, the ML office will be closed from Wednesday, October 9, through Wednesday, October 16, 2019. If you were planning to use the ML office for any reason during that time frame, please contact your advocacy supervisor in advance for assistance. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
Birthday Club Suspended
The donor of birthday gift cards for our case children has indefinitely suspended the Birthday Club program as it evaluates the program’s impact. Therefore, we are unable to fulfill any birthday card requests at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes you or your case children. Please feel free to email Vice President of Programs Sabrina Goosby with any questions at SabrinaG@speakupnow.org.
Continuing Education
Juvenile Justice Basic Advocacy Training
Wednesday, November 6
10 a.m.-Noon
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
Are you assigned to a dual-status case or interested in learning more about the juvenile justice system? This session will teach you how to navigate the juvenile justice system and how to advocate for youth on probation. Please RSVP to Juvenile Justice Advocacy Supervisor Giselle Acosta at GiselleA@speakupnow.org. If you are unable to attend this training but are interested in learning more about VFC’s Juvenile Justice pilot program, please email Giselle.
Small Group: Teens and Nonminor Dependents
Tuesday, November 12
5:30-7:00 PM
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Is your case child a teen or nonminor dependent (NMD)? Are you interested in learning more about working with teens and NMDs? Join peers and an advocacy supervisor at this Small Group meeting. Please RSVP to Allen Fox at AllenF@speakupnow.org or 858-598-2280.
Drop-In Small Group
Wednesday, November 13
10:00-11:30 a.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Drop in to a Small Group meeting to discuss your case with peers and an advocacy supervisor. No RSVP is required. Please join us.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Wednesday, November 13
6:00-7:30 p.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
This Continuing Education session will cover the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-San Diego) and the services they offer. NAMI is a team of dedicated people who offer support to families living with family members with mental or behavioral health issues and also teach how to best advocate for these family members. Attendees will also learn about apps for psychiatric support and special education information. Please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Laurel Nelson at LaurelN@speakupnow.org.
Eating Disorders
Thursday, November 21
10:30 a.m.-Noon
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
During this Continuing Education session, two specialists from the USCD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research will address the issues behind eating disorders. Join us as we learn about what it looks like to support and work with youth who might struggle with this mental illness. Please RSVP to Senior Advocacy Liaison Kelsey Shalkowski at KelseyS@speakupnow.org or 858-598-2289.
Drop-In Small Group
Wednesday, December 11
10:00-11:30 a.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Drop in to a Small Group meeting to discuss your case with peers and an advocacy supervisor. No RSVP is required. Please join us.
At-Home Continuing Education
Best Boy, a novel by Eli Gottlieb, is written in the first-person voice of an autistic adult male, Todd, who yearns to return to his childhood. The novel explores the challenges that Todd, institutionalized since he was 11, faces in his current facility as he navigates new staff members, a new roommate, a resident who convinces him to go off his medications in an effort to feel normal, and an escape attempt to return to his younger brother. If you read this or another relevant book or a relevant movie or TV show, please contact your advocacy supervisor to receive Continuing Education credit.