February 2020
Reminders and Deadlines for CASAs
January Volunteer Hours
To submit your January 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
Wednesday, February 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)
Monday, February 17 (Presidents’ Day)
Tuesday, March 31 (César Chávez Day)
Expanded Volunteer Hours Survey
In order to better understand how CASAs spend their time advocating, we will be asking many CASAs to participate in an expanded volunteer hours survey from March 2020 through May 2020. We will ask participating CASAs to break down their volunteer hours into more specific areas of advocacy. In 2016, when we last conducted an expanded survey, we learned a great deal and confirmed that CASAs spend 10 to 15 hours a month, on average, advocating for their case children. If you are chosen to participate in this voluntary survey, we will notify you by email on or about February 7, 2020. The email will include the results from the 2016 survey, tools to help track your volunteer hours, and an FAQ document. If you have any questions about the survey, please email Matt Olson, Director of Program Operations, at MattO@speakupnow.org.
Emergency Cell Phone Protocols
Voices for Children has developed Emergency Cell Phone Protocols to help CASAs determine when to use the emergency cell phone, which is available to address emergency issues that arise during non-business hours, and how to handle many common emergency situations. In addition to examples of non-emergency situations that should wait for normal business hours to address, the protocols include the advice and resources that you would receive, if you called the emergency line, for several common emergency situations. This information is provided to empower CASAs, if comfortable, to address emergency situations more directly. Please take the time to read through this document, even before an emergency occurs. We also suggest keeping a printout of the document in your car, along with a copy of your court order, so that you can reference it when needed.
Continuing Education
Juvenile Justice Open Topic Small Group
Tuesday, February 4
10:00-11:30 a.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Please join us for a Juvenile Justice Open Topic Small Group to discuss your case with peers. Although discussion will consist of juvenile justice-related topics, all CASAs are welcome to join and participate. RSVP to Juvenile Justice Advocacy Supervisor Giselle Acosta at GiselleA@speakupnow.org.
Open Topic Small Group
Wednesday, February 5
5:30-7:00 p.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Join us for an open topic Small Group meeting to discuss your case with peers and an advocacy supervisor. All CASAs are welcome. Please RSVP to Advocacy Supervisor Erin Finnerty at ErinF@speakupnow.org on 858-598-2296.
Developmental Screening and Enhancement
Thursday, February 6
5:30-7:00 p.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
Two developmental specialists from the Developmental Screening and Enhancement Program (DSEP) at Rady Children’s Hospital will discuss the services their program provides to support the development and social-emotional well-being of children ages 0 to 6. Topics will include developmental and social-emotional screenings, individual care plans, recommendations for services and evaluations, and case management. The specialists will also share information regarding infant developmental milestones, the benefits of infant massage, and how DSEP and CASAs can work as a team to support the needs of young children in the child welfare system. Please RSVP to Senior Advocacy Supervisor Suzanne Severance at SuzanneS@speakupnow.org.
Small Group: Working With Social Workers
Wednesday, February 19
10:00-11:30 a.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Boardroom
Are you interested in learning how to work more effectively with social workers? Would you like to discuss how to work together to advocate for our case children’s best interests? Join peers and an advocacy supervisor at this Small Group meeting. Please RSVP to Madison Pope at MadisonP@speakupnow.org or 858-598-2256.
Juvenile Justice Basic Advocacy Training
Thursday, February 20
5:30-7:30 p.m.
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 Jessica Miller at JessicaMi@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 Jessica.
Drop-In Small Group
Wednesday, March 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.
Educational Needs of Foster Youth
Wednesday, March 11
5:30–8:30 p.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
The San Diego County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program provides intensive, specialized, educational training for CASAs. The goal of this training is to improve school stability and educational success. This Continuing Education session will also include extensive special education training and cover pertinent educational legislation specific to youth in foster care. CASAs will have ample opportunity to ask case-specific questions. Please RSVP to JaneW@speakupnow.org.
LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care
Wednesday, March 18
5:30-7:00 p.m.
VFC Chesapeake Office: Training Room
Walden Family Services will present current facts about LGBTQ youth in foster care and address areas of awareness specifically for CASAs and their case children. LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care and are often harassed, victimized, stigmatized, or displaced from their homes because of their gender and sexual identity. They are also more likely to experience depression and attempt suicide and less likely to find a permanent family than other youth in the child welfare system. This Continuing Education presentation will include a Q&A session. Please click here to RSVP.
At-Home Continuing Education
The California Victim Compensation Board details benefits that may be available to your case children in its Crime Hurts Everyone/We Can Help brochure. The brochure includes information about the victim compensation process, including eligibility criteria and the application process. Victims of child abuse and child witnesses of crimes are both eligible for compensation. If you review this information, please contact your advocacy supervisor to receive one hour of Continuing Education credit. Also, contact your advocacy supervisor for Continuing Education credit if you read a relevant book or watch a relevant movie or TV show.