Article in the LA Times featuring CASA volunteer Jayne Amelia Larson! |
|
"I’m hard-pressed to think of a more serious volunteer commitment. And I’m awed by the fact that in the L.A. area, more than 1,000 people have made it.
But great need remains."
Click here to read the full article.
|
|
Meet our new Chief Development and Partnerships Officer, Celina Santiago!
|
|
Celina Santiago (pictured here with her husband Miguel and children Ethan and Brielle) was born to immigrant parents and is a native Angeleno. She began her career in public service at a young age, volunteering with afterschool programs, community organizing and building community coalitions.
Prior to joining CASA/LA, Celina was the senior donor relations officer for the California Community Foundation, LA County’s community foundation dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable. Before joining CCF, Celina served as the director of development for Sacred Heart High School and as the assistant director of development at Whittier College. Prior to that, she helped lead successful political fundraising teams in Southern California for local and state candidates. Santiago has also worked to improve the lives of residents in the Downtown and Eastside neighborhoods of Los Angeles via her work for the Central City East Association and as a field representative for LA City’s 14th Council District.
Celina holds a bachelor’s degree from Whittier College, where she majored in political science. She is a graduate of the Southern California Leadership Network is currently completing coursework in the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® program of the American College of Financial Services. Celina is currently on the board of directors of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the Los Angeles Advisors in Philanthropy and is a member of the Los Angeles Latino Giving Circle Network.
|
|
CASA IN-SERVICE TRAINING
General Education
When: Wednesday, November 4 at 12-2 PM
Where: online via Zoom
Continuing Education Hours: 2
Court Report Writing
When: Thursday, November 12 at 12-2 PM
Where: online via Zoom
Continuing Education Hours: 2
Individual Living Program (ILP)
When: Thursday, November 19 at 12-1:30 PM
Where: online via Zoom
Continuing Education Hours: 2
|
|
If you are interested in watching a recorded video of a past training that you missed, reach out to Betsy Ann Mudd (bmudd@casala.org). We may have what you are looking for!
|
|
SHARE AND SUPPORT
Advocacy for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
December 4, 2020 @ 10-12pm via Zoom
At this share and support, you'll be able to meet other CASAs working with you that are dually involved, discuss rewards and challenges, give each other tips and encouragement. In addition, CASA/LA's juvenile justice committee will be present to provide feedback and support.
Please RSVP by Friday, November 20.
|
|
BOOK CLUBS
Coastline Book Group
Where: Online
When: Tuesday, November 17 at 1:30-3 PM
We're Reading: "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson
San Fernando Valley Book Group
Where: Online
When: Tuesday, November 10 at 7 PM
We're Reading: "The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland" by Walter Thompson-Hernandez
Want to host a book club?
|
|
VIRTUAL CASA CONNECTIONS
The work of a CASA volunteer can be isolating. Sometimes it's hard to remember that you are a part of a group of over 1000 volunteers all working to make a difference in the life of a youth living in foster care. There is a wealth of wisdom and experience in our ranks and Virtual CASA Connections are an avenue to help CASAs connect with each other and tap into that potential. Connections will be organized according to the age of the youth to foster greater commonality among cases and areas of discussion.
|
|
Have you moved, changed jobs, or updated your contact info in the past year?
Please fill out this quick form so we can update your info in our system.
|
|
Introducing CASA/LA’s New Short-Term Advocacy Program: Essential History!
The Essential History Program is a short-term advocacy opportunity in which CASAs review a young person’s entire case file to identify key historical information through their time in the dependency system, resulting in a summarized report for all court and case parties (judges, attorneys, CSWs, etc.). The hope is that with this comprehensive summary, individuals on a youth’s team can make more trauma informed-decisions moving forward on their case. CASAs assigned to an Essential History case will have three months to review the case and submit a report, all with the support and guidance of their Advocate Supervisor.
We are looking for more CASAs to get involved in this program. For more information on what the program entails, click the links below, or contact Mika Khan at akhan@casala.org
|
|
Holiday Cards That Give Back!
Let us help you with your holiday giving with cards that support our advocacy work for children in foster care. Send cards to friends, coworkers, and loved ones to let them know a donation was made in their honor for the holidays. All proceeds from our holiday cards will help us continue to serve the most vulnerable children in our community through this unprecedented time. Get your cards here! |
|
Calling for Holiday Donations!
With the holiday season quickly approaching, we're preparing by gathering items for CASAs to distribute to their youth. If you are interested in organizing a gift card drive or if you have connections to a company or organization who can donate new items (clothes, toys, shoes, etc.) we would love your help!
|
|
You can visit our website for the most up to date version of our court report writing handbook and templates for your court report. In-service trainings on this topic are held quarterly. |
|
CASA/LA cares about the well-being of our advocates. As a volunteer, you have access to our EAP program for anonymous telephonic counseling. Company code: CASAOFLA
|
|
Join the CASA resource forum in Muut to search/share resources, communicate with other CASAs, ask questions, and get updates. Read the following instructions to begin. |
|
Visit Litmos to access webinars on transitional age youth, early childhood, etc.
Look in your advocate email for an invitation from CASA/LA or contact your supervisor.
|
|
Read our volunteer handbook for any CASA/LA policies regarding anything from conflict of interest, mandatory reporting, boundaries, or posting on social media. |
|
|
“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.”
-Roald Dahl
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
