Building a Foundation for Inclusion
Renowned LGBTQIA+ civil rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation recently recognized CASA/LA for inclusivity efforts with LGBTQIA+ staff, volunteers, and children & families. The HRC “All Children – All Families (ACAF)” Program’s 2021 Change-Makers Report features 119 child welfare organizations in total from across the country and CASA/LA joins 17 other CASA programs within the report.
The recognition required the evaluation of CASA/LA’s staff and volunteer training practices, ongoing resource support for LGBTQIA+ children/youth/families, as well as SOGIE considerations on volunteer applications, referrals, and ETO touchpoints.
We are honored with this designation, but our work doesn’t stop here. Our LGBTQIA+ Committee is determined to continue providing learning opportunities and resources to both our staff and volunteers. We are also dedicated to strengthening our current reach with LA County child welfare/juvenile justice partners as well as other CASA programs.
CEO Charity Chandler-Cole and CASA/LA LGBTQIA+ Committee Chair, Michelle Neumann were even recently highlighted in The Imprint regarding our organization’s work in this area. You can read the article here.
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Seeking Essential History Volunteers
Officially launched in August 2020, the Essential History Program involves CASA volunteers reviewing a child’s entire case file, gathering key information using a specialized tracking sheet, and creating a comprehensive report that highlights all key historical events that have occurred for the young person while in the dependency system. The goal of the report is to provide judges, attorneys, and social workers with a tool that can help make more trauma-informed decisions for the young people they serve moving forward. In contrast to our traditional advocacy, an Essential History CASA does not make contact with anyone on a young person’s team (including the young person) and is relieved from the case once the report is complete, which is on average a 3 month period.
The Essential History Program is a great option for anyone who is detail-oriented and deadline-focused. Some CASAs may choose to do this program on a short-term basis in between their traditional cases. Other CASAs have chosen to add this opportunity in addition to their advocacy role working with a young person in care. If you are interested in this opportunity, please speak with your advocate supervisor to discuss it.
To learn more about volunteering with this program, please sign onto your Litmos account and view the Essential History webinar. If you do not remember your login information, please email Lynne Gabriel.
This opportunity is not reserved only for existing CASA/LA volunteers. If you have a friend in your life whom you think would be a good fit for this opportunity, invite them to email us at volunteer@casala.org to start a conversation.
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CASA/LA IN-SERVICE TRAINING
Advocacy for Youth Who Are Expecting
When: Wednesday, October 6 from 12-2 PM
Where: online
Continuing Education Hours: 2
Fostering Unity: your partner in helping to heal children and families
When: Thursday, October 14 from 12-1 PM
Where: online
Continuing Education Hours: 1
A Home Within/ CASA Therapy Project
When: Friday, October 22 from 12-1 PM
Where: online
Continuing Education Hours: 1
Psychological Assessments
When: Thursday, October 28 from 12-1 PM
Where: online
Continuing Education Hours: 1
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If you are interested in watching a recording of past in-service training, contact Betsy Ann Mudd. We may have what you are looking for!
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Fireside Chat Series - October Edition
On Friday, October 1, join us for a conversation on "Family-Centered Advocacy for Children Impacted by Poverty and Oppression." Must RSVP to attend. New discussions every 1st Friday of the month.
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BOOK CLUBS
Coastline Book Group
Where: A CASA's private backyard in Pacific Palisades*
When: Tuesday, November 9 at 1:30 PM
We're Reading: "The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity," by Nadine Burke Harris.
*Space is limited to those with completed COVID-19 vaccines.
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CASA CONNECTIONS
Opportunities for CASA volunteers to connect with and support each other.
Early Childhood (0~5) Thursday, October 28, 4 PM
Middle Childhood (6~9) Thursday, October 28, 4 PM
Tween (10~14) Tuesday, October 5, 6 PM
Transitional Age Youth (15~17) Wednesday, October 20, 3 PM
Non-Minor Dependent (18~21) Tuesday, October 12, 5 PM
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QUARTERLY VOLUNTEER FORUM
At CAS/LA, we are all about transparency and connection. That's why we're inviting you to our quarterly volunteer forum. Amidst this unprecedented time in our world, our work still continues. Please join us to reflect on recent successes, where we are in current strategic initiatives, and discuss our goals ahead. This forum provides you with a platform to share your thoughts and feedback on your volunteer experience. It's also a great opportunity to have a dialogue directly with CASA/LA leadership on topics that truly matter to you!
Thursday, October 21 from 9-10:30 AM
Online via ZOOM
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TODAY ONLY: COFFEE FOR CASA/LA! |
We are thrilled to be partnering with Café de Leche today, Friday, October 1st, in honor of International Coffee Day! Make any donation over $5 to CASA/LA and redeem a FREE coffee of your choice! Simply show your barista your transaction receipt at checkout. We hope that you can celebrate delicious coffee in Altadena or Highland Park, from 7 AM to 4 PM today! |
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Please reach out to Kelly Lozo if you have any questions about this partnership. |
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Save the Date for Wine+Art on Friday, Nov 5 at the Regency West in Leimert Park! Wine+Art is a collaborative offering of wine tastings, libations, culinary delights, and over 150 pieces of donated art from prolific, local, and emerging artists. The main focus of this event is the art auction to benefit our vital work together!
Do you know any food or beverage companies that would like to participate in Wine+Art? Or any artists who are interested in donating art for our auction? Contact Special Events Manager, Agnes Szenassy
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A HUGE thank you to the CASAs who have gone the extra mile to support CASA/LA and our advocacy work by fundraising in their community. We are so grateful to all of the CASAs and special partners who have asked their loved ones to make contributions to CASA/LA in lieu of gifts for special occasions, or through our fitness challenges like Justice Jog and the LA Big 5K!
If you would like to keep the momentum going or create a fundraiser of your own, we invite you to create a simple and personalized page on our website here. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Kelly Lozo at klozo@casala.org or 323-607-5355.
A special thanks to those who have created fundraisers in the last year:
Scott and Jessica Buetow | Renne Bilson | Aaron Dinsdale
Kappa Alpha Theta (Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter)
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Keep Running with Team CASA/LA!
Did you enjoy having a team to run with during Justice Jog? Well, the fun doesn’t need to stop now! We are proud to be a charity partner with the LA Big 5K, LA Marathon, and LA Charity Challenge. We will cover the registration fee for the first 30 people who register to run the LA Big 5K with us! If you have any questions about the team, contact Kelly Lozo at klozo@casala.org or 323-607-5355. |
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Fall is here. Keep your CASA youth warm with a handmade quilt!
The South Bay Quilter's Guild has been hard at work sewing up the most beautiful quilts of all sizes for CASA youth. The quilts come with a book too. If you are interested in getting a quilt for your youth please reach out to your advocate supervisor to arrange a pick up at the CASA/LA office in Monterey Park.
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Meet other CASA volunteers virtually for discussion and support. Connections are organized by age of youth served and meet monthly.
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Want to get your own CASA/LA swag?
Our CASA Shop will have you looking good and supporting our cause all at once. It's a win win!
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Join our resource forum Muut to search/share resources, communicate with other CASAs, and ask questions. Read these instructions to begin.
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Visit Litmos for webinars on transition age youth, early childhood, and more.
Look in your email for an invite from CASA/LA or contact Lynne Gabriel.
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Read our volunteer handbook for policies covering everything from conflict of interest and mandatory reporting to boundaries and posting on social media.
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