News, Events, and Latest Updates
1 December 2018
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Holiday Cards that Support our Advocacy
Celebrate the holidays by sending a heartfelt gift in support of our advocacy work for children in the child welfare system. For a minimum donation of $3 per card, we'll send you cards with blank envelopes so you can write a personal message and send to your friends, family, colleagues, and clients to let them know that a donation was made in their honor for the holidays. Go to our website
here
to get your cards today!
Spreading the word this holiday season
As you spend time with family and friends this holiday season, please share the wonderful work that you do as a CASA volunteer, and encourage your family and friends to consider joining CASA! Contact Camrin Christensen, our director of volunteer recruitment and outreach, with any questions at
cchristensen@casala.org
.
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Supporting Your Youth during the Holidays
The holiday season is difficult for many youth in the foster care system as they are faced with the realization that they are not home for the holidays.
5 ideas for CASAs to help their young person through the holidays:
- Don't skip your monthly visit - The holidays are a busy time for all of us, but this is also a time when your youth really needs you!
- Understand they may be worried about their loved ones - help facilitate visits with their loved ones
- Talk to your youth about any traditions or beliefs they may want to partake in
- Consider a festive activity for your visit - this can be driving around to see Christmas lights or seeing the new Grinch movie
- Understand some youth may cope by being withdrawn or detached - give them their space
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ETO Corner
Need help with ETO or how to fill out forms in ETO? Please refer to the updated Advocate Handbook or join us at our weekly walk-in ETO clinics every Tuesday from 12pm-2pm in our Monterey Park office!
For ETO assistance, please contact Josh Saxelby-Valle at jsaxelby-valle@casala.org or 323.859.2888 x.6354 or Jessica Vallejo at jvallejo@casala.org or
323.859.288
8 x.6396.
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Upcoming In-Services
You can download handouts from the in-services by going to our
website
and clicking on the "
FOR ADVOCATES
" tab!
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
12:00pm-2:00PM
Monterey Park office
Wednesday, December 05, 2018
5:00PM-6:30PM
Antelope Valley Transit Authority
42210 6th Street
W. Lancaster, CA 93534
Thursday, December 13, 2018
12:00pm-2:00PM
Monterey Park
Thursday, January 17, 2018
12:00pm-1:30PM
Monterey Park office
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CSEC 102 Training
Nola Brantley has partnered with the California Department of Social Services to offer a Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) 102 engagement skills training at CASA of Los Angeles, and CASAs are invited to attend for free. This training will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better engage youth at-risk of becoming involved with CSEC, and help you learn strategies for helping CSEC survivors.
If you are interested in attending, please click
here
to register. CSEC 101 is not a prerequisite, but can be completed online
here
.
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CASA Connections
Casual, positive get-togethers organized by CASAs, for CASAs
Interested in building your CASA Community? Connecting with your fellow CASAs can be a great way to learn about new resources and build support while having fun and meeting new friends.
If you would like to host your very own CASA Connection in your neighborhood, reach out to Betsy Ann Mudd (
bmudd@casala.org
) for assistance.
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CASA Book Clubs
San Fernando Valley Book Club
Where: CASA's home
RSVP for the address
When: December 4th, 7:00pm
"Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses" by: Paula McClain
Contact: Renne Bilson at rjbilson@aol.com
Coastline Book Club
Where: CASA's home in Santa Monica
RSVP for the address
When: January 23rd, 1:00pm
"The Deepest Well: Healing the Long Term Effects of Childhood Trauma" by: Nadine Burke Harris
If you would like to host a book club, reach out to Betsy Ann Mudd at
bmudd@casala.org
.
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Fostering Hope LA
Fostering Hope LA provides job readiness training and Christian mentorship to transitional aged youth. Classes are 8-week sessions, starting in February 2019 on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30PM to 8:00PM. Participants will hear stories from former foster youth about their successes, speak with business owners, life coaches, and educational advocates, and be paired with a mentor. For more information, please refer to their website
here
.
Idyllwild Arts Camp
Are you working with a CASA youth age 14-18 (during the summer of 2019) who is showing some talent/interest in the arts? If so. watch for the CASA/Idyllwild Arts Camp Scholarship applications out early January for a mid-March deadline.
ChildNet - Mental Health Referrals
ChildNet serves youth ages 0-18 in the Long Beach area who have Medi-Cal insurance, and currently has free mental health services available! Please visit their website
here
for more information or to make a referral and contact Allison Osburn-Corcoran, intake coordinator, at
AOsburn-Corcoran@childnet.net
.
Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
Young Center supports volunteer advocates to spend time with and advocate on behalf of an unaccompanied immigrant child while he or she is subject to deportation proceedings. If you had a child in need of an advocate around immigration proceedings, please refer your child/youth to their program
here
.
WE LIFT LA
WE LIFT LA empowers transitional aged youth and young adults out of the foster care system by providing life skills services, consistent support, workshops, and counseling to make the shift from foster care to independence less challenging and more successful. The organization offers housing, life skills development, and job readiness and vocational training. Please go to their website
here
for more information.
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