News, Events, and Latest Updates
1 July 2018
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Save the Date!
We are
so excited to be working on our 5th Annual Wine + Art fundraising event! Once
again, we are partnering with artists, local food vendors and wineries to raise funds for CASA/LA with an art auction and wine tasting evening on November 3rd. If you know of any food or beverage vendors that would like to be involved in this fun night, please contact Simone Sterling at 323-859-2888 x6356 or
ssterling@casala.org
.
Early Childhood Training Opportunity!
CASA/LA will be facilitating an Early Childhood training in August
2018 at the Monterey Park CASA office. The training will involve three online modules and three in-person sessions. The in-person sessions will be held on August 9th, August 15th, and August 22nd from 12pm-3pm. Attendance at all 3 in-person sessions is mandatory as the information in the training is cumulative. There are only 15 slots available and it is first come first serve so please contact Lauri Halderman, advocate supervisor, at
lhalderman@casala.org
to sign up or for more information!
11th Annual Justice Jog Run/Walk
Calling all CASA runners and walkers! On the morning of September 23rd, 2018 in Century City, the Greater Los Angeles Association of Legal Administrators will host their 11th Annual Justice Jog 5K/10K Run/Walk. All proceeds will benefit CASA of Los Angeles.
If you are a CASA volunteer, there is an opportunity to join the CASA of Los Angeles' Advocate Team! An important aspect of participation is fundraising, so a requirement is that each team member raises at least $250 in order to participate. Each team is limited to 10 members, so we will be drawing 10 names on Friday, July 13th. Please contact S
imone Sterling, Special Events Coordinator, at
ssterling@casala.org
or 323.859.2888 x6353 by 10am on July 13th in order to enter your name in the drawing.
Would your company want to become a Sponsor, form a team or be an Expo exhibitor? Check out the event details
here
and options to sponsor
here
.
5K Individual Registration/$40
10K Individual Registration/$50
Individual and Team Registration or to make a donation, please visit the Justice Jog website
here
.
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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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Welcome new staff at CASA
Mika Khan, advocate supervisor
Mika Khan is our newest advocate supervisor to join CASA/LA! Mika has worked with AmeriCorps, received two(!) masters degrees, and worked as a therapist with high-risk transitional aged youth. Feel free to ask her any questions you have about TAY! If you see her hobbling around the office (due to a break...dancing injury at her wedding! -- haha, get it?), please introduce yourself!
Jontae Watkins, advocate supervisor
Please welcome Jontae Watkins, one of our new advocate supervisors to the CASA family! Jontae comes to CASA/LA with 20+ years of experience in the community providing home-based case management and clinical services to children, families, and individuals. Jontae loves long drives and volunteering with the Special Olympics.
Eli Wellin, advocate supervisor
Those of our volunteers who have been with CASA for years (13 years, to be exact) already know Eli Wellin, one of our new(ish) advocate supervisors. Eli was an advocate supervisor with CASA/LA from 2005-2008, and moved into a DCFS social worker position, working with the P3 program, where he focused on supporting families and building connections. Please welcome Eli back into the CASA family!
Tayler Paskal, advocate supervisor
Many of you know Tayler as one of our wonderful outreach and recruitment coordinators and lover of all animals. Ask her about her dog and cat if you've got a minute...or 45. Tayler has served as an O&R coordinator since March 2017, and will now be taking on new challenges as one of our advocate supervisors! Please congratulate Tayler on her new position!
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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, July 17, 2018
12:00pm-1:30pm
Monterey Park office
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
12:00pm-1:30pm
Monterey Park office
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
12:00pm-1:30pm
Monterey Park office
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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
Urban Book Club
Where: CASA's home in Studio City
RSVP for the address
When: July 14th 11:00AM
"Just Mercy" by: Byran Stevenson
Contact: Joanne Lightfoot at jlightfoot@advocatecasala.org
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Aaron Ruben Scholarship
Do you have a CASA youth who is interested in attending college or vocational school this fall? If so, encourage him/her to apply for the Aaron Ruben Scholarship. The Aaron Ruben Scholarship was established through the generosity of Mr. Aaron Ruben in 2000. The scholarship was created to financially help students pursue higher education at any post-high school educational facility, including but not limited to a two-year or four-year college, trade school, or other recognized educational program. For more information, please see the application
here
for complete details. Deadline to submit an application is September 1st!
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
.
13th Annual Children and Family Resource Fair
Join Star View Teammates for their 13th Annual Children and Family Resource Fair on August 10th, 2018 at the Watts Recreational Center. From 10:00AM-4:00PM, there will be free carnival games, arts and crafts table, delicious food, performances, and raffles! For more information, please contact
pmurray@starsinc.com.
Child Development Institute's Back to School Health and Safety Fair
Child Development Institute is hosting their 2018 Back to School Health and Safety Fair on Saturday, July 21st from 10am-1pm! There will be free health screenings, activities, and giveaways for kids! It will be held at CDI's Early Learning Center on 7260 Owensmouth Ave in Canoga Park. Please contact Jamie Olivas at 818-888-4559 for more information!
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.
Peace4Kids
Peace4Kids offers foster youth ages 4-18 years old creative and educational courses, field trips, and life skills in safe and nurturing environment every Saturdays at the Watt/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club. The organization also provides a mentorship opportunities with caring adults for at least one year. For the older youth, Peace4Kids provides transitional youth services as well as leadership programs for self-advocacy. For more information, visit their website
here
.
Set for Life
Set for Life is a nonprofit organization that provides furnishings to young people in Supervised Independent Living Placements (SILP) or those who are leaving care and need to furnish their apartments. For more information, please visit their website
here
.
Youth Moving On
Youth Moving On provides former foster and probation youth, ages 16-25, affordable quality housing and numerous support services to help them transition successfully to adulthood. The program is support by Hillsides and located in Pasadena. Please visit their website
here
for more information!
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