SFCASA Gala 2024


Our much-anticipated Annual Gala is just around the corner, and we're thrilled to invite each of you to join us for a night of celebration, joy, and making a positive impact. Your presence truly makes a difference. Stay tuned for more details and formal invitations coming your way. Our volunteers can enjoy an exclusive 50% discount on up to 2 tickets! 

Discount code: CASALOVE50

To register early click HERE.

CalCASA's Statewide

Advocate Impact Survey


Please Complete by April 5th!

 

If you have served as CASA to a youth for six months or more as of 03/20/24, or if you served as a CASA to a youth for six months or more and came off the case between 12/20/23-03/20/24, we invite your participation in an important survey and learning opportunity for our local SFCASA and statewide network. California CASA has partnered with San Francisco-based Learning for Action (LFA) to design and implement a survey of advocates across the state. The data generated through the 2024 CASA Statewide Advocate Survey will support California CASA in more effectively capturing and communicating the impact of a CASA on a young person to key stakeholders, as well as paint a picture of the collective impact you are creating as a statewide network. If you did not receive this communication with a survey link sent on 03/20/24, please contact Database Specialist Janey Kemp.

Free Tax Filing for Current and Former

Foster and Probation Youth


Trained IRS-certified volunteers are ready to assist current/former foster youth with their tax preparation and filing needs for the 2023 tax year (and previous years)! SFCASA’s VITA site will offer virtual and in-person appointments from early February until the April 15, 2024 filing deadline. Many youth are eligible for the fully refundable CA Foster Youth Tax Credit worth up to $1,117 (and other tax credits)! We need the support of the awesome advocate community to reach our goal of supporting 100 youth to file their tax returns and maximize their tax refunds! Learn more here and please share our client registration linkEmail [email protected] with any questions! 

Child Abuse Prevention Month

The 2023/2024 Prevention Resource Guide recognized that there are actions we can take as a society and within communities, organizations, and families to address the root causes of child abuse and neglect. The prevention resource guide highlights the innovative ways that communities nationwide are doing purposeful prevention work to help children and families thrive. A protective factors approach focuses on positive ways to engage families by emphasizing their strengths and identifying areas where they have room to grow with support. Focusing on protecting factors that help children, youth, and families build resilience and contribute to positive outcomes.

Resource Guide

In addition, CDSS is hosting a series of webinars for Child Abuse Prevention Month. To explore solutions for children and families disproportionally impacted by the child welfare system, through culturally responsive services and truly upstream solutions.

Webinar Sign Up

SUMMER 2024

2024 Summer Activities - Sign up Now!

Sign up Here!


Summer Camp Funding

SFCASA will fund summer camps and activity fees for the youth we serve regardless of their location! If the youth’s guardians or PSW are not able to pay for their summer camps in full, and/or funding is a barrier for summer camp attendance, SFCASA can fill the gap. If transportation to camp is a barrier, we will be able to support with safe transportation through a partnership with Hop, Skip, Drive for eligible youth.


MeWater Beach Day June 8


Let's have a great day at the beach!


San Francisco CASA has partnered with San Mateo CASA and MeWater on June 8th to offer a so CASAs and their youth can enjoy a fun beach day in Half Moon Bay. Youth will get the opportunity to try and learn and participate in their surfing activity. The MeWater volunteers also have non water activities for those who do not want to get in the water, so non-swimmers are most welcome! SFCASA will provide lunch. Join in the fun!


MeWater Foundation is a nonprofit organization run by surfers and mental health professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area. They provide day and overnight surf camps to youth, families, and groups, with a mental health approach to mindfulness, empowerment, and exposure to the ocean and the great outdoors.



If you are interested please email [email protected]. More details to follow closer to the event.

SOAR for Youth Summer Academy

July 7 - 13


SOAR (Support, Opportunities, And Rapport) is an awesome summer residential program on the UC Berkeley campus with the aim of supporting foster youth to graduate from high school, attend college, and achieve their academic goals. Once youth successfully complete the first year academy, Prepare to SOAR, the graduates are then invited to attend the Learn to SOAR academy the following summer. Similarly, second and third year graduates are invited to attend Time to SOAR and SOAR to college in the following years. The program offers “stay connected” events throughout the year as well as individualized academic support through the first year in college. This individualized academic support includes weekly grade checks, tutoring, college and scholarship application assistance, and most importantly, interaction with school counselors to identify concerns before they become significant issues.

 

SOAR is a fantastic opportunity for youth who: 

  •  currently are in 6-8 grade (7 – 9th grade in fall 2024)
  •  reside in Bay Area (Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Solano counties – though exceptions have been made for youth outside this area)
  •  have a C or better grade average
  •  are able to manage in group settings


Please connect with your assigned youth, their caregiver and PSW to discuss whether they can attend SOAR. You can start the application for SOAR HERE.


ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

BlueWater Sailing Event


Please share this event with your assigned youth! CASAs and youth will enjoy a morning learning how to sail, and afterwards will be treated to a yummy lunch on the docks. BlueWater has one boat docked in Berkeley Marina which will hold 12 people. We ideally would want 6 pairs of CASAs and their youth. This activity will held on April 27th and will be a first come first serve opportunity. We sail for about 2 hours and lunch will be provided after.


If you are interested please emai[email protected]. SFCASA can also provide transportation options.

Brady Riding

Horse Care and Riding Lessons

Email: [email protected] for information

about Horse Riding Lessons

The Karuna Project:

Free Boxing Lessons for Youth

The Karuna Project provides positive emotional outlets and self-esteem building blocks to foster youth through combat sports training and other innovative fitness activities. We are devoted to leaving a lasting impact that will help the kids become self-sufficient rather than just leaving short term comforts and diversions. Our goal is to offer foster youth the resources and guidance necessary to positively impact their own life journey.


The session are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30 at Fire in the Ring Boxing (180 Industrial Way, Brisbane). If your youth is interested in trying out a session please email [email protected].

Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness

We extend a warm invitation to the African American community to join our communal health access pop-up for a holistic wellness experience. Our goal is to empower you with the tools you need to make lasting changes on your wellness journey through wrap around services that meet your specific needs. Additional services such as grocery boxes, a healthy hot lunch, massages, self-care services, community healing circles, wellness classes, and more! Free to all!

San Francisco Department of Early Childhood

The SF Dept. of Early Childhood is doing some focus groups in April with families who are participating in home visiting services in San Francisco (focused on the 0-5 age group). They are offering $100 gift cards to each participant. They would like to speak with families who are currently enrolled in home visiting, as well as those referred but waiting to be enrolled, and those who have participated in a home visiting program in the last year. This includes SafeCare, but also other home visiting programs such as Nurse Family Partnership, Field Nursing and Families Rising. 

For Your Stuff

Educational Advocacy

Educational Advocacy Consultant

SFCASA is thrilled to welcome Dr. Laura Savage as Educational Advocacy Consultant! Dr. Savage will be available for Office Hours on Thursdays 11a-1p and by appointment. Please reach out to your CS to set up an appointment.

Financial Aid for College


If you serve a high school senior or college student, please be sure they are completing the FAFSA so they can receive financial aid for the next school year. Check out our website for more information about financial aid for college 

Bayview Hunters Point:

Legacy Foundation

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)

Corner

SFCASA's Peer to Peer Grant Program


SFCASA’s Peer to Peer Grant is now OPEN through the 15th of the month. Young people can apply for a grant between $500-$1500 to address needs such as education, transportation, housing, and more! Those who identify as Black or Black/multi-ethnic are encouraged to apply.

 

Some general reminders:

1. Young people must apply on their own (advocates, PSWs, etc. are welcome to support but can NOT apply on the young person’s behalf)

2. Two paragraphs at minimum are required in the short response section or it will be denied.

3. All submitted applications must have an invoice or cost estimate from a business to support the amount being requested as youth will not be receiving the grant money directly. SFCASA will only be paying vendors directly. This means that we will not accept grant applications for smaller requests such as toiletries or ongoing needs as the funding is a ONE time support.

4. If a youth applied last year and was awarded, the youth is not eligible to apply this cycle until May 2024.

 

You can access the application here or via the attached flier.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Program Manager Esperanza Jacuinde at [email protected]. SFCASA YOUth Empowerment Board Members are also available for questions via email at [email protected].

Universal Basic Income:

Foundations for the Future Pilot Program


All young adults who will age out of care before April 30th, 2024 are eligible for Universal Basic Income!


This is a pilot program called Foundations for the Future where youth receive $1200 a month for 18 months to support them as they transition out of the foster care system. Through this pilot program the San Francisco Human Services Agency will provide this support to 150 youth. It is up to the youth to use these funds how they see fit, but as part of the program, a financial literacy aspect will be provided by Bay Area Legal Aid and First Place for Youth. Not all youth exiting care are eligible and there is a criteria being followed so please make sure to reference that when looking into whether or not the youth you are supporting is able to access this resource. The youth will have to apply to access this resource, an application link will be sent directly to the young person from the San Francisco Human Services Agency once their case is dismissed. During this process the youth will be able to identify if they would like the funds to be directly deposited or have the option of a reloadable debit card.


The criteria is: .

  • At least 21 years old and aged out of San Francisco extended foster care through Family & Children's Services or Juvenile Probation on or after January 1, 2022.
  • Have an annual household income of $60,000 or less for a single adult (no children) or $171,000 or less for households with two adults and two children (infants) in San Francisco County.

 

For any question regarding eligibility or how to support your youth with this process please feel free to reach out to you Case Supervisor.  

Resources for Advocates

New Reimbursement Process - Coming Soon

Request Sunshine Fund reimbursement

directly in Advocate Link!

We are working hard to make reimbursements easier and quicker. Soon you will just click on the “Funding Requests” button on your A.L. homepage and follow the prompts. Receipts are needed for all reimbursement requests. Please reach out to your Case Supervisor with any questions. And thanks! 

Attending Hearings - New Instructions


When you plan to attend a hearing for your assigned youth, please contact the youth’s attorney to let them know. Their attorney will be responsible for making sure you are admitted to the hearing (whether on Zoom or in Court). You will continue to receive Zoom links and instructions when you submit your court report. If you have any questions about attending hearings please be in touch with your Case Supervisor.

CASA Traveling Cost Update


SFCASA recognizes that for some Advocates the cost of travel to and from visits with your assigned youth can be a financial burden. If this is your situation, please request a gas card from your Case Supervisor. Also, you may request one Uber voucher (2 way ride) per month if desired. For tax purposes we are no longer able to reimburse for the cost of gas.



Please feel empowered to be in conversation with your Case Supervisor about any financial barriers you face as an Advocate. We are committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to serving as a CASA. Thank you!

Continuing Education for Advocates

JUVENILE JUSTICE 101 

Thursday, April 4, 2024 6-8 PM on Zoom (2 CE credits) with Luna Robledo.

This training is intended for current and future CASAs matched with a young person in the juvenile justice system. If you serve a youth in the JJ system or accessing AB12 through Probation, please plan to attend this training. Serving a JJ youth has key differences in many areas including the team members, the court hearing types and procedures, the key advocacy areas, the resources available to the youth, and more. Additionally, the youth themselves tend to have different experiences and characteristics than their dependency-involved peers that are crucial to understand when connecting with a JJ youth in order to best serve them and their families. This training will dive into all the special considerations of working with a justice involved teen or young adult. Specific questions or topics you would like to discuss are welcomed prior to training, submit to Luna at [email protected].

Register HERE


BODY SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom (2 CE Credits) with Vanessa Kellam

Children who have experienced trauma are extremely vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse. Join Vanessa Kellam from Health Connected as we learn how to engage with and support children around body safety and healthy relationships. This training is strongly encouraged for all CASAs serving youth 12 years and older.

Register HERE


USING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH PART 2

Saturday, April 13, 2024, 10 am - 12 pm on Zoom with Allison Roeser

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of human development that contributes to the well-being of our youth and us, as volunteers. The first SEL CE focused on self-awareness and self-management. In this CE, we will recap the basics of SEL and focus on the other three SEL competencies of social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. We will explore both the mindset and skill set of SEL. An SEL mindset will bring more ease to supporting your youth and the skill set will provide strategies you can apply immediately to increase connection. Participating in the first SEL CE is not a requirement for attending the second, everyone is welcome! 

Register HERE


THE UPS & DOWNS OF WORKING WITH PROFESSIONAL PROVIDERS

Monday, April 22, 2024, 6-8 pm on Zoom with Dr. Natalia Estassi

As providers, we will also learn different techniques on how to develop empathetic, respectful, engaging, and professional relationships with other providers to best support our youth and their overall success. This includes understanding mental health, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication techniques, in order to most effectively work with providers and the system including establishing expectations and boundaries with Dr. Natalia Estassi.

Register HERE


UNDERSTANDING GRIEF

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 12:00 PM on Zoom (2 CE Credits) presented by California CASA

Whatever the reason youth enter the foster system, the experience is often marked by sudden loss of parents, siblings, extended family, pets, school, home, friends, personal history, belongings, identity, control, and more. Many youth experience profound grief related to this loss, though the grief doesn’t always present in the ways we might expect. Further, because grief doesn’t have a specific timeline,- youth may experience feelings of grief and loss intermittently for years. Because the impact of grief can be so significant, it is crucial for the involved adults to navigate and support foster youth experiencing grief with sensitivity and understanding. This workshop will support attendees to understand the grief faced by foster youth, how it manifests, and what they can do to help and support youth who are navigating this complex emotional terrain. You’ll learn: - The expected and unexpected manifestations of grief for foster youth - How grief impacts foster youth - How to support foster youth who are navigating grief related to family separation, family loss, or death - What to say (and what NOT to say) to foster youth who are experiencing grief - Recognizing and supporting feelings of grief that may present at unexpected times (such as in a happy moment, when achieving a milestone etc.) - Practical tools for effectively supporting foster youth navigating grief. And more!

Register HERE


COUNTER TRANSFERENCE AND SELF AWARENESS with Dr. Natalia Estassi

Monday, May 13, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom. (2 CE Credits)

This training will discuss counter transference, a term Freud founded, and how it can both positively and negatively impact our work as providers. Discussed will be the many environmental and social stressors we are facing today, this includes the COVID-19 pandemic and the racism pandemic, which will impact us in various ways. As a CASA, in hearing the losses and hardships of your youth, one is often triggered, especially in these difficult times. Explore the importance of your own self-awareness to best guarantee one can remain effective as a provider. Learn ways to cultivate self-awareness and the importance of our own boundaries. Review the importance of self-care and barriers that can lead to burnout and vicarious trauma.

Register HERE


NEW ADVOCATE WORKSHOP CE

Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom. (2 CE Credits)

Now that you have stepped into the CASA Role, this is an opportunity to reconnect with your training cohort and support each other as you get started on your case. We will share learnings together about first steps on the case, relationship building with the youth and the professionals, court reports, logs, CEs and more.

Register HERE


CCN - CASA COMMUNITY NETWORK HUDDLE

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 6-8 pm (In Person at SFCASA Office)

Please join us for our first In person huddle!

The CASA Community Network (CCN) is a network for CASAs, organized by CASAs and hosted by CASAs. We share, lean in and on, and support each other through events, such as The Huddle. Sometimes we learn from expert guest speakers in continuing education sessions. In The Huddle, we learn from experts – ourselves – we have collective years of expertise among us. We are a network of support – who better understands the ups, the downs, the joys, the challenges than we do. 

Register HERE



Trainings are offered to inform your advocacy,

help you think creatively about your case,

and to build community.


SFCASA Advocates are required to earn 12 CE credits

per calendar year.


Please visit Continuing Education Opportunities for alternative options.


Do you have ideas for future CEs? Let us know by emailing [email protected]

CASA Tip of the Month

Plan an activity or outing based on your

assigned youth's culture and heritage!



Please comment on topics and features you'd like to see in the SFCASA Forum in A.L.


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