SFCASA August Newsletter

Thank you for Advocacy!

Thanks to all of you who wrote to and showed up at the Board of Supervisors budget meeting! The Mayor recently signed the budget with $175,000 allocated for “Advocates to connect foster care clients to resources,” a huge win for SF’s foster youth. Thank you!

SFCASA is Hiring!

SFCASA is hiring for two positions! Case Supervisor and Aftercare Services and Tax Project Specialist. We hope you, a valued and experienced CASA, will consider joining the team!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Advocate Appreciation Party

We've missed you and can't wait to celebrate all you do for SFCASA's youth! You and a guest are invited to our Advocate Appreciation Party on Wednesday September 13th at 6:00 PM for dinner, drinks, raffles, and community! Questions? Email Jennifer: [email protected]. RSVP HERE.

Castro Street Fair

Volunteers Needed!

SFCASA would be volunteering at the Castro Street fair October 1st! If you would like to volunteer please registers HERE. Everyone can volunteer on behalf SFCASA at this event, please share this invitation with friends and family. HS and College students who need volunteer hours will receive credit. CASA volunteers will get CE credits as well.

SFCASA 2023 Holiday Gift Drive

It's that time of the year to start asking your youth what they may want from the SFCASA gift drive. We will be opening up our gift drive request forms October 2.

Advocate Spotlight

Sara Dodge

Sarah has been matched with her young person for 1.5 years and have journeyed together through many wonderful highs and challenging lows. Sarah consistently shows up for this young person picking her up from school, engaging with the teachers, providing snacks and playing on so many different playgrounds across San Francisco! They have visited the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, and Randall Museum. This young person is thriving in her foster home thanks to Sarah’s watchful eyes and advocacy at every turn. This young person has experienced a difficult journey with witnessing domestic abuse and neglect and now thriving in school and confidently making new friends wherever she goes! Sarah has driven countless miles all over San Francisco, written clear and precise court reports, and spoken up when her young person’s needs were not being met.

Thank you Sarah for your big and generous heart, your hard work and advocacy. This young person is now thriving in part because of you- it is now the care team’s hope that this young person will be reunited with her mom in the near future! Thank you Sarah!

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

Back to School Drip Fest

September 30th, 12PM-8PM

The Back 2 School Drip Fest is a dynamic and inclusive gathering aimed at empowering youth and bringing the entire community closer together.

Highlights of the Event:

Live Music Performances (LaRussell, Stunnaman02 & DJLex just to name a few)
Donated Clothing and Footwear Giveaway
Local Artisans Providing Hairstyling & Barbering Services
Engaging and Interactive Activities (Live Art, Breakdancing, Open Mic

Can U Relate?

Can you Relate? is hosting their new October cohort from October 9 - 30, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday from 5:30PM - 7:00PM for 10 sessions total (1.5 hours each) via Zoom. Participants (ages 14 - 19) can earn up to $100 in gift cards and win themed prizes, and students who enroll by September 27 can also receive a Halloween-themed swag bag!

Planned Parenthood Health Clinics

Planned Parenthood will be at HYPE the following dates to facilitate sexual health workshops. Sept 14, Oct 12, Nov 9.

Free Therapeutic Horse Riding Sessions in SF

Would the youth you serve benefit from learning about emotional regulation, mindfulness, and body awareness with gentle rescue horses? Youth ages 4-21 are eligible for fun, low-key and safe riding sessions at Brady Therapeutic Riding located at the SF Zoo. Intro sessions include grooming and saddling a horse, and a riding lesson if the youth chooses. The staff at Brady Riding are wonderfully supportive and help youth to let go of stories, be more present, and be aware of their body as they learn to ride. There are no foster youth labels or jargon at “Hanging with the Horses”, just a time and space to learn, grow and heal.

SFCASA covers the cost of sessions. Introductory sessions are on Sunday mornings, after which times can be scheduled on afternoons W-F, and Saturdays. Please contact Program Manager Sue Lockyer ([email protected]) for more information or to get started with “Hanging with the Horses”.

Educational Advocacy

Back to School Reminders

The new school year has begun! Please be sure to add the youth’s school placement and their grade level to Advocate Link. If the school does not populate in Advocate Link, please email the info to your Case Supervisor. If the student is in Special Education and started at a new school, please remember to ask for a 30-day IEP to assess if the placement is beneficial to the student. To request this IEP, simply email the student’s case manager and request a 30-day IEP. For additional support navigating this process, register for this virtual event being held on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 1p: “Back-to-School: Preparing for the One-month Check-in" with Dr. Sarah Pelangka.

Andromeda Math Partners

Does the student you support need additional academic support? Check out our Tutoring Opportunities! SF CASA has partnerships with Learn to Be and Andromeda Math Partners. They offer free, virtual tutoring sessions. Students who enroll in Andromeda Math Partners will receive a gift card and will be incentivized for continued participation. For more information, check in with your Case Supervisor or [email protected].

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)

Corner

College Jump Program

College Jump Service & Program are now accepting applications for fall 2023. This program is for 12-24 years olds who are looking to learn more about the college process AND/OR assistance on attending college. Our 1st session will be September 11th, 2023! This program is a 4-week program that consists of:

· Researching Colleges
· College Admissions & Fundamentals
· Financial Aid Fundamentals
· Tips To Succeed in College

Resources for Advocates

Podcast with Great.com

Our People & Culture Leader, Shiko Wanjiku M.Ed., was interviewed by Great.com Talks With, a wonderful podcast featuring weekly interviews with advocates for good. We invite you to listen to the podcast and share it with friends and family who might be interested in becoming CASA volunteers. Listen Here!

Intro to Estate Planning Webinar

October 12th, 12PM - 1PM

As a community of caregivers, we sometimes forget to plan for our own futures and our families. Thanks to SFCASA’s generous board member Ken Tang, SFCASA’s Fostering Futures Circle invites you to join us for an online introduction to legacy planning webinar. At its core, legacy (or estate) planning is about family and community, love and values. Important life events are also critical times for you to think about your plans. Have you recently started a family, purchased a home, lost a loved one, or changed careers? This introduction can help you get started, and we’ll provide some resources for specific situations. Register Here.

New Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Forms

It’s finally happening! In August we will implement new confidentiality and conflict of interest policies and forms specific to your assigned case(s). You will be receiving these forms from Adobe Sign. Thank you in advance for your swift completion and submission of these forms! In the meantime, please reach out to Director of Programs Erika Dirkse with any questions.

Continuing Education for Advocates

FOSTER YOUTH BILL OF RIGHTS

Multiple dates/times on Zoom (2 CE credits) Presented by The Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson

These virtual trainings are instructor-led, interactive classes designed to improve your knowledge about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. For more information, please check out our website or call The Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson M-F 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM at 1-877-846-1602

SEPTEMBER 7 @ 10 AM – 12 PM

SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS HOLDERS hosted by California CASA.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 12:00 PM on Zoom (2 CE credits)

California CASA is excited to provide an in-depth look at Educational Rights Holders during which we will be discussing the role of the advocate in supporting educational and academic success. This includes the role of an Educational Rights Holder, the Best Interest Determination process, and school stability protections. Additional information will be provided on educational entitlements, available supports, and the role FYSCPs (Foster Youth Services - California Department of Education) can play in supporting children and youth in foster care.

HELPING YOUTH TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH (For advocates working with older youth, teens, and young adults )

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 6-8 PM via Zoom with Kidpower (2 CE Credits)

We know that emotional health is as important as physical health. We are safest when we have strategies to take charge of our own emotional wellbeing. In this workshop, we will explore how to adapt Kidpower methods to teach, practice, and reinforce skills to help young people including:

Focus attention on what they can do
Protect themselves from negative beliefs
Understand & manage emotional triggers
Create positive connections & healthy relationships
Set and uphold boundaries
Protect their personal safety

This workshop will include practice methods to adapt to different ages and abilities of youth.

CCN - CASA COMMUNITY NETWORK HUDDLE – September

Monday September 25, 2023 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Zoom (1 CE credit)

Please join us on Monday, September 25th from 6:00PM - 7:00PM for the CASA Community Network with time to share with our CASA colleagues.

Topic: Showing appreciation and building and maintaining a relationship with your young person.

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.

ENGAGING WITH PARENTS - BEST PRACTICE (Whole advocacy)

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 6-8 PM IN PERSON (SFCASA Volunteer Annex 2535 Mission St., SF) (2 CE Credits)

Join us for a very special evening with Joey Cordero, a parent that has been impacted by the system and Owner of Cordero Consulting. Joey is engaging and has a wealth of experience, as a leader of a fatherhood group for young fathers who are system-involved. He will share about what birth parents must overcome within the legal timeline, and the complicating factors of co-parenting vs co dependency while in the child welfare system. You will come away with tips on how you as CASA can support whole family advocacy in the best interest of the youth you serve. Dinner will be provided so come a few minutes early if you can!

EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS HOLDER (ERH) WORKSHOP

Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM IN PERSON (SFCASA Volunteer Annex 2535 Mission St., SF) (2 CE Credits)

Join SFCASA and San Francisco Unified School District for our IEP Workshop. We encourage you to bring your youth’s IEP, questions, and concerns as it pertains to the educational needs of your youth. CASAs and ERHs are welcome! You will develop a better understanding of the IEP collaborating, writing, and implantation process. Light refreshments will be served.

DISCOVERING YOUR UNIQUE VALUES & INTERNAL MOTIVATORS AS A CASA

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 6:00-8:00pm on Zoom with Allison Roeser (2 CE credits)

Do you ever wonder about your specific strengths as a CASA or how you could be demonstrating them more consistently with your youth? Or, maybe you’d like to identify and name what really motivates you about doing this work. During this CE we will uncover YOUR unique strengths and values as a CASA as well as identifying what is most important to you about being a volunteer. Participants will have the opportunity to talk with each other and share insights. You will also leave with practical tools for advocating and navigating youth challenges that come from your best resource… you!

NEW ADVOCATE SUPPORT GROUP CE

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 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. All new Advocates (sworn-in June and November 2023) are asked to attend.

PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION with Kidpower (Focusing on advocates working with older youth, teens, and young adults) Wednesday, October 18 6-8pm via Zoom with KIDpower (2 CE Credits)

Even though an individual person does not have the power to change big social problems like racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ableism on their own, we each DO have the power to take action that can help prevent or reduce harm for ourselves, our loved one ,and others – including strangers in our communities.

Strategies will include:
Putting safety first
Assessing situations realistically
Using target denial
Staying centered
De-escalation
Setting boundaries
Getting help

We will use our free online Pridepower (Kidpower.org/pridepower) resource as a tool for exploring concepts that apply in many types of situations involving prejudice and discrimination. Participants will therefore get experience with the Pridepower resource as well.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES PANEL

Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 6-8 PM via Zoom with Alexis Austin (2 CE Credits)

Join us for this panel that will be hosted virtually. We have New Door, Learn2Be, and Andromeda Tutoring as our panelists. They will provide information about free services and how SF CASA youth can benefit from the programs that they offer. This is a great way to learn about educational supports in case the youth is struggling in a course or simply wants to strengthen their current skillset.

CCN - CASA COMMUNITY NETWORK HUDDLE – Halloween Get Together

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM (IN PERSON - 2 CE credits) (SFCASA Volunteer Annex 2535 Mission St., SF)

We have heard your recommendations regarding meeting and sharing time with other volunteers. For this month the CCN Huddle wants to do something special. On Wednesday, October 25, we will meet in person to celebrate Halloween together. Please register if you would like to participate. We only have 24 spots. Please join us for drinks, arts and crafts, snacks, and to meet other volunteers. You will receive 2 CE hours for attending to this meeting. Please email Jennifer Moya at: [email protected] if you have any questions. Costumes aren't required, but feel free to bring your Halloween spirit!

Please register HERE

FAFSA 101 FOR FOSTER YOUTH

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 6:00-8:00pm on Zoom with Ling Busche, SFUSD Student Family Services Division (2 CE credits)

The financial aid application process may feel daunting but truthfully, there is plenty of support and resources to help us, help our foster youth navigate (both in and outside of school!). This workshop is a starting point for supporters of our foster youth who are embarking on the financial aid application process (which is an expectation for all). Participants will gain a basic overview of the FAFSA/CADAA and have the chance to explore key resources (grants and scholarships for foster youth and services and programs at respective universities) that we can help our students with their postsecondary plans.

EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES (Focusing on advocates working with older youth, teens, and young adults)

Tuesday, November 7 6-8pm via Zoom with Kidpower (2 CE Credits)

Learn ways to help older youth, teens, and young adults with diverse abilities build skills and confidence to use right away to be safer and strengthen relationships of all kinds!

Using relevant role-plays and scenarios, we will practice and adapt skills for all abilities including:

Using awareness, calm, and confidence
Recognizing what is and is not safe
Move away from trouble physically, emotionally, and digitally
Setting powerful and respectful boundaries
Protecting ourselves emotionally to stay in charge of what we say and do
Advocating assertively and persistently for help with safety problems

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 Additional 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

Are you wondering how to best support educational advocacy as your youth heads back to school? Check out our Back to School Checklist with helpful tips and resources!

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