Save the Date

SFCASA Gala 2024


Mark your calendars! 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.

SFCASA is Moving!


San Francisco CASA is moving to a new space in January. Our new space will be located on 1663 Mission St. Suite 700 San Francisco, California 94110. Help us outfit our dedicated Youth Lounge, Advocate Training Room, Kitchen and offices, by purchasing items off of our online DreamList registry! If you want to donate click the link HERE.

ADVOCATE SPOTLIGHT

Sarah Pollak


Sarah has been supporting her young person for three years. Her advocacy is a testament to the power of one consistent and caring adult to transform the lives of justice-involved youth. Sarah was informed of the young person’s lifetime of dependency system involvement prior to his young entry to delinquency involvement, and was advised that the chances of a successful outcome were slim. Sarah nevertheless went forward to meet the young man with an open mind and heart, and left her first meeting seeing the impressive and capable young person behind the lengthy record, and dedicated to helping those qualities outshine his challenging past. 


Sarah has stayed consistent, speaking with the young person nearly every day, through nine placements, through major successes like gaining his first job and graduating high school, and major challenges such as long-term detentions and losses of family and friends. Sarah takes the time in each conversation to remind the young person of his strengths, helping him remember the greatness inside of him when he can’t see it. Sarah frequently reminds the young person’s wider team just how impressive he is, sharing anecdotes that color the view the judge and other team members have of this young man, helping them to see his greatness too.


Sarah advocates hard, providing historical context to anti-social behaviors exhibited, moving accounts of the pairs’ interactions, and always jumping to find a way to meet needs creatively. This young person’s legal struggles span across 6 counties, including juvenile and adult systems. Sarah is the thread between them all, when otherwise these systems would not be communicating. Sarah has truly embodied what it means to support community connections, the young person’s service providers, professional and personal, all know to contact Sarah when it comes to supporting this young man. Sarah is commitment personified. Sarah for years has followed her young person to visit him at his many placements and detentions, often hours away. She picks up when he calls (and he calls every day). The young man knows without a doubt that Sarah is in his corner.


Sarah’s advocacy is an inspiration, and the relationship between her and the young person is a joy to witness. Thank you Sarah!

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

2024 Summer Camp Update


We are thrilled to share that SFCASA, thanks to the support of a generous donor, has committed to fund summer camps 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.

 

It’s not too early to start talking with caregivers and PSWs about summer activities, as many camps are full by March! Please join a special event hosted by the CCN: 2024 SUMMER CAMP PARTNER PANEL on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom. There will be brief presentations from community organizations offering summer camps, plenty of time for questions, and also breakout conversations amongst CASAs. Let’s make 2024 a great summer for the youth we serve! Register HERE

SF Superior Court Children's Waiting Room

Opening January 2024

Educational Advocacy

FAFSA Reminder


Are you supporting a high school senior? If so, it's time to lay the foundation for success after high school. The new streamlined FAFSA is now available HERE. Check out this FAFSA FAQ video and this webinar Training for Adult Supporters of Youth with Foster Care Experience. 

California Chafee Grant


Chafee Grant Applications are open! The Chafee grant awards $5000 per year to eligible foster youth at eligible CA colleges, universities, and career or technical schools.

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)

Corner

San Francisco City College:

Spring 2024 Registration


San Francisco City College Spring 2024 Registration is now open! To review more important enrollment dates please click here. Below you can see the dates and times for open enrollment support. If you have any questions please email [email protected].

Resources for Advocates

SFCASA Continuing Education

Opportunities have Grown!


CALIFORNIA CASA E-LEARNING CENTER NOW AVAILABLE!

 

California CASA has collaborated with CollaborNation to host the E-Learning Center for CASA staff and volunteers to access and use across the state! This new online resource is available and live 24/7 with a growing catalog of recorded and/or interactive training opportunities that you can start utilizing to complete the mandated 12 hours of in-service training for CASA volunteers each year.

 

Simply click here to create an account, following the steps outlined in this guide. For a deeper dive into how to utilize the platform, please click here to download a short presentation on the topic. You can access California CASA’s E-Learning Center FAQ by following this link.


Court Reports in Advocate Link


Pro Tips:


  • Write text directly into the dialogue boxes in A.L. (Do not copy and paste from elsewhere)
  • Use the youth's full name - no need for initials in the data base
  • Be sure to save and submit when you are ready for your Case Supervisor to review


Instructions for writing your next court report in A.L. can be found HERE

 

Please reach out to our Data Specialist, Janey Kemp at [email protected] for support or with any questions. Thank you! 


Court Hearings Changes:

Now on Zoom


Starting January 2024 virtual appearances for all court hearings will change from Blue Jeans to Zoom. You will receive updated hearing instructions when you receive your court documents from [email protected]. Please contact your case supervisor if you have any questions!

Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Forms


You have now all received two forms, which you are required to sign for you current assignment and any future assignments. These are a conflict of interest form and a confidentiality form, which you should have received via email. If you have not yet signed them and are unable to find them in your inbox, please email [email protected] to have them resent.

Continuing Education for Advocates

TALK SAVES LIVES: SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Wednesday, Jan 10, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:30pm on Zoom (2 CE Credits)  hosted by California CASA with Christina Huntress, Area Director, Greater San Francisco Bay Area, AFSP

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Talk Saves Lives has long been one of the country’s leading suicide prevention education programs, covering the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight this leading cause of death. The newly updated module of this essential program, Talk Saves Lives™: Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community gives participants essential and lifesaving understanding of topics including:

  • Suicide risk and its unique considerations in LGBTQ communities
  • Recognizing suicide risk factors and warning signs for LGBTQ people
  • Protective factors that can help lower the suicide rate
  • The latest research related to LGBTQ suicide prevention
  • How to seek and offer support for yourself or others
  • Crisis resources and services for the LGBTQ community
  • What communities can do to support LGBTQ people

We all have a role to play in preventing suicide, and those in the LGBTQ community may face additional challenges and barriers to help because of discriminatory factors. This new program informs more people of the best ways to provide caring and support to those who need it. 

Register HERE


BODY SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

Tuesday, January 16, 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 younger.

Register HERE


CCN - CASA COMMUNITY NETWORK HUDDLE - JANUARY

Monday, January 22, 2024, 6:00 - 7:00 PM on Zoom. (1 CE Credit)

Please join us on Monday, January 22nd from 6:00PM - 7:00PM for the CASA Community Network Huddle. This will be an opportunity for CASAs to share our hopes for the New Year, or any resolutions we're helping our youth set and achieve in 2024. It will be a great chance to learn from each other about ways to support the young person we serve.

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

 

NEW ADVOCATE WORKSHOP CE

Wednesday, January 31, 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


THE UPS & DOWNS OF THE CASA ROLE WORKSHOP

Monday, February 12, 2024, 6-8 pm on Zoom (2 CE Credits) with Dr. Natalia Estassi

Navigating the challenges of being a CASA can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you serve a transitional age youth, and have felt disappointed, frustrated, and/or sad please know you are not alone! It is normal for Advocates to wonder if they have done enough, and even doubt themselves. Sometimes we find that we have to let go of the visions and dreams we have for our assigned youth, when things don't work out the way we had hoped. Please join us in conversation and learn how to navigate the letting go process, including establishing new expectations and boundaries with Dr. Natalia Estassi.

Register HERE


USING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH

Saturday, February 24, 10:00am-12:00noon on Zoom (2 CE Credits) with Allison Roeser

Foster youth often miss out on social-emotional learning (SEL), an integral part of human development that contributes to well-being, due to instability and trauma. In

this CE we will review the basics of SEL, including an overview of each of the five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. We will explore strategies you can apply immediately to support your youth to develop, and to increase engagement and connection.

Register HERE


SPECIAL CCN PRESENTATION: 2024 SUMMER CAMP PARTNER PANEL

Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom. (2 CE Credits)

Please join us for a special CCN presentation with representatives from organizations who provide youth summer camps. SFCASA has committed to fund the cost of summer camps for all youth served, regardless of location. Since many camps fill up by March, we’d like to support all CASAs to get a jump on summer activity planning. There will be brief presentations, plenty of time for questions, and also breakout conversations amongst CASAs. Let’s make 2024 a great summer for the youth we serve!

Register HERE


SFCASA FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP CE

Monday, March 25th , 2024, 5:30 PM- 8:00 PM at SFCASA 1663 Mission St. Suite 700, SF . (2 CE Credits)

Please join us for an evening of fun, food and community! . Our Community Partner Shevaghna Milton from Self Help Credit Union will be presenting on topics including: How to Open a Bank Account;  What is Credit?;  Money Management and more. All CASAs are welcome and we are excited to offer this CE for CASA’s and their Youth (age 16+).  Each youth participant will receive a $25 gift card from SFCASA. Dinner will be served from 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM.

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

SFCASA is moving to a

new office January 15th!

Our new office location will be at

1663 Mission St. Suite 700.



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


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