SFCASA October Newsletter

SFCASA 2023 Holiday Gift Drive

As we are planning for the Youth Holiday Party on December 9th, 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 today, October 2. You can access the form HERE.

SFCASA does our best to fulfill each gift, but we don't want to make any promises we cannot keep. We are once again asking for both gift and stocking stuffer requests. Gifts should be in the $50-$75 range, though some exceptions can be made. Contact your Case Supervisor with questions regarding the gift drive.

Gift requests are due by Thursday, October 12th. SFCASA is launching the gift drive on Friday, October 13th, and will run until the start of the Thanksgiving Holiday (Nov. 22). We may not be able to accommodate late requests.

*Remember, youth do not have to attend the party in order to receive a gift from SFCASA! Please submit a request regardless of party attendance*

We want to hear from you!

We’ve heard that some Advocates don’t feel comfortable contacting their Case Supervisor unless there is an “important” need or question. PLEASE know that we expect and welcome all of your questions big or small. Feel free to email or call anytime if you need support – you don’t need to wait for your monthly check-ins. We appreciate you and our goal is to support you!

Calling all Artists!

In our ongoing commitment to honoring "Voice," we're thrilled to announce a special transformation for our annual gala: next year, instead of the usual silent auction, we're showcasing youth-created and collaborative art. We're calling on all artists in our Advocate community to join us as thought partners in shaping this inspiring initiative. Your creativity and insights will be invaluable. If you're curious or interested, please contact Shiko at shiko@sfcasa.org. Let's unite to empower our youth and create a gala that truly reflects our SFCSA spirit. Thank you in advance for your support in uplifting youth voice!

Congratulations SFCASA 2023

Summer Cohort!

Congratulations! SFCASA 2023 Summer Cohort Welcome our newest training class of CASAs sworn in a few weeks ago by the Honorable Rick Darwin! We are excited to support you as you embark on your CASA journey. We are in awe of your commitment !

UPCOMING EVENTS

Youth Holiday Party

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH

Halloween Goody Bags

Kappa Alpha Theta from the University of San Francisco graciously donated little Halloween goody bags for our youth. If you are interested in picking one up for your youth please email siera@sfcasa.org.

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. Oct 12 and Nov 9.

Huckleberry Youth Program Presents:

Parents Week

Prudential: Emerging Visionaries Program

Calling all young changemakers! Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people ages 14-18 in the US and Puerto Rico tackling financial or social issues in their communities. Apply by November 2nd for the chance to win up to $15,000 in awards, an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters, coaching, and more! Learn more and apply here!

Does this sound like someone you know? Nominate someone by sending them this form over text, email, DM, you name it. If they complete the form, we will reach out to them personally and share more about this opportunity!

Educational Advocacy

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 alexis@sfcasa.org.

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)

Corner

SFCASA Peer to Peer Grant Open!

SFCASA’s YOUth Empowerment Board is excited to announce the Peer to Peer Grant Program will be reopening on October 1^st!!! The application will open on the 1^st of every month and close on the 15^th of every month! Young people can apply for grant award amounts between $500-$1500! Young people must be between the ages of 16-24 years old, be currently or formerly system-impacted, AND be under San Francisco jurisdiction. This grant is intended to address needs such as education, transportation, housing, and more! Those who identify as Black or Black/multi-ethnic are highly encouraged to apply!

Some key things to keep in mind are:

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 must be submitted in the young person’s application or it will be denied

3. All submitted applications must have an invoice or screenshot of item with cost estimate from a business to support the amount being requested. 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. Applications do not open for viewing until the 1^st of every month.

To access the application please use the QR code or link on the flyer. You can also access the application here! For any questions please feel free to reach out to TAY Specialist and Case Supervisor, Theodora at theodora@sfcasa.org / 628-867-7373 or to our SFCASA YOUth Empowerment Board at youthempowermentboard.sfcasa@gmail.com !

Bridges Fellowship: Video Production Program

Bridges Fellowship is a non-profit organization that provides free media training to young adults from underserved communities. Video production can be a powerful tool for social change, and we are committed to training the next generation of storytellers. Our program is designed to teach young adults the skills they need to create professional-quality videos, from scripting and filming to editing and post-production. We are particularly interested in recruiting young adults from your organization who may be interested in using video production to tell the stories of their community, promote social justice, or develop their professional skills. Our program is open to all San Francisco youth, regardless of experience or background.

In addition to providing free training, Bridges Fellowship participants also receive a $500 incentive payment at the end of each semester. This is to help offset the costs of transportation, commitment of time, and other expenses associated with participating in the program. If you are interested you can contact our Program Manager, Paul Abueg-Igaz directly at paul@bavc.org or apply HERE.

Resources for Advocates

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking intersect around abuse, violence, power and control. Those with the least amount of power experience the highest rates of violenceLike domestic violence survivors, trafficking survivors often suffer violence from those familiar and close to them.

Understanding the connections between human trafficking and domestic violence is key to identifying root causes of gender-based violence. It is also critical in determining the rights and appropriate legal forms of criminal, civil, and immigration relief.

Want to learn more about these intersections?

Justice At Last has teamed up with the Family Violence Law Center and Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR) to provide a training about the intersections of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Please join us October 12th, from 12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time, for this FREE and VIRTUAL training.Training Registration

Justice At Last is a 501c3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible and monies raised will go directly to our training and legal programs to represent, advocate and support trafficked persons.

Former Foster Youths Launch Podcast on Sexual Health, Identity and More

The Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth (RHEP) has launched Self-Taught, a podcast for foster youth that addresses sensitive topics such as sexual health, relationships, and identity.

The podcast can be found on YouTube and is hosted by former foster youth. Past episodes have focused on sexual and reproductive health, intersectional identity, consent, and reparenting, amongst other relevant topics. Episodes are meant to spark questions and provide resources, answers, empowerment, and community. Self-Taught is hosted by the RHEP youth advisory board at the National Center for Youth Law.

San Francisco Collaborative

Against Human Trafficking

Join us November 3 for a full day conference with law enforcement agencies, businesses, survivors, service providers, and volunteers as we explore the complex aspects of the pursuit of justice in the work on prosecuting and preventing human trafficking and protecting the survivors. Learn about effective partnerships and innovative programs in the field. Share your experience and network with other professionals and volunteers fighting human trafficking. Breakfast & Lunch will be provided to participants. Register Here.

Registration deadline - October 29, 2023, 5:00pm PT

Early Bird deadline - October 3rd at 5:00pm PT

Friday, November 3 · 8:30am - 4:30pm PDT

State of California / Milton Marks Conference Center

455 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102

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.

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.

OCTOBER 5 @ 5:30 PM –7:30 PM

NOVEMBER 2 @ 10 AM – 12 PM

DECEMBER 7 @ 5:3O PM --7:30 PM

EXPLORING YOUR UNIQUE VALUES & MOTIVATORS AS A CASA

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

This evening is a great chance to build community and dive into your specific strengths and values that show up in the CASA role with LifeCoach and Educator Allison Roeser. Together we will identif what really motivates you and uncover YOUR unique strengths and values as a CASA. You 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.

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: jennifer@sfcasa.org 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.

VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND SELF CARE

Thursday, November 2, 2023 6:00-8:00pm on Zoom with Allison Roeser (2 CE credits)

A reality of the CASA role is that we are exposed to the trauma(s) experienced by the youth we serve. SFCASA wants to support you to be aware of how trauma exposure might affect you, and how you can practice and model self-care. In this workshop, you will connect with other CASAs who have similar experiences, build community, and explore self-care strategies that can empower your advocacy. This CE is helpful for ALL Advocates!

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

KNOWING MY RIGHTS WORKSHOP (Especially for advocates working with older youth, teens, and young adults )

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom with FLY (Fresh Lifelines for Youth) (2 CE Credits)

FLY’s mission is to partner with youth to unlock their potential, disrupt the pipeline to prison, and advance justice in California and beyond. We are pleased to collaborate with the non-profit organization FLY to support your advocacy for youth and the juvenile justice system. Learning outcomes include:

What are Rights?
What is a Police Encounter?
When are officers allowed to speak to a youth without a warrant?
Knowing My Rights P2
Stay alive
What are my rights after I am arrested?

We look forward to seeing you there!

HOLIDAY BLUES: WORKING WITH YOUTH WHO ARE STRESSED AND DEPRESSED

Wednesday, November 15th at 6-8 PM via Zoom (2 CE Credits) with Dr. Natalia Estassi.

Stress can increase their depression, anxiety, and trigger suicidal thoughts. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1 million people die each year from suicide. It is the SECOND leading cause of death for ages 10-24 and the THIRD leading cause of death for college-age youth and ages 12-18. Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs. Learn how to recognize these warning signs and what you can do to save a life. Review the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety and how they are directly linked to suicide. Study misconceptions about suicide and how to address them in your work. Discuss several tips on preventing suicide, including how to assess the level of suicide risk. Explore common suicide risk factors for children and teens, including problems that may trigger a suicide attempt. Examine alarming statistics to remind you of your crucial role as providers to assess and address suicide with all our youth. Learn how you can make a difference!

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 training@sfcasa.org

CASA Tip of the Month

Here are some suggested questions you can ask with bio parents to support your advocacy for their child:

“What’s your favorite thing to do with your son/daughter?”

“What’s the best way I can be there for your child?”

“Does your child have any current needs or challenges that I can support with?”

CASAs can be an ally and resource for parents who are working towards reunification. Please get into conversation with your Case Supervisor if you have any questions. Thanks!

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