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 11th at 6:00 PM for dinner, drinks, raffles, and community!
RSVP HERE
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Interested in tax filing? Volunteer with SFCASA’s VITA site!
Want to help current/former foster youth file their taxes? Volunteer with SFCASA’s VITA site!
SFCASA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site is gearing up for the 2025 tax season and we need YOUR support. VITA volunteers are not required to have any tax preparation experience. We provide training to ensure you get IRS certified.
For more information, visit our website.
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Mayoral Candidates' Forum on
Foster Care and Juvenile Justice
SFCASA and Safe & Sound are excited to invite you to a Mayoral Candidates' Forum on Foster Care and Juvenile Justice to be held on Tuesday, 10/1 at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House! Come hear from the mayoral candidates about how investment in improving the foster care and juvenile justice systems and supporting families from the start can lead to safer and healthier communities for all San Franciscans. Youth and parents with lived expertise will join our moderators in asking questions of the candidates. We hope you can join us!
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Dana has been an extraordinary and supportive CASA since she started working with her young person in 2023.
When Dana started on this case, she came up with ideas and questions to highlight her young person's personality, strengths, and hobbies. She came with a purpose to know who they were, what did they like to, and their interests. At the time, the attorney mentioned that they liked art. When Dana reached out to the young person, they talked about ideas to incorporate it in their visits. Such as enlisting them to creative writing classes, and Hip-Hop dance classes.
Dana agreed to hold educational rights for her assigned youth, as there were some concerns about improving grade levels, progress tracking, and credit keeping during placement changes. Dana even took her young person on a college tour. Dana has worked closely with the PSW on Transitional Independent Living Plans, TILP, to incorporate goals for the her young person.
Dana and her young persons relationship has blossomed into a personal and supportive relationship. With Dana’s youthful spirit, her young person has connected organically with Dana with excitement to look forward to visits, ideas for the next activity, and simply having good conversations with a hint of humor.
We appreciate Dana's trauma informed approach by collaborating with the team of service providers to help her young person. Dana has been awesome in being youth focused. Dana continues to be her cheerleader and a nurturing protector.
Thank you for all you do, Dana!!
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ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH | |
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Funding for Youth Needs
We are so grateful to our advocates who help their youth get funding for basic and special occasion needs!
We encourage you to access the many grants available to CASAs and Foster Youth for school supplies, extracurricular activities, basic needs and special occasions.
The SFCASA Sunshine Fund should be thought of as a back-up plan if or when the community-based grants don't cover the need. The Sunshine fund is meant to fill gaps rather than be the primary funding source for youth needs. Thank you!
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BlueWater Sailing: September 21st | |
CASAs and youth will enjoy a morning learning how to sail and enjoy being out on the Bay. Please consider joining us on September 21st for a special day on the bay. We sail for about 2 hours and breakfast and snacks will be provided during the sail.
If you are interested please email siera@sfcasa.org. SFCASA can also provide transportation options.
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SFCASA and the Bike Coalition are hosting a Bike and Ride event!
October 12th from 11-2PM at India Basin Park
Come join us for a fun day riding bikes and having a picnic!
If you would like to sign up or have any questions please email Siera@sfcasa.org
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Free Horse Care and Riding Lessons | Email sue@sfcasa.org for information | | | |
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Please share your assigned youth's current school and grade level with your Case Supervisor
If they need support with back to school clothing, haircuts & styling and school supplies? Please take advantage of the many grants available to CASAs and Foster Youth to set your student up for success.
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Youth in foster care are often several grade levels behind their peers. Intensive, remedial academic support can bolster a student’s confidence in the school setting and enable them to catch up to their classmates.
Andrameda Math Partners
All our tutoring is free, and our goal is to serve middle and high school students from low-income families.
Open Registration for our Fall Tutoring Semester (8/26/24 - 12/13/23) Open now! For any new students who might be interested in registering for our fall tutoring session, they can fill out the following Open Registration form for new AMP students:
Learn To Be Tutoring
Learn to Be is a free remote tutoring service that supports students in grades K-12 in math, reading, writing, and English. All of the tutoring is done through an online classroom platform by volunteer tutors. Once enrolled, a student’s caregiver (or CASA) can have access to a portal that shares the attendance record of the youth, the post-session evaluations, and tutor notes. All tutors who are 18 or older are fully background-checked and receive support from the LTB tutor online community.
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San Francisco Independent Living
Skills Program (ILSP)
| SF ILSP serves young people between the ages of 16 and 21 who have been in foster care or the juvenile justice system as they prepare for adulthood and independence. We offer a variety of group and individualized services to support our young people’s pursuit of their education, employment, and life goals. To refer a youth ILSP please contact siera@sfcasa.org. | | | |
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This is a prevention group where youth can learn about human trafficking and HART services. We will have food and youth will receive a $50 incentive gift card for participation/completion.
Please have the youth complete the google form to participate in the group. They can scan the QR code.
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Smart Money Coaching provides free, confidential, one-on-one financial guidance. The program is available to anyone living, working or receiving services in San Francisco, regardless of citizenship status. Our coaches are fluent in Spanish, with additional translation services as requested. Register here. | | | |
Continuing Education for Advocates | |
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL 101 WEBINAR: FOSTERING CONNECTIONS SO EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS (John Burton Advocates for Youth)
The National Working Group of Foster Care and Education will host a back-to-school webinar to address how child welfare practitioners and agency staff can support the school stability and success of students in foster care. The webinar will provide information on key federal laws and guidance, such as school of origin, best interest determinations, school transportation, and immediate school enrollment. This webinar will also provide helpful tools and resources, including best practices from across the country that highlight effective collaboration and improved student outcomes.
Thursday, September 5, 2024, 10 am - 11:30 pm on Zoom
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SUPPORTING YOUTH THROUGH A PLACEMENT CHANGE WORKSHOP with Allison Roeser
During our time as a CASA, it’s very common for the youth we support to experience a placement change. These changes are impactful for youth and can range from feeling positive and welcomed to challenging and unwanted. Allison Roeser will support us as we learn from experienced CASAs, sharing real-life examples on how we can assist our youth during a placement change. CASA staff will also share some tips and guidelines to help along the way. In this workshop format, participants will have time to talk with each other and ask questions in small groups. You’ll leave with clear next steps and strategies on how you can support your youth during this tender time.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 6-8p on Zoom
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NEW ADVOCATE WORKSHOP CE
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.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom.
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COUNTER TRANSFERENCE AND SELF AWARENESS with Dr. Natalia Estassi
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.
Monday, September 23, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom
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EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS HOLDER 101 With Shira Andron from SFUSD Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program
If you hold Ed Rights for your assigned youth, please plan to attend this important training. Join Shira Andron from SFUSD's Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program for a brief overview of current laws and best practices for educational advocacy AND a chance to ask questions and have conversations with other CASA ERHs. Dinner will be provided!
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 6:00 - 8:00 PM IN-PERSON at SFCASA Training Room @ 1663 Mission St. SF
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We want to hear your ideas for future trainings!
Email training@sfcasa.org
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Go on a Useful Adventure! | | |
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Find out what your assigned youth is good at or interested in, and take them on an adventure to learn more about it! Are they into baking? Visit a bakery and ask if you can speak with the head baker. Are they fascinated with animals? Take them to visit the zoo or an animal shelter.
Get creative and go on a useful adventure to help them learn more about their strengths and interests!
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