Voice, Healing, and Security

May is National Foster Care Month

Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.

National Foster Care Month is an initiative of the Children's Bureau. Each May, we take time to raise awareness of issues related to foster care and acknowledge the parents, family members, foster parents, child welfare and related professionals, mentors, policymakers, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.

Holistic transition planning is one way we can ensure young people have the tools they need to succeed. Planning for the transition to adulthood is an important goal of case planning for all young people in foster care. Still, it sometimes falls short of preparing young people for the emotional, psychological, and developmental aspects of transitioning from care. Taking a holistic approach to these plans and starting conversations with young people about their future in their early teenage years—not a few months before they turn 18—can make a huge difference.

Click here to read more.

Retrieved 5/1/2025 from https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/about-national-foster-care-month/

End of School Year Advocacy

The end of the 2024-2025 School Year is right around the corner. While we gather educational information throughout the year, it is important to get an end of the year status. This information helps with developing educational advocacy plans that may be needed to help our CASA children with getting off to a good start when the 2025-2026 school year begins. Below are some things to remember as you gather information:

Click here to read the full document

Remember to keep your CASA Volunteer file up-to-date with your current auto insurance card, driver's license, and contact information. And remember to visit your CASA child face-to-face at least once a month.

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Upcoming Trainings, Webinars, and Conferences

*CASA Volunteers are required to receive 12 Continuing Education hours per year. Only 4 can be articles, newsletters, and films.

Ongoing: TBRI Fridays

Ongoing eLearning: Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy

Louisiana Children's Trust Fund

Access past sessions on LCTF website here: https://www.louisianactf.org/speaker-series21.html

Brave children tell their stories. Courageous adults help these children through their trauma and assist them in finding a safe future. Buttons of Bravery represent the journey of one child for a year under the care of Child Advocacy Services.

In 2024, Child Advocacy Services CASA Program served 456 children with 177 volunteers dedicating over 6,251 hours. The CAC Program provided 776 forensic interviews and counseling sessions to children and families.

YOU can help us do more by investing in services for children!

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