Upcoming CASA Training Sessions
Advocates are required to have 12 hours of training during each fiscal year. If you are interested in attending any of the following classes, "Click to RSVP" below.
These classes are available for sworn-in advocates, staff, and Board Members.
50 Free Fall/Winter Activities
Tuesday, October 20th
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Virtual Training
Join Angelica Garza, Director of Fundraising and Grants at Boysville for a walking tour! She will share insights into the history of Boysville, programs they offer such as their emergency shelter, Mothers in training program, Parenting education, and more! This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a partnering agency that works with CASA and learn how to support children experiencing foster care. RSVP Required!
Offsite Boysville Tour
Friday, October 23rd
10:00 - 11:30 AM
In Person Training
Join Angelica Garza, Director of Fundraising and Grants at Boysville for a walking tour! She will share insights into the history of Boysville, programs they offer such as their emergency shelter, Mothers in training program, Parenting education, and more! This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a partnering agency that works with CASA and learn how to support children experiencing foster care. RSVP Required!
Understanding Autism in Kids 0-17
Monday, November 2nd
1:00 - 2:30 PM
Virtual Training
Join Iris Nuno and Aldo Ruiz, Community Parent Educators with ABC Southwest Texas, for an engaging training focused on understanding Autism in children ages 0-17. Discover how to recognize the characteristics and levels of Autism, learn effective support strategies, and find helpful resources. The session will also present recent statistics and offer a brief overview of self-care for adults supporting children with Autism.
Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention
Thursday, November 5th
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Virtual Training
Join Sonia Alaniz,South Texas Education Chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, as she discusses suicide’s impact on individuals and families. She will also discuss the most up to date research on prevention, common risk factors, and how to spot warning signs in others.
Friends & Family Movie Screening: Instant Family
Saturday, November 14th
10:00 - 1:00 PM
In Person Training
Join us for a movie screening of Instant Family (2018)! Get a chance to connect, reconnect, and meet new faces. We encourage you to invite anyone interested in learning more about CASA. There will be time for you to mingle and chat while your loved ones are in the information session. You will receive 2.5 hours of CE Credit when you stay for the film! Advocates in attendance will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a prize!
Continuing Education Refresher
Wednesday, December 2nd
10:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual Training
Join Megan Garcia, Continuing Education Coordinator with CASA, for an overview of Continuing Education. Learn more about how to register for upcoming training and explore a variety of CE credit opportunities, including CASA College, books, movies, and more. Bring your questions, share your ideas, and dive into everything Continuing Education has to offer!
Active Listening & Connecting with Youth
Thursday, December 3rd
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual Training
Join Yvonne Ordaz, LMSW, and JoAnn Herring, CASA staff advocates, as they discuss all things Active Listening. They will review the impact of trauma on children, provide some examples of what Active Listening can look like, as well as barriers to it. Yvonne has a combined 3 year tenure in the child welfare space and JoAnn has a combined 9 years, together they will share some of their own experiences while working their CASA cases.
Advocate Cookie Exchange & Training Event
Saturday, December 5th
9:00 - 12:00 PM
In Person Training
It’s time for our annual CE/ACE Holiday Training Event and Cookie Exchange! Join us to explore more about Holiday Stress for Youth in Foster Care and learn how to build resilience as an advocate. We will kick off the day by discussing the do’s and don’ts of the holidays, how to support difficult emotions, identify holiday trauma triggers, and how to best show up for your CASA kiddos. To conclude our day, we will focus on Resilience R.O.L.E.S., dedicating time for self-reflection. We will learn more about the R.O.L.E.S process, which will help you look inward, identify personal triggers, shift your mindset, and create a constructive plan for moving forward. And of course, bring your favorite cookie to share with your fellow advocates throughout the day!!
JFS Project Laundh
Friday, December 11th
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual Training
Join Erica Divine, LPC, from Jewish Family Services (JFS), and Mackenzie Olearnick, Specialty Team Manager with CASA, as they discuss JFS and therapeutic services for children. Learn more about how JFS assists children ages 6 to 25 who are experiencing the foster care system, including eligibility requirements and the referral process. We will also address the significance of utilizing therapy services for children in care and how CASA advocates can effectively approach those conversations with the children and their caregivers.
