Advocate Continuing Education

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH 

ENGAGING IN COLLEGE DOCKET  

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Sam Barton, College Docket Supervisor & Jennifer Crippen, Collaborative Engagement Team Manager at CASA, will be training advocates on the College Docket program. Come join us to learn about the benefits of college docket for children who experience foster care and are getting ready to journey into the world of higher education! Learn about the importance of collaboration, how the program benefits youth, and how to get involved in educational advocacy.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH 

TEEN DATING VIOLENCE 

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Christina Campos, the Director of Community Integrated Services at Family Violence Prevention Services, will speak into the growing concern of Teen Dating Violence and resources available for youth. She will discuss common risk factors of dating violence such as diverse backgrounds, gender, age, and more. Grow your advocate toolkit on educating teens on your cases about healthy relationships!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH  

SURVIVOR SENSITIVITY 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Sydney Kuehne, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Rape Crisis Center, for a discussion on Survivor Sensitivity. Grow your advocate toolkit as Sydney facilitates a conversation of working with survivors of sexual assault, providing effective support, and available resources in the community. Additionally, attendees will become more familiar with how to acknowledge provider & caregiver secondhand trauma.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH 

EFFECTIVELY TESTIFYING IN COURT 

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

IN-PERSON TRAINING

Join Jennifer Crippen, the Collaborative Engagement Team Manager, as she shares effective strategies for testifying in court. You will learn helpful tips and important do’s and don'ts for both testifying and collaborating with individuals involved in your cases. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to engage with other CASA staff and advocates during breakout sessions to practice these skills!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH 

ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN IN CARE 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Ray Gutierrez, Behavior Specialist with Seguin ISD and CEO of Viven FC, will share his personal experiences as a former youth who experienced foster care. He will also touch on the benefits of advocacy and the potential impact that trauma based experiences can have on youth as they transition into adulthood.

MONDAY, MARCH 3RD 

STOP THE CYCLE: BULLYING AWARENESS 

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Stan Waddell, LPC-S of Learning & Development at Centene Corporation will discuss the statistics of those who have been bullied due to various reasons such as physical appearance, race, gender, etc. He will also address the potential trauma and brain development of children with bullying tendencies. Lastly, he will explore collaborative efforts to effectively intervene and support the children on your cases coping from bullying.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH

SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH CHOSEN SERVICES  

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Meredith Hall, Intake Specialist & Care Manager at Chosen, for an in-depth overview of their services. Explore their agencies' family systems approach, care management, referral process, and how they support youth in overcoming trauma by building strong, stable relationships in foster, kinship, adoptive, and reunified families.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH 

ADDRESSING STIGMA & SUBSTANCE USE 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Leticia Sharp, Recovery Support Peer Specialist at the San Antonio Council on Alcohol & Drug Awareness (SACADA) will cover substance use disorders. As part of her discussion we will review definitions and background information, explain the concept of stigma and how it impacts individuals with substance use disorders. She will also highlight the importance of language in these discussions when collaborating with other partners or families.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26TH

STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS   

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Pamela De la Torre and Will Brown, Team Managers with CASA, for a training focused on collaborating with parents in your cases. Discover the do's and don'ts of working with parents, how to meet CASA standards, and essential considerations for effective engagement. Enhance your skills in communication and advocacy to support reunification efforts.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION: BEHAVIOR VS. SENSORY  

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Melissa Davis, ECI Training Coordinator at Brighton Center, as she discusses the differences between behavior and sensory issues in infants aged 0-3 years. She will also cover how to identify key distinctions between behavioral outbursts vs sensory and the signs when it may be appropriate to refer a child for special needs services.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH 

CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS IN SAN ANTONIO   

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Dr. Parmar, a Child Abuse Pediatrician Fellow at the Center for Miracles, will discuss how child abuse may present to non-medical mandated reporters in San Antonio. He will compare statistics from our area to national figures. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the basic indicators of physical abuse and neglect, risk factors associated with child physical abuse, and the effects of these issues on children and families. Disclaimer: Graphic Images

MONDAY, APRIL 7TH 

BUILDING RAPPORT WITH CFE TOOLS  

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Victoria Lara, the Collaborative Family Engagement Supervisor with CASA, as she discusses how to build rapport with the children in your cases by utilizing CFE tools. She will explore and demonstrate tools such as "My Three Houses," "Circle of Trust," and conversation cards. Don’t miss out—CFE is a fantastic way to collaborate, break the ice, and foster communication with the children and teens!

TUESDAY, APRIL 8TH 

THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED THE PATH    

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Jennifer Crippen, Collaborative Engagement Team Manager with CASA will be moderating a panel of former youth who have experienced foster care. The panel will discuss their time in care, the hurdles experienced, and the lifelong impact CASA Advocates can have on children who have aged out of the child welfare system.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH  

SA HOPE OFFSITE TOUR  

10:00 PM - 11:00 AM

IN-PERSON TRAINING 

Join Janiece Cantu, MSW, Director of Programs at SA Hope, for a presentation of their history and mission as well as a tour of the facility. Come gain insights into their collaboration with other agencies that support families in San Antonio and learn about their family assistance programs, financial literacy initiatives, positive parenting programs, and more!

MONDAY, APRIL 14TH  

CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS/PTSD     

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

VIRTUAL TRAINING

Join Anna Munoz, Trauma Prevention Specialist at Childsafe, as she explores the foundations of child stress and PTSD. She will provide essential information on the different types of trauma and their effects on the brain and development. Participants will also learn about potential triggers for children who have experienced trauma, their behavioral responses, and ways you can offer support.