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.
CREATING NORMALCY FOR CHILDREN IN CARE
Friday, June 27
12:00pm - 1:00pm
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Join Stan Waddell, LPCS, from Centene Corporation for a discussion on Creating Normalcy for Children in Care. Discover what normalcy looks like in child welfare, such as consistent relationships, decision-making power, and how these factors help children identify as a person & not a label. He will also discuss barriers to achieving normalcy such as placement moves, changes in child welfare practices, & the stigma of foster care.
OBSERVING PARENT/CHILD VISITS
Thursday, July 3rd
12:00 – 1:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Will Brown, CASA Team Manager, will share valuable insights on proper etiquette of parent-child visits and their importance for family preservation. Learn more about the guidelines for virtual and sibling visits, protocols during visitations & procedures to follow after the visits.
TEXAS CASA ANTI-CHILD TRAFFICKING PROGRAM DEBRIEF
Tuesday, July 8th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Join Torey Tipton, ACT Consultant with Texas CASA, as she explores Texas CASA's newest initiative, the Anti-Child Trafficking (ACT) program. In this session, she will review the main goal of the program: to encourage people to "see something, say something." She will highlight the signs to watch for when dealing with child trafficking, address common myths and provide valuable resources for further support.
COURT REPORT REFRESHER
Wednesday, July 9th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Will Murphy, CASA Program Director, will share valuable insights on how to create effective and persuasive court reports. He will cover detailed examples of court report formatting, clarify each section of the CASA Court Report, and offer guidance on making impactful recommendations at every stage of your case.
CLARITY CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER TOUR
Thursday, July 24th
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
IN-PERSON OFFSITE TOUR
Join us for a tour of the Clarity Child Guidance Center, led by Priscilla Sanchez-Silva, Manager of Community Initiatives and Operations. You will have the opportunity to explore the campus, including the Pediatric Psychiatric ICU Unit. Additionally, gain insight into the various services they offer, such as crisis services, inpatient and outpatient treatment, therapy, and next steps centers. RSVP Required!
DARKNESS TO LIGHT: END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Thursday, July 31st
6:00 – 8:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Emma Grimes, Outreach Coordinator, and Felicia Avalos, Education Manager with ChildSafe, will present Darkness to Light’s flagship training, Stewards of Children. This program’s goal is to reduce instances of child sexual abuse within organizations, families, and communities. Featuring interviews with groups of individuals with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, this session is an evidence-informed, adult-focused training that covers prevention, recognition, and response to cases of Child Sexual Abuse.
CREATING FAMILY CONNECTIONS WITH CFE
Monday, August 4th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Join Victoria Lara, Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) Supervisor at CASA, as she discusses how to effectively use CFE to build long-lasting connections with the children and families you work with. She will explore how CFE tools can enhance open communication, learn more about a child’s wishes & dreams, & much more!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Thursday, August 7th
6:00 – 7:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Sarah Jennings, former Assistant District Attorney with Bexar County, will discuss recent legislative updates affecting the Foster Care system. She will explain how the decrease in removals has impacted both the system and the legal process. Additionally, she will highlight the value of CASA and the differences between CASA and the prosecution during a case.
CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS IN SAN ANTONIO
Friday, August 15th
12:00 – 1:30 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Dr. Parmar, 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 & neglect, risk factors associated with child physical abuse, and the effects of these issues on children & families. Disclaimer: Graphic images
OPTIMA REFRESHER
Monday, August 18th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Melissa Summerville, CASA Team Manager, will be conducting a refresher session on how to effectively navigate the Optima platform. During this session, she will cover how to document information gathered during your case, including service recommendations, visitations, and contact logs. Additionally, there will be a live demonstration for uploading documentation & hours.
SOCIAL MEDIA 101
Thursday, August 28th
12:00pm - 1:00pm
VIRTUAL TRAINING
Join Jose Guevara, training manager at CASA, as he provides an overview of the most commonly used social media platforms by children & youth. He will discuss the differences between these platforms, what to monitor, and offer guidance on how to encourage youth to use them responsibly. Additionally, he will review CASA’s social media policy and explain how it relates to your advocacy efforts.
