Required: 12 hours per year of continued education for active Advocates (requirement begins from the date of assignment to a case). This requirement can be met through books, movies, television shows and on-line training and by attending CASA-to-CASA support groups, CASA sponsored training, and training offered in the community.
The purpose is to ensure that volunteers stay educated and informed on issues within the juvenile dependency system and specific areas of interest that relate to your individual case, or help to prepare you to work on a different type of case in the future.
Staff Picks
Just Mercy (Movie and Book): Watch or read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. A powerful and true story that follows a young civil rights lawyer on his battle for justice for those wrongly condemned in the late 1980’s.
Why Teens are Impulsive, Addiction-Prone And Should Protect Their Brains (Audio): Take a look inside the teenage brain with this quick listen to find out why teens can’t control their impulses or make rapid, smart decisions.
Code Switch Podcast: Discussions about race, equity and the terms, history and culture that perpetuates racism in America. Conversations with every day people as well as with known scholars that explore race.
The Body Keeps the Score (Book) by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk: A transformative approach to understanding how trauma impacts our brain. Listen to the audio book or rent the book from the local library.
Santa Cruz County Libraries Resilience Project event recording (Recorded Webinar): It was really great to have 3 youth voices, CASA voice, a Resource Parent, FCS Director Robin Luckett, Social Work Supervisor Trevor Davis and Judge Schmal answer specific questions about resource parents and what older youth/young adults need from a caregiver. It was a bonus to hear so much support for CASA too!
The Florida Project (Movie) A mischievous 6-year-old finds the magic in her own circumstances while living with her troubled mom in a budget motel near Disney World. Available on Netflix. 2 hrs of continuing education.
Stray: A Memoir (Book) Written by Stephanie Danler, a memoir of growing up in a family shattered by lies and addiction, and of one woman's attempts to find a life beyond the limits of her past. 3 hrs of continuing education.
CA CASA, Supporting Victims of Trafficking (Recorded Webinar) Understand the intersections of child abuse and human trafficking; Discuss CASA’s role in providing immediate and ongoing support to minor victims of human trafficking; Learn how to identify appropriate local referrals and resources available to minor victims of human trafficking. 1.5 hrs of CE
Advocating for Special Ed Needs, Alliance for Children's Rights (Recorded Webinar) This webinar provided an informational overview of best practices to support children with disabilities in accessing special education services and supports in this time of crisis. Panelists shared information about how attorneys and caregivers can support children with disabilities in the short- and long-term. In addition, panelists provided information on how advocates are supporting children through federal and state policy requests and a brief summary of new education policies on graduation and student progress. 2 hrs CE
Exploring Implicit Bias in Child Protection (Guided Online Course) This online course on implicit bias will introduce you to insights about how our minds operate and help you understand the origins of implicit associations. You will also uncover some of your own biases and learn strategies for addressing them. Each module is divided into a short series of lessons, many taking less than 10 minutes to complete. That way, even if you’re pressed for time, you can complete the lessons and modules at your convenience.
