CASA on the Go: Continuing Education for CASA Volunteers

Texas CASA
  • 4.8 (25)
  • EDUCATION
CASA on the Go: Continuing Education for CASA Volunteers

This continuing education podcast connects CASA volunteers with engaging and relevant training designed to help strengthen advocacy for children and families. Each short, dynamic episode features informative discussions with subject matter experts exploring topics connected to child welfare and best practices for CASA advocacy. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) in their personal capacity and are not the official policy or position of Texas CASA.

  1. OCT 31

    Empowering Families Through Collaboration with Heather Cantamessa

    In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome the wonderful Heather Cantamessa, Director of Family Impact at Akin. Heather draws on her work with the transformative Parents for Parents program, a model of peer support that empowers families involved with Child Protective Services, and discusses the vital role CASA advocates can play in facilitating communication and collaboration between parents and other parties in the system. Support the show

    41 min

  2. AUG 30

    Best Practices in Supporting Longterm Kinship Placements with Dr. Heather Fox and Dr. Cady Landa

    In this episode, we're delighted to dive into an impactful study co-led by Dr. Heather Fox, Dr. Cady Landa and a team of colleagues exploring kinship guardianship for children and youth in foster care. This research offers insights on the benefits and challenges of kinship guardianship (sometimes called PMC to a relative) as well as ways advocates can strive to support kinship caregivers. Dr. Fox and Dr. Landa also discuss disparities in permanency timelines and outcomes, offering important r...

    54 min

  3. JUL 31

    Facilitating Access to Childcare with Gabrielle Cloudy

    Access to adequate, affordable childcare can be a major challenge for working families across Texas. Joining us today is the wonderful Gabrielle Cloudy, Daycare Coordinator at the Department of Family and Protective Services, to shine a light on the Department's daycare program and what CASA volunteers can do to help facilitate access to childcare for families involved with DFPS. Support the show

    29 min

  4. JUN 28

    Supporting Positive Youth Development with Dr. Heather Taussig

    In this episode, we’re thrilled to be in conversation with Dr. Heather Taussig, the developer and director of the Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program. Dr. Taussig gives us an insightful glimpse into this evidence-based mentoring and skill-building program created for pre-teen and teenage youth with child welfare involvement. Tune in as we explore the positive impacts of the Fostering Healthy Futures program and the lessons it offers for supporting and empowering youth, including some wond...

    35 min

  5. MAY 16

    Advocating for Youth Experiencing Cultural Dislocation with Dr. Robin LaSota and Dr. Heather Fox

    In this episode, we're honored to be conversation with Dr. Heather Fox and Dr. Robin LaSota discussing their research on supporting youth in cross-racial out of home placements. Their work seeks to shine light on the challenges that Black youth in particular face in cross-racial placements as well as how a youth's caregivers, family, and advocates can collaborate to help support healthy cultural and identity development for youth in out of home care. You can learn more about Dr. Fox and Dr. L...

    30 min

  6. APR 3

    Asking the Right Questions featuring Cindy Dyar

    One of the CASA guiding principles is respect for the parents we walk alongside, as well as for all parties involved in the case. This episode is brimming with insights from our guest Cindy Dyar, Director of the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid Family Defense Project, on how we can approach collaboration with parents and their attorneys with an open mind and a commitment to understanding, even when we might not be in agreement. Cindy has practiced family law for more than a decade and shares some p...

    40 min

  7. FEB 26

    Advocacy for Health and Healing featuring Elizabeth Wendell

    How can CASA advocacy be more deeply informed by what we know about lifelong health outcomes for youth involved with the CPS system? Research has revealed profound inequalities in adulthood related to the type of care experienced by youth in the foster care system. Joining us to put this important research into conversation with CASA advocacy is global change-maker Elizabeth Wendell, an innovator in public health and family well-being and co-founder of Pale Blue.Support the show

    40 min

  8. JAN 30

    Illuminating the CASA Difference with Joan Ulsher

    In this episode we're delighted to be joined by author, speaker, and CASA advocate Joan Ulsher, a powerful voice for the mission and impact of CASA. Joan shares insights from her work as a deeply devoted advocate as well as from her memoir "Misplaced Childhood: A True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy," which touches on her own experience with foster care. You can read more about Joan's work here. Support the show

    32 min
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4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

This continuing education podcast connects CASA volunteers with engaging and relevant training designed to help strengthen advocacy for children and families. Each short, dynamic episode features informative discussions with subject matter experts exploring topics connected to child welfare and best practices for CASA advocacy. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) in their personal capacity and are not the official policy or position of Texas CASA.

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