Learning center
We offer continuing education opportunities for all volunteers, ambassadors, and supporters through webinars and workshops, along with in-person and virtual training
The Anatomy of a Fact-Finding Hearing — POSTPONED
CASA volunteers are invited to join us at the Wayne office on a forthcoming date TBC for an in-person training on The Anatomy of a Fact-finding Hearing presented by Ed Marable. Volunteers will learn more about the hearing wherein a court determines whether a child has been abused/neglected, in the legal sense. RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.
Know and Tell Training Zoom Training
ASA volunteers are invited to join us on ZOOM on Thursday, November 13 from 10am-12:30pm for a virtual training on Know and Tell. This training aims to provide participants with the knowledge and confidence needed to protect and help a child victimized by abuse and/or neglect get the appropriate support.
Volunteers will learn:
The legal definitions of neglect, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, and the NJ state laws on reporting.
How to prevent, recognize, and report child abuse, and how to recognize warning signs of grooming and online danger.
About steps that adults can take to keep children safe from abuse.
About the barriers to reporting, and how to overcome them.
When to make a report to the Child Abuse Hotline (State Central Registry.)
About the child protection system in NJ – including Child Advocacy Centers, Multidisciplinary Teams, and other stakeholders – work together to respond to child abuse.
Enrollment is limited, so register today to ensure your spot!
Everyone who attends (with a camera on during 80% or more of the training) will receive a certificate of completion. Please send a copy of that certificate to annie@casapassaicunion.org.
Effects of DV on Children
CASA volunteers are invited to join us on ZOOM on Tuesday, November 18 from 12-2pm for a virtual presentation discussing the Behavioral and Emotional Impact Witnessing Domestic Violence Has on Children, presented by Ryan Borchardt, Program Assistant, A Partnership for Change.
Volunteers will learn:
How to understand and recognize abusive and victimized parent behaviors.
About Safety Planning and ways to support children witnessing DV at home.
RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.
Book Club
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Wednesday, October 29 from 6-7pm at the Linden Public Library in The Bedrick Room
Thursday, October 30 from 6-7pm in the Wayne Office
CASAs Connected — A Monthly Roundtable Series
February's Advocate Roundtable at the Union County home of a CASA volunteer was well-attended and full of robust conversations. It's such a great way for advocates to connect, we're expanding the roundtables from predetermined topics to an open space for all the experiences, questions, and considerations that are top of mind for you.
Advocacy Supervisors will still facilitate discussions and look forward to seeing you there to talk about all the things! Here's the scoop on March and April roundtable opportunities to connect ... in our CASAs Connected, Monthly Roundtable Series! RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.
October 21 from 6-7pm on Zoom
November 3 from 6-7pm on Zoom
December 3 from 6-7pm on Zoom
Virtual training courses for NJ CASA volunteers, available online through Traliant:
Courtroom Procedures
The Effects of Trauma On A Child's Developing Brain
Opioid Addiction
Individual Education Plans and the Special Education System
Educational Advocacy
Child Development During the Early Years
CASA Medical Advocacy
Access to Traliant requires a login and password. If you're not sure how to log in, please contact Annie at annie@casapassaicunion.org.
CASA of NJ CASA College
CASA of New Jersey’s CASA College regularly has virtual training classes available for all advocates. September highlights include:
School Age Children Mental Health — October 1 from 10am to 12pm
Preferred Behavioral Health will provide insight into some of the mental health challenges school age children face. The team will dive deeper into treatment options offered for this age group and discuss ways that CASA can help ensure the children we serve have access to the services they need.Practical ACE’s — October 8 from 10am to 12pm
This training gives an overview of ACEs, explains how the brain responds to repeated traumatic experiences in childhood, and provides strategies to respond to people experiencing dysregulation. Learn more about the impacts of ACEs on our children and families and how you can help.History of Race in Child Welfare — October 22 from 10am to 12pm
Racial equity is a core value within the CASA network, and we are committed to ensuring that our advocates, board, and staff recognize the policies and practices that contribute to the disproportionate representation of children of color within the foster care system. Learn more from Dr. Carol Spigner as she focuses on the history and impact of race in the child welfare systems.
Check the training calendar for more details, upcoming months and to RSVP!
CASA College archives
Learning resources
CASA 101
For Kids
How To Write A Court Report
Court Report Template
Book Review
Form
In-service
Review Form
National CASA/GAL Association 2023 Archived Webinars
This catalog features a series of webinars hosted by the National CASA/GAL Association for Children throughout 2023. Topics include:
Tips and Technology: CASA/GAL Witness Testimony
Advancing Education Rights, and Addressing Barriers for Students in Care
Understanding Relationships and Their Importance to Early Childhood Development
Mental Health Essentials Part One: Foundations of Mental Health
Mental Health Essentials Part Two: Strategies to Support & Promote Mental Health
Through the Eyes of the Child: Exploring Protective Factors and Supporting Resiliency
On-Demand Training on Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) in Children and Adolescents
Understanding and Serving Children with PSBs (2-hours, 3 minutes)
NOTE: You must register for the training. You will then receive a link to the recording. You cannot close out of the training once you begin it. If you close out of the training before completing the short quiz at the end, you will need to contact katherine@njcainc.org to send you a link so that you may resume the training where you left off.
Training series on working with children and youth with PSB (four x 30-minute modules)
Overview of PSBs
Special Considerations for CACs
Treatment Response
Community Engagement
NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.
Understanding and Serving Adolescents with PSBs (2-hours, 44 minutes)
NOTE: You must register for the training. You will then receive a link to the recording. You cannot close out of the training once you begin it. If you close out of the training before completing the short quiz at the end, you will need to contact katherine@njcainc.org to send you a link so that you may resume the training where you left off.
Perceptions and Practices of CACs and their Community Partners in Serving Children and Adolescents with Problematic Sexual Behavior (90 minutes)
NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.
Training Series from OneOp, Problematic Sexual Behavior of Children and Youth (PSB-CY): Clinical Assessment and Treatment
This training series provides professional development for clinically assessing, responding to, and treating PSB-CY. These courses were created from evidence-based best practices and focus on youth between the ages of 9 and 14 with problematic sexual behaviors (PSB).
Clinical Assessment of Children and Youth with PSB (90 minutes)
Caregiver Engagement in Assessment and Treatment (90 minutes)
Clinical Decision-making and Treatment Planning (90 minutes)
Monitoring, Safety Planning, Supervision, and Treatment Progress (90 minutes)
NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. This series recommends seven prerequisite webinars. Five are included above. The content of the remaining two is covered in the first webinar, Understanding and Serving Children with PSB.
Engaging families with youth with problematic sexual behaviors in mental health services (105 minutes)
NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.
Training Series from OneOp, Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth
This training series addresses normal sexual behavior in children in addition to exploring cautionary and problematic sexual behavior (PSB) that children may display. Various factors associated with children’s sexual behavior are identified in order to assist clinicians in understanding the appropriate assessment and disclosure processes involved when problematic symptoms are present.
Culturally Competent Responses to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior (90 minutes)
Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology (90 minutes)
Considering the Adolescent Brain When Addressing Problematic Sexual Behavior of Youth (90 minutes)
Talking with Youth about Sex, Sexuality, and Media (90 minutes)
Modeling Healthy Technology Behaviors for Young Children (90 minutes)
NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series.
Additional training and resources
Fact Sheets & White Papers
Media suggestions for additional reading, watching and listening
To receive In-Service credit after reading/watching/listening, please complete the Book Review Form or In-Service Review form above and send it to your Advocacy Supervisor; then enter the In-Service hours directly on the Training page in Optima.
Books
“The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband” by David Finch
“Three Little Words: A Memoir” by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
“A Beautiful Boy” by David Sheff
“Tweak: Growing Up on Amphetamines” by Nic Sheff
“The Leavers” by Lisa Ko
“Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery” by Catherine Gildiner
“What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
“Bright Burning Things” by Lisa Harding
“This is All I Got” by Lauren Sandler
“The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by Bruce D. Perry
“Demon Copperheard” by Barbara Kingsolver
Movies/Documentaries
“Maid,” 2021
"Paper Tigers," 2015
“Instant Family,” 2018
“They Have Names”, a documentary film by AZCentral and The Arizona Republic that follows five families navigating Arizona's child welfare system, highlighting the human stories behind the numbers
Podcasts
NPR’s Fresh Air, “The Neuroscience of Addiction”
NPR, The Connection Between Early Childhood Experiences and Long Term Health
NPR, Adverse Childhood Experience Study
NPR, How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Health