Learning center
We offer continuing education opportunities for all volunteers, ambassadors, and supporters through webinars and workshops, along with in-person and virtual training:
Staying Safe in the Field
CASA volunteers are invited to join us for training on Staying Safe in the Field, presented by Ed Marable on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 1-3pm at the Wayne Office, 415 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, or on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 1-3pm at the Elizabeth Office Building, 10th Floor, 1143 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth.
A few of the many issues to be discussed include:
— Preparation for fieldwork
— Increasing your overall awareness
— How people communicate
— Trusting your intuition
— Setting your priorities
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!
March 18 from 6-7 pm at the Wayne office
April 23 from 6-7 pm on Zoom
Book Club
Join us in March for the CASA Book Club as we take on Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. The captivating novel serves as a wonderful reminder that things are not always as they seem on the surface, just as with our child welfare cases. The novel is a New York Times Bestseller; Good Morning America Book Club Pick; People's Book of the Week; and a PopSugar Best Book of the Year. Read or listen on Audible and earn three hours of in-service credit for reading and attending. Gather to discuss with fellow volunteers in one of two locations:
Wednesday, March 12 at 6pm in the Wayne Office, or
Wednesday, March 19 at 6pm at a Westfield home (address after RSVP)
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. Check the training calendar for details!
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.