Continuing Education
In order to keep current with issues that relate to the volunteer role, our volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education per year.
Continuing Education at Dallas CASA
Dallas CASA Live Training
Trauma-Informed Care “Lunch and Learn”
Join us for a presentation on Trauma-Informed Care by the Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence. Trauma-informed care is essential in the care of children, youth, and families with involvement in the child welfare system. In this training, participants will: gain an introduction to trauma-informed care and its importance, utilize a case study to apply trauma-informed care principles to the care of children, youth, and families with involvement in child welfare, and identify and brainstorm strategies to incorporate trauma-informed practices within their organization. Lunch will be provided.
When: Wednesday, November 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Where: Dallas CASA Training Room
Registration: Register here
Continuing Education in the Community
Child Sexual Abuse & the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
This course will teach participants about the root causes of commercial sexual exploitation, actions adults can take to reduce the risk of children being commercially sexually exploited, and why preventing sexual abuse is important to reducing the risk of children being sexually exploited.
When: Tuesday, November 7, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: No cost
Registration: Register here
Getting to Self Sufficiency: Helping Foster Youth Thrive as Young Adults
The past five years have seen some exciting new strategies and policies develop around helping older youth in foster care achieve independence in a healthy way. Join Fostering Media Connections and a terrific panel of guests for a showcase of some of these promising new ideas. We’ll discuss a new path to permanency, housing affordability, financial empowerment and more.
When: Thursday, November 9, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Cost: No cost
Registration: Register here
Reporting 101
This presentation provides basic training on recognizing and reporting abuse on children, elderly adults and adults with disabilities. Attendees will gain insight on the reporting process, common reporting concerns and prevention strategies for supporting families.
When: Thursday, November 9, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: No cost
Registration: Register here
Bystanders Protecting Children
Active bystanders play an important role in protecting children by sensing something is unsafe or witnessing a vulnerable situation for a child and making the decision to claim responsibility for a child’s well-being. In this course, participants will learn how to be an active bystander and practical steps to make interventions that reinforce boundaries and protect children.
When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Cost: No cost
Registration: Register here
Healing Play Strategies for Preschool Children Who Have Experienced Adversity
Join clinical social worker and founder of The Playmaker Project, Steve Gross, MSW, to learn how to build relationships with children to overcome the impacts of early childhood adversity. In this engaging webinar, you will:
Discover the power you have as a caregiver in building life-changing relationships with the children you serve and feel validated & energized in the essential work that you do.
Deepen your understanding of the consequences of adverse childhood experiences on brain development, social-emotional development, and physical health.
Learn strategies, frameworks, and tools for creating corrective, healing environments & experiences that are safe/empowering, connecting, joyful, and engaging.
When: Wednesday, November 29, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: No cost
Registration: Register here
Dallas CASA Online Learning Center
Dallas CASA advocates have access to online Dallas CASA CE courses and recorded webinars through LearnUpon. To access available courses, advocates first need to email Leslie Ramirez to create an account. During registration, when asked your “role” be sure to select “Sworn Volunteer” to receive access to continuing education courses. These courses are created and intended for Dallas CASA advocates; please do not share with others.
Some of the available courses:
Case Management and Documentation (3 hours)
Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (2 hours)
Confidentiality: To Share or Not To Share (1.5 hours)
Educational Advocacy (1 hour)
Medical Advocacy (1.5 hours)
Mental Health Advocacy (2 hours)
Sexual Abuse Prevention for Dallas CASA (1.5 hours)
Dallas CASA Town Hall
Were you able to join Dallas CASA CEO Kathleen LaValle and Chief Program Officer Ben Wilkins for the Town Hall in February? Topics covered include current issues impacting Dallas CASA and the child welfare system, policy and standards updates, volunteer survey results, upcoming continuing education and volunteer appreciation events and the 88th Texas legislative session. The hour-long recording is available here. Be sure to record one hour of continuing education credit after you watch. This recorded webinar satisfies your annual requirement for an update on volunteer policies.
The 2022 Dallas CASA ADVOCATE SUMMIT
More than 14 hours of impactful training from the 2022 (virtual) Dallas CASA Advocate Summit are available to view. All of the Saturday presentations, as well as the CEO kickoff and Dallas CASA Leadership Panel are live on our 2022 Advocate Summit YouTube playlist. Watch, enjoy and record your training hours in Optima.
YouTube: Watch here
The Dallas CASA BIG D READS event
Dallas CASA was honored to be a community partner in 2022’s Big D Reads. If you missed the panel discussion on “The Accommodation” moderated by Kathleen LaValle with Jim Schutze, the recording is available to view at any time.
Zoom: Watch here
Continuing Education Independent Learning
Recommended Audio Programs
Click here for: Podcasts
Recommended Films
Click here for: Movies and documentaries
Recommended Television Programs
Click here for: TV and special programs
Recommended Video Programs
Click here for: Webinars available anytime
Racism, Disproportionality and Race Equity Resources
Click here for: Recommended resources
Recommended Reading
In addition to attending classes and online training, advocates are also able to read books related to the work we do to receive continuing education credit hours. Each 50 pages equals 1 CE hour. For example, if you read a book that is 300 pages long, you will receive 6 hours of continuing education credit.
Click here for the: Recommended Reading List
Recommended Publications
Assessing the Well-Being of Children in North Texas (Nov 2021) – 2 hours
DFPS Children Without Placement Report (Sept 2021) – I hour
State of the State: Texas Child Welfare System Trends (July 2021) – 1 hour
Children’s Commission: Parent Resource Guide
Have you wondered what the parents on your case go through or wanted to learn more about the CPS process? Imagine being scared, confused, embarrassed or angry and having to navigate the CPS and legal process. Take a glimpse into the role of a parent going through this process and receive 2.5 continuing education hours for self study.
Download Parent Resource Guide: English or Spanish
Texas CASA Health Advocacy Guide
This 41-page guide created by Texas CASA provides volunteers with the most up-to-date resources and information in order to advocate for the best possible medical and mental healthcare for children they serve.
View: Click here
Texas CSA Advocacy Guidebook for Youth Affected by Sex Trafficking
The Advocacy for Youth Affected by Sex Trafficking guidebook walks you through understanding child sexual exploitation from the scope of the problem to how sex trafficking happens, as well as, what CASA volunteers and staff can do to provide prevention methods and support to youth affected.
View: Click here
