CASA on the Go: Continuing Education for CASA Volunteers

Connection can be a powerful antidote to adversity. In this episode, Collaborative Family Engagement Coach Frances Lofley reflects on ten years of family engagement work in Texas and shares how CASA volunteers can help children build and strengthen the lifelong relationships that support healing, belonging and resilience. Tune in to learn how meaningful family connections can transform outcomes fo...

In this episode, we shine a light on the Heart Galleries of Texas , a powerful network striving to connect children ready for adoption with permanent, loving families. Our guest Erin Argue, Heart Galleries of Texas Post-Permanency Director, shares how Heart Galleries of Texas draw on community engagement to support youth waiting for adoption, the importance of post-adoption services and how CASA v...

In this episode, we’re honored to be joined by Ellen DaSilva — entrepreneur, children’s health advocate and founder of Summer Health , an innovative company providing 24/7 text-based pediatric care for families. Ellen shares the powerful vision behind Summer Health, her insights into the barriers children and caregivers face in accessing timely healthcare and practical advice for CASA volunteers s...

In this episode, we sit down with the deeply inspiring Shelton Pellum who shares his lived experience in foster care — what it was like to navigate the system, the challenges he encountered and the powerful strengths he cultivated along the way. Together, we talk about why youth voice matters in decision-making, what true belonging and connectedness mean for youth in care and how advocates can be...

In this episode, we explore the role of mediation in child welfare cases — what it is, how the process works and why it can be such a powerful tool for finding solutions that serve children’s best interests. Long-time mediator Michele Morgan walks us through when and why a case might go to mediation, who participates and what CASA volunteers can expect throughout the process. Tune in for practical...

In this episode, we're thrilled to be in conversation with Dr. Jared Williams and Stephen Fowler from Family Service Center , an organization that provides counseling, parenting education, and prevention services to families in Southeast Texas communities. Our discussion dives into some of the biggest challenges facing families and explores insights from FSC's Fatherhood Program on engag...

In this episode, we sit down with two incredible advocates, Sarah Crocket and Stephanie Battaglia, to dive into Texas CASA's legislative priorities for the 89th legislative session kicking off on January 14th, 2025. Sarah and Stephanie walk us through the process of identifying key priorities, share what’s on the docket for the upcoming session, and discuss how CASA volunteers can get involve...

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 parent...

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...

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 F...

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...

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 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 a...

What are some tangible ways CASA advocates can cultivate resilience and keep our compassion game strong when engaged in advocacy work that can sometimes weigh heavily on our hearts and minds? The wonderful and wise Christa Mayfield of Good Sustained shines a light on strategies for mitigating burnout and building resilience within ourselves so that our advocacy work can continue to feel meaningful...

In this episode, we're thrilled to be in conversation with Cortney Jones, founder of Change 1 , an organization that aims to support young adults with foster care experience in realizing their full potential. Cortney draws on examples from the work she leads at the intersection of restorative justice and child welfare practice to explore how CASA volunteers can work to proactively affirm huma...

Our guiding principles emphasize collaboration with and respect for all parties involved in the case. What can CASA advocates do to build effective working relationships and increase collaboration with attorney ad litems? For this conversation, we're honored to be joined by the deeply insightful Lori Duke, Clinical Professor and Co-Director of the Children’s Rights Clinic at the University of...

In this episode, we’re delighted to be in conversation with Laura Villarreal, the Neurodevelopmental Program Specialist with the Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Laura shines a light on the web of services and supports that the Texas Workforce Commission offers for teens and young adults in foster care to help expand their access to economic opportunities and supporti...

As the families we walk alongside embark on a new school year, let's pause to reflect on how CASA advocates can have a powerful impact on increasing educational stability and success for youth in foster care. In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Chantal Hinds, an attorney, policy entrepreneur, and an advocate for the well-being of students involved in the foster system. Chantal...

As CASAs, we know how  critical it is that parents and family members have access to the information and support needed to successfully navigate what can be a complex and overwhelming child welfare system. In this episode, we're deeply honored to be joined by Sarah Bryant, managing attorney for The Family Helpline . A project of the Texas Legal Services Center, the Helpline exists to stand in...

With 47% of children in foster care falling into the 0 to 5 age range, it's critical that we're up to date on best practices in advocating for young children and strategies for effectively supporting their families. Powerhouse duo Krystal Vann and Carollyn Thesing from Child Advocates of Fort Bend return for part two of this conversation with a focus on advocating for the educational and...

In part one of this two-part conversation, we're thrilled to be joined by the seasoned team of Krystal Vann and Carollyn Thesing from Child Advocates of Fort Bend to draw on their experience leading a trailblazing advocacy program for children five and younger and their families. We’ll be talking about best practices in advocating for the developmentally-specific needs of children in this age...

How can we support the youth we walk alongside in cultivating resilience across the essential, interconnected domains of life? In this episode, we're joined by powerhouse CASA advocate and social entrepreneur Jordan Bartlett for a conversation about showing up, building rapport, and creating authentic relationships with youth. Jordan draws on his experience as co-founder of Doing Good Works ,...

The minimum sufficient level of care or MSL is a critical polestar for CASA advocacy. How can advocates ensure that we are fully embracing the MSL in our decision-making and our recommendations to the court? Drawing on her legal background as an attorney and mediator as well as her decade+ tenure with CASA, the brilliant Leslie Cocke joins us to unpack ways in which the MSL can be an important saf...

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Texas CASA is deeply honored to have Rhonda Kuykendall discussing what advocates should know and can do when it comes to preventing child trafficking and supporting youth who have experienced the trauma of trafficking. Some trainings and resources mentioned in the episode include Innovations in Advocacy to Combat Child Sex Trafficking ; Ad...

Foster and kinship caregivers play an incredibly important role in caring for the children and youth we walk alongside. How can CASA advocates ensure that these caregivers have the support they need while engaging them as valuable team members in our advocacy for children and families? Joining us for this conversation is the phenomenal Naomi Sawyer, Advocate Supervisor and CFE Lead at CASA of Hill...