UPCOMING EVENTS
TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING!
UPCOMING Trainings
Evening Trainings
Dinner & Beverages will be provided.
APRIL/MAY 2008
Dates: April 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 May 5, 7, 12, 14
Time: 6pm-9pm
Location: New Carrolton Library Meeting Room
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008
Dates: September 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 October 1, 6, 8
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Location: Hyattsville Library Meeting Room (Lower Level)
Daytime Training
Lunch & Beverages will be provided.
JULY 2008
Dates: July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Hyattsville Meeting Room (Lower Level)
All individuals interested in becoming CASA volunteer advocates must complete pre-service training. Training sessions are held several times throughout the year.
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill-out an online application, download the application here or contact the CASA office to have an application mailed to you.
Want to become a CASA, but can't work the training dates around your schedule? Contact us to learn about our independent study program!
2nd Annual MD CASA Conference
WHEN? Saturday, April 19th 8:30am-1:30pm
WHERE? Judicial Conference Center in Annapolis
WHAT? Workshops on topics including: Understanding APPLA, Understanding Psychotropic Medications, Working with Transition-Aged Youth, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Foster Children.
This Conference is FREE to all CASA volunteers, staff and board members. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. To Register, Visit: www.marylandcasa.org
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NEWS
CASA Partners with Local DSS for LGBTQ Training
On any given day, more than half a million children and youth nationally are living away from their families and in the custody of foster care or juvenile justice systems. Quantifying the number of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning youth in out-of-home care is difficult because many of these youth hid their sexual orientation and gender identity from adults and peers whom they perceive as rejecting or unsupportive. Research has shown that these fears are wellfounded. In a survey of 400 homeless LGBTQ youth in San Diego, for example, 74% of youth surveyed believed they had received prejudicial treatment, including harassment or threats, after disclosing their secual or dender identity to providers. (Taken from the Child Welfare League of America's Best Practives Guidelines, citing H. Berberet's 2004 paper, "Living in the shadows: An Assessment og housing needs among San Diego's LGBTQ youth living outside the home").
Recognizing the need for education on LGBTQ issues among the child welfare professionals in Prince George's County, CASA has partnered with the Prince George's County DSS to hold a training for child welfare professionals in Prince George's County. Rob Wornoff from the Child Welfare League of America, conducted a training to help child welfare workers gain a better understanding of how to meet the needs of LGBTQ youth. This training was only the first of many efforts that will be made to better serve LGBTQ youth in our community.
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Raise money for CASA when you shop - http://pgcasa.maatiam.com/Default.aspx (formerly Free Pledge) !
Help raise money for CASA just by shopping! Simply go to http://pgcasa.maatiam.com/Default.aspx and search for your favorite online retailer using the tools on the website. Then shop! The retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to CASA at NO COST TO YOU!
Be sure to check it out - participating retailers include Amazon.com, Overstock.com, OfficeDepot.com, Orbitz.com, Target.com, Shutterfly.com, and many others that you know and love!