Hooray for VCA!
Last month, 32 Advocate Supervisors from across Texas attended an empowering in-person Volunteer Coaching and Advocacy (VCA) Training in Dallas, TX hosted by Texas CASA. The focus of this training was to develop strength-based supervisory skills for Supervisors who had two years or less with their CASA program.
Guest presenter, Dr. Cynthia Lietz, a professor and Dean at Arizona State University and creator of the Strengths-Based Supervision (SBS) model, adapted the SBS model specifically for this training! The objective was to implement a model of supervision that will support CASA volunteers in adopting principles of a strengths-based, family-centered practice in their engagement with children, youth and families. She demonstrated the four building blocks of SBS (strengths-based supervision) and attendees were able to identify their current skill sets, as well as areas where they want to improve.
A very impactful moment of the training occurred when Dr. Lietz asked each table to tally how many years of child welfare and/or CASA experience they had in total. After everyone tallied their years, including Dr. Lietz, they discovered there was 400 years of experience in the room! Wow!
Here is what a few of the participants had to say about the event:
- “This is the most helpful training I have received to date. Real information and strategies to help me do my job better and how to be more effective and productive in my day-to-day work.”
- “I was able to recognize how many elements I already incorporate into my supervising, but was also able to pull in a few new tools and approaches that will prove to be helpful for having more specific and tailored supervision with my individual advocates.”
- “I think all supervisors should be required to take this training.”
- “The entire training was helpful and well done. I so appreciate that we were all well ‘taken care of’ both days. I have attended several Texas CASA trainings this year and there is a common thread. The venues are comfortable and the attention to every detail by the Texas CASA team is extraordinary. It is clear you have a passion for your work and an appreciation of advocates. Thank you.”
Texas CASA is honored to hear the training was well-received by all who attended! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring in-person event. The VCA team looks forward to seeing even more smiling faces at the virtual training starting tomorrow, June 15!
Volunteer Supervisors don’t forget to join the VCA team for the monthly Zoom call! They will be taking a break in June, but will return on the last Monday in July and August (July 31 and August 28 from 12:00 pm –1:00 pm). You can register for the VCA Zoom calls here.
