Texas CASA

STAR Monthly Zoom: Educational Advocacy Local CASA Program Panel Discussion
2025-09-29 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Educational Advocacy Local CASA Program Panel Discussion

The STAR team is excited to host a local program panel discussion on educational advocacy. It’s no secret that the odds are stacked against children in foster care in many ways, this is especially true when it comes to education. Education can be a lifeline for students who experience trauma and school offers a safe environment to build confidence, connectedness, skills and trust. Please join your peers for information and resources on how you can best advocate for the children you serve at school.

The STAR Monthly Zoom Series is for volunteer supervisors and CASA staff that work directly with volunteers. The monthly Zoom meetings will be held on the last Monday of the month unless otherwise announced in Inside CASA or on the STAR listserv.

REgister here

Texas CASA Post-Session & Leadership Tour of Texas Training Series
2025-09-30 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-01 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-13 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-24 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-30 08:00 - 17:00
This September and October, Texas CASA’s Leadership and the Public Policy Teams will be traveling across the state to provide Post-Session Trainings, general updates and to facilitate conversations about the future of CASA in Texas. These regional in-person sessions will provide CASA program volunteers, staff and board members with a deep dive into the new laws passed during the 89th Legislative Session and give local CASA program leaders a chance to catch up with the Leadership team from Texas CASA. The Public Policy Team’s portion of the training will be 3 hours and include lunch. Local program leadership will then be invited to stay for Texas CASA’s Leadership Team meeting.

2025 Tour of Texas Schedule:

September 19 – Georgetown – CASA of Williamson County

September 29 – Tyler – CASA for Kids of East Texas

September 30 – Dallas – Dallas CASA

October 1 – Amarillo – Amarillo Area CASA

October 13 – San Antonio – Child Advocates San Antonio

October 17 – Corpus Christi – CASA of the Coastal Bend

October 24 – Abilene – Big Country CASA

October 30 – Rosenberg – Child Advocates of Fort Bend

Please consider sending local program leaders to at least one event, but anyone from your program who may be interested in public policy and/or participating in advocacy during the interim is encouraged to attend. The Public Policy Team will be sending out invitations, but feel free to email publicpolicy@texascasa.org if you are interested in attending any of these trainings. We look forward to seeing you all in person!

Weekly New ED Call
2025-10-01 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-08 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-15 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-22 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-29 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-05 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-12 09:00 - 10:00

Sharpening Skills Webinar: Rooted
2025-10-08 12:00 - 13:00
🌳 CASA Webinar Series: Rooted

🖥️ Register in CASA College: https://casacollege.myabsorb.com/#/instructor-led-courses/e1b355c1-aa0a-4ba7-9c3f-000be54c7ba2

Theme: Rooted – Being steady, thoughtful, and grounded in the midst of a chaotic system.

This year-long webinar series is designed to support CASA volunteers in staying centered and effective as they navigate the complexities of child advocacy. Each quarter, we’ll explore a different way to stay rooted — in the case, the child, yourself and your instincts.

📅 Quarterly Topics & Dates

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Q2: Rooted in the Body – Understanding Sensory and Emotional Dysregulation

January 14, 2026

Join us for an insightful and practical session designed for CASA volunteers and child advocates who want to deepen their understanding of how trauma, neurodiversity, and environmental factors influence children’s behavior and regulation.

In this webinar, we’ll explore:

How sensory and emotional dysregulation manifests in children, especially those with trauma histories or neurodiverse profiles.

What CASA volunteers might observe during home visits or in school environments.

How to respond with empathy and effectiveness—without pathologizing the child.

Strategies for observing behavior and using strengths-based, non-stigmatizing language in court reports and advocacy.

Whether you’re new to this work or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with tools to better support the children you serve—rooted in compassion, understanding, and respect for each child’s unique experience.

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Q3: Rooted in Yourself – Preserving Mental Health and Energy in CASA Work

April 8, 2026

Your well-being is essential to your advocacy.

This webinar is a space for CASA volunteers and child advocates to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with their purpose. The work is meaningful—but it can also be emotionally demanding. Let’s talk about how to sustain your energy and mental health while showing up fully for the children you serve.

In this session, we’ll explore:

How to recognize signs of secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout.

Practical tools for setting boundaries, saying no, and checking in with yourself.

When and how to reach out for support from your supervisor or team.

You’ll leave with strategies to help you stay grounded, resilient, and rooted in your own well-being—because caring for yourself is part of caring for others.

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Q4: Rooted in Curiosity – Digging Deeper When Something Feels Off

July 8, 2026

Sometimes, it’s not what’s said—but what’s missing—that matters most.

This webinar is designed to help CASA volunteers and child advocates sharpen their instincts and investigative skills when something in a case doesn’t sit right. Learn how to follow your curiosity with care, clarity, and confidence.

In this session, we’ll cover:

How to recognize gaps, inconsistencies, or red flags in case information.

What to document and how to raise concerns constructively—without making accusations.

How to use patterns, subtle clues, and thoughtful questions to strengthen your advocacy.

You’ll leave with tools to help you dig deeper, ask better questions, and advocate more effectively—while staying grounded in curiosity and compassion.

All webinars are free, virtual, and open to CASA volunteers and staff. All webinars located in registration link through CASA College.

🖥️ Registration in CASA College: https://casacollege.myabsorb.com/#/instructor-led-courses/e1b355c1-aa0a-4ba7-9c3f-000be54c7ba2

📌 CEUs available upon completion

Stay grounded. Stay curious. Stay rooted.

HHSC Request for Reimbursement
2025-10-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-10 08:00 - 17:00

VOCA Quarterly Progress Report
2025-10-10 08:00 - 17:00

VOCA Request for Reimbursement
2025-10-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-15 08:00 - 17:00

Keep Calm and CASA On! Recruitment Zoom Chats
2025-10-15 13:15 - 14:15
Join the Texas CASA recruitment team and your fellow recruiters on the third Wednesday of each month for the Keep Calm and CASA On! recruitment Zoom calls. The calls will all be around general recruitment, but each one will have a different topic of focus. You’ll hear updates from Texas CASA, learn from guest speakers, and have plenty of time to chat with other recruiters about what they are doing in the world of recruitment.

You don’t need to pre-register for the Zoom call. Just sign on when it’s time. All calls will start at 1:15 p.m. CST. Below is the Zoom link to join or or call in at 1-346-248-7799

Meeting ID: 890 4179 0555

CFE 101 Virtual Training
2025-10-16 13:00 - 16:00
CFE 101 is a virtual training for those implementing Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE). This three-hour session covers the fundamentals of CFE and includes hands-on practice with core tools and skills. CASA, CPS, and Community-Based Care staff are all encouraged to attend.

The training will be offered twice during the year, on October 16, 2025, and May 14, 2026. Both sessions take place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central Time. Each session includes the same content, and you are welcome to attend either one.

Before attending, please complete the two-hour CFE E-Learning. CASA and SSCC staff and volunteers can access the course at https://texascasa.org/program-portal/resources/collaborative-family-engagement/. CPS staff can find the training in CLOE or the DFPS Learning Station by searching for “CFE.” The course is titled Collaborative Family Engagement Foundational Online Training and is listed as course number 0003968.

If you have already completed this training, consider registering for CFE 201, a deeper dive into advanced CFE tools and strategies. You can find more information and register for CFE 201 at this link.

Social Work CEUs will be available. For questions or additional information, contact us at cfeteam@texascasa.org.

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Program Director Monthly Meeting
2025-10-20 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-17 08:00 - 17:00

STAR Monthly Zoom
2025-10-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-11-17 12:00 - 13:00
The STAR Monthly Zoom meetings will be held on the last Monday of the month unless otherwise announced in Inside CASA or on the STAR listserv.

register here

The Forum
2025-11-05 09:30 - 2025-11-06 12:30
Each year, CASA Executive and Program Directors come together at The Forum to share, learn and strengthen our statewide network. This year is no exception. In a time of change and challenge, our greatest strength lies in the dedication of CASA leaders who remain united in service to children and families.

Join us in Round Rock, TX on November 5-6 for meaningful conversations, collaborative problem-solving and inspiration to carry our mission forward.

Registration is $50 per person. Attendance is limited to Executive Directors and Program Directors.

Registration is closed. No late registrations will be accepted. No refunds will be offered for cancellations after registration closes.

Location

Embassy Suites by Hilton Round Rock270 Bass Pro Dr.Round Rock, TX 78665Map

Discounted rates at the event hotel and a nearby hotel have been secured. Room rates are $159/night plus tax and $105/night plus tax, respectively. Hotel information and a link to book your room will be included in your confirmation email once you register. The discounted rates are available until October 10 or until the block is full, whichever comes first.

Agenda

Day 1 | November 59:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Check in opens at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided)Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Day 2 | November 68:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Breakfast is included with your hotel stay at the Embassy Suites)

For questions regarding The Forum, please email Lindsey Lee at llee@texascasa.org.

Thanks to our sponsor!

Veterans Day
2025-11-11 00:00 - 23:59

CSE-IT Training
2025-11-12 09:30 - 12:30
This training will introduce and train CASA staff on the CSE-IT screening tool, which is designed to improve the early identification of youth who are experiencing or at risk for experiencing human trafficking. This training includes some introductory foundational information about human trafficking, an orientation to the tool, a description of CSE-IT indicators, scoring instructions, and next steps. Understanding the CSE-IT tool is a critical part of ACT advocacy. This training is only available to CASA Staff.

For more information, contact Torey Tipton at casaacts@texascasa.org.

Dates & Registration – Texas CASA

April 8th from 9:30-12:30

Register here

May 13th from 9:00-12:30

Register here

June 3rd from 9:00-12:30

Register here

Dates & Registration – Texas Network of Youth Services

July 9th from 9:00-12:30

Register here

August 19th from 9:00-12:30

Register here

September 24th from 9:00-12:30

Register here

October 28th from 9:00-12:30

Register here

Subgrantee Award Report (SAR)
2025-11-15 08:00 - 17:00
