HHSC Quarterly Performance Measures
2025-12-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)

Winter Break
2025-12-23 12:00 - 2026-01-01 12:00

Weekly New ED Call
2025-12-24 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-12-31 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-07 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-14 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-28 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-02-04 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-02-11 09:00 - 10:00 and 1 more date

New Executive Director University (In Person)
2026-01-08 08:00 - 2026-01-09 17:00 | Texas CASA Office, 1501 W Anderson Ln. B2, Austin, Texas, 78757, United States

HHSC Request for Reimbursement
2026-01-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-10 08:00 - 17:00

VOCA Quarterly Progress Report
2026-01-10 08:00 - 17:00

CSE-IT Training
2026-01-14 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

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

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

Sharpening Skills Webinar: Rooted
2026-01-14 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.

———————

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.

Sharpening Skills Webinar: Rooted
2026-01-14 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.

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.

———————

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.

VOCA Request for Reimbursement
2026-01-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-15 08:00 - 17:00

Program Director - Spill the Tea (In Person)
2026-01-15 08:00 - 2026-01-16 17:00 | Texas CASA Office, 1501 W Anderson Ln. B2, Austin, Texas, 78757, United States

CFE Community Call
2026-01-15 14:00 - 15:30
Join us for a learning and networking opportunity for those involved in CFE to come together and share ideas, strategies, and learnings- strengthening our statewide CFE community.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2026-01-19 00:00 - 23:59

Program Director Monthly Meeting
2026-01-19 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-02-16 08:00 - 17:00

Keep Calm and CASA On! Recruitment Zoom Chats
2026-01-21 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

STAR Monthly Zoom with CASA ACT
2026-01-26 12:00 - 13:00
The STAR Monthly Zoom Series will kick off 2026 with CASA ACT Consultant Torey Tipton and a local program panel discussion on Anti-Child Trafficking advocacy on January 26 from 12-1 p.m.

January is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the pervasive issue of human trafficking, which affects millions of individuals worldwide, both domestically and internationally. As we observe Human Trafficking Awareness Month as a CASA network, we invite you to join us for our upcoming monthly Zoom, where we will discuss CASA Anti-Child Trafficking (ACT) services, focusing on how we can work together to combat this urgent issue. This session will provide an essential opportunity to deepen our understanding of human trafficking, including its prevalence in the foster care system and the significant role that CASA programs play in responding to this critical issue.

We are pleased to have Torey Tipton, ACT Consultant from Texas CASA, leading the discussion. Torey will provide valuable insights into the complex nature of human trafficking, discussing current trends and the impact on vulnerable populations. Following Torey’s presentation, we will hear from four CASA programs across the state. They will share their firsthand experiences in implementing ACT advocacy, discussing the challenges they face and the successes they have achieved in their efforts to support victims and prevent human trafficking. This sharing of knowledge and best practices will be extremely valuable for everyone involved, promoting collaboration and a collective commitment among all participants.

If you have not registered for the STAR Monthly Zoom series, please register below.

If you have any questions or would like to request a topic for the STAR Zoom series, please contact Lisa Briggs at lbriggs@texascasa.org

register here

Presidents' Day
2026-02-16 00:00 - 23:59

Local Board of Directors (LBOD) - Austin
2026-02-18 08:00 - 17:00

Virtual Pre-Service Training Facilitator Workshop
2026-02-18 10:00 - 13:15
Texas CASA is excited to announce dates for our next virtual Art of Facilitation for Pre-Service Training workshop!

Cohort A: Wednesday Feb 18, Friday Feb 20 and Wednesday Feb 25 from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day

Cohort B: Wednesday Feb 18, Friday Feb 20 and Thursday Feb 26 from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. each day

This training is designed to introduce participants to the foundations of engaging and learning-centered facilitation, to explore creative and effective ideas for how to bring pre-service content to life and to build relationships across the CASA training community. During the hands-on component of this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills by facilitating a short activity from pre-service training. After completing this workshop, participants will be qualified to lead pre-service training per National CASA’s standards.
