Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Siskiyou County provides a voice for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court process.
The CASA Mission:
Our CASA program recruits, screens and trains community volunteer advocates. Our mission is to monitor foster children’s progress through court proceedings, assess and inform the court of the children’s needs and progress and work toward permanent and safe placement of each child in a timely manner.
What does a CASA do?
CASA volunteers are adults who become stable, caring friends to abused and neglected children and strong voices in court on their behalf. A volunteer establishes a one-on-one relationship with a foster child and gives 2-3 hours per week communicating with the child (usually in person) and others involved in the child’s life while advocating for that child’s safety and best interest. Appointed by the court, CASAs ensure that our foster children don’t get lost in an overburdened system.
Our Goals:
Monitor the child's progress throughout the court proceedings, providing continuity and emotional support for the child.
Assess and inform the court of the child's needs, desires, and progress.
Work towards permanent and safe placement of the child in a timely manner.
Educate the public and help create awareness of the plight of children involved in the dependency process.
Recruit and train enough volunteers by 2025 that every foster child who wants one can have a CASA.
Testimonials
CASA Resources
NVCSS CASA Volunteer Continuing Education Requirements
CASA volunteers must complete 12 continuing education units (CEUs) each year to remain in good standing. Generally, one (1) hour of learning is the equivalent to one (1) CEU. CEUs are per Fiscal Year, July 1-June 30, with the caveat that the number of in-service training hours required for newly trained volunteers will be prorated dependent on the time of year the volunteer is trained. These hours can be earned through various approved activities, including reading books, watching videos, attending online or in-person trainings, and submitting written summaries of how the material applies to their role as a CASA advocate.
You can earn a maximum of four (4) hours credit for all articles, books, audio, movies, TV shows, etc. and credit is provided per the parameters below:
Books: 100 pages = one (1) hour of continuing education.
Movies/Documentaries: one (1) hour of video = one (1) hour of continuing education.
Podcast: 1 hour of podcast = one (1) hour of continuing education.
In-Service training courses or pre-recorded webinars: one (1) hour presentation = one (1) hour continuing education.
CASA maintains a library and resource room lists of recommended community classes, online learning, books, films, etc. Advocates should confirm continuing education eligibility of all non-CASA classes and independent learning with their Advocate Supervisor.
Core requirements
Annual requirement: 12 hours of continuing education each fiscal or calendar year.
Documentation: Log hours and submit required materials to Optima (Attachment 1).
Application: The learning must be relevant to the role of a CASA volunteer, and volunteers often need to summarize how it applies to their work and/or specific case.
Approved activities
Reading: Books and articles related to child welfare, trauma, or a specific case.
Viewing: Movies, documentaries, and online videos (including presentations, webinars, and YouTube videos).
Training: Attending sponsored training or workshops, both in-person and online.
Other: Podcasts, pre- and post-assignments, and other learning activities as approved by the local program.
How to get credit
Written summary:
Submit a summary detailing how the material applies to the role and/or a specific case.
Submission:
Submit the required information and summaries through Optima.
You can view all your past trainings with CASA. You can click any magnifying glass to see additional details on a specific training. If any of your trainings are still marked under “status” as pending, you can edit by clicking on the magnifying glass. This will take you to another screen where you can click the “Edit” button and make your changes. You can also click to delete the entry.
On the far right you can view your Totally YTD hours and Total YTD miles.
To Add a new Training Log:
Click “Add”
Enter the “Schedule Date” and “Completed Date” of the training
Training Topic – Select the topic from the drop down that best describes your training.
Trainer – Do not use
Hours - enter the hours spent on the training You will earn a maximum of 2 hours credit per article, book, audio, movie, TV show, etc. For 15 minutes, enter .25, For 30 minutes, enter .50, For 45 minutes, enter .75
Mileage – enter as needed for your records
Notes – enter as much information as possible so that your case supervisor can approve or deny the training. Make sure to include agency name, presenter, and name of speaker that presented at a workshop outside of CASA. Enter title of article, book, movie, tv show etc. If you read a book or article also include author’s name. Please tell us a little bit about what you learned through the Continuing Education hours you completed. Please also explain how what you learned applies to your role as an advocate.
Siskiyou County has been Lori's home since 1997, and it is here that she and her husband raised their sons and daughter. Prior to living in this area, she grew up working the berry and bean fields of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. She then pursued degrees in psychology and divinity in Tacoma and Berkeley. Lori has since lived in southcentral Alaska and eastern North Dakota.
Siskiyou County has been Lori's home since 1997, and it is here that she and her husband raised their sons and daughter. Prior to living in this area, she grew up working the berry and bean fields of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. She then pursued degrees in psychology and divinity in Tacoma and Berkeley. Lori has since lived in southcentral Alaska and eastern North Dakota.
Siskiyou County has been Lori's home since 1997, and it is here that she and her husband raised their sons and daughter. Prior to living in this area, she grew up working the berry and bean fields of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. She then pursued degrees in psychology and divinity in Tacoma and Berkeley. Lori has since lived in southcentral Alaska and eastern North Dakota.
