Continuing Ed Trainings

Tuesday, May 21 - Bonding/Stress/Relationships between Parents and their Children

Facilitators: Stephanie Sifuentes and Mindy Kanewske, Child Therapists with Children's Continuum

Children's Continuum is a grant which supports our children involved in the Drug Court program. These Child Therapists will cover effects that drug use has on children's developmental and mental health, the bonding between mother and child, stress that children encounter in these situations, the relationship between the child and mother and how to help encourage and support healthy relationships between them.

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Location: CASA Training Room

RSVP: mary.nicosia@casatravis.org

Friday, May 24 - '2-1-1' Training: Linking People in Need with Available Community Resources

The United Way Navigation Center offers free training on how to utilize the 2-1-1 system to link people in need with available community resources.

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Location: United Way for Greater Austin, 2000 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Austin 78702

No RSVP required.

Tuesday, May 28 - Domestic Violence

Facilitator: Shellie Ryan, CPS Advocacy Coordinator, SafePlace

With Judge Byrne’s encouragement for CASA to explore the assessment of couples who have experienced domestic violence in their relationship and the dangers that presents to children in the home, CASA has scheduled this training with Ms. Ryan. Many of you participated in last year’s training with Shellie and understand she is a knowledgeable and riveting presenter. The Family Court generally prefers- and often expects- parents to resolve parenting arrangements is a cooperative, non-adversarial way. This assumes that parents can engage with one another in an honest, fair, respectful and trusting manner.  It also assumes that parents can put their interests of their children ahead of their own and support the other partner's efforts to effectively supervise, nurture and care for their children. Domestic Violence often conflicts with these basic assumptions. In this continuing education class we will be discussing the dynamics of domestic violence when it comes to the children who are affected. We will be learning about specific safety concerns and red-flags that you may see in working with families who experience domestic violence. This class will cover an assessment tool and interview questions and techniques that will help you assess the family that you are working with so that you are able to provide the most helpful and safe services and referrals as possible.

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Location: CASA Training Room

RSVP: mary.nicosia@casatravis.org

Friday & Saturday, June 14-15 - Knowing Who You Are Training

This 1.5 day workshop explores race and ethnicity.  It is designed to help child welfare workers and child advocates guide the children they serve to develop healthy racial and ethnic identities. Knowing Who You Are will provide volunteers with practical ways to integrate race and ethnic identity work into day-to-day practice with all youth, regardless of race and ethnicity. This training is required by all CPS caseworkers and many of our judges have also been through this valuable training. The course also steers you towards tangible action plans that can help you instill a healthy racial and ethnic identity for your CASA child which will be crucial in him/her growing up to be a confident and positive individual.

Time: Friday, June 14 from 5:30 - 9:00 pm & Saturday, June 15 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Location: CASA Training Room

RSVP: nashielly.victoria@casatravis.org or 512.539.2647