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Continuing Education

C.O.R.E.

The foundation of effective advocacy for our CASA/GALs starts with pre and post training learning. This is C.O.R.E. - Continuing Opportunities to Refresh & Educate.

Our C.O.R.E is designed to prepare and support each CASA/GAL volunteer in the important role as a child advocate.

Offered below are a variety of learning opportunities to support a volunteer’s continuing education and help build a foundation of knowledge on case-related topics. You can choose from a vast collection of convenient formats ranging from webinars and books to podcasts and training videos.

View Calendar
Credit Key 2021
Read

READ

Monthly Highlight

Working With LGBTQ+ Youth and Families

Watch

WATCH

Monthly Highlight

Compassionate Racial Awareness

LISTEN

Monthly Highlight

We Have to Talk: Navigating Difficult Conversations about Diversity

C.O.R.E. Topics

(Continuing Opportunities to Refresh & Educate)
Videos:
What is Trauma?
Books:
The Deepest Well
Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Working with Traumatic Memory
Child Abuse & Neglect
Healing the Scars of Childhood Abuse
Gentling: A Practical Guide to Treating PTSD in Abuse Children
Webinars:
The Anatomy of Addiction
Child Abuse, Neglect and Domestic Violence: Dispelling the Myths, Enhancing Practice
The Inner World of Abused & Neglected Children: Normalizing & The Role of Therapy
The Inner World of Abuse & Neglected Children: The Issue of Trust & the Parent Child Bond
CASA Becoming More Aware of Child Abuse & Neglect in a Virtual World
Anatomy of Domestic Violence - Alisa Neary
Collaborative Strategies to Improve Outcomes for Adolescents Affected by Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare
Ted Talks:
A Global Initiative to End Violence Against Children
How Teachers Can Help Students Navigate Trauma

Videos:

Anatomy of Addiction

Podcasts:

National CASA: The Diagnosis and the Drug: Use of Psychotropic Medication in the Foster Care System

National CASA: The Effects of Methamphetamine on Children

National CASA: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Articles:

Addiction is a Family Disease

Long Term Adverse Effects of Parental Drinking

Family treatment courts and substance use disorder

Frontiers: Attachment theory and maternal drug addiction

Books:

Man's Search for Meaning

The Body Keeps the Score

Dreamland

Chasing the Scream

Webinars:

National CASA Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Part 1

National CASA Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Part 2

National CASA Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Part 3

Illinois CASA: Fentanyl, Sizzurp, Vaping and Other Current Drug Trends

Illinois CASA: The Juvenile Journey from Marijuana to Heroin

Illinois CASA: The Opioid Crisis in Illinois

Ted Talks:

Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong

How Isolation Fuels Opioid Addiction

Addiction is a Disease. We Should Treat It Like One.

The Agony of Opioid Withdrawal - and What the Doctors Should Tell Patients About It

Presentations:

Marijuana and Teens What's the Big Deal

Articles:

Information About Adoption You Need to Know

Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption

About adoption from foster care

 

Books:

Honestly Adoption: Answers to 101 Questions About Adoption and Foster Care | By Mike & Kristin Berry

Adoption in America: What You Need to Know BEFORE You Adopt

 

Webinars:

Openness in Foster Care Adoption

Trauma: What You Need to Know

Adopting Older Children: What You Need to Know

 

Ted Talks:

How adoption worked for me

Articles:
Disproportionality of Race in Special Ed Programs
Unaccompanied Immigrant Children
Providing Care for Children in Immigrant Families
Mediators and Adverse Effects of Child Poverty in the United States
How tutoring could be a key to lifting kids out of 'COVID slide' (usatoday.com)
Navigating the Educational Gatekeeper
Early Signs of Learning Challenges
Books:
Every Student, Every Day: A No-Nonsense Nurturer® Approach to Reaching All Learners
Growing Up in the Care of Strangers: The Experiences, Insights and Recommendations of Eleven Former Foster Kids
Children of Immigration
Helping Foster Children in School
Webinars:
Educational Advocacy for Youth In Care
Equity & Educational Advocacy | Fighting for Youth To/Who Matter
National CASA Poverty, Income and Child Maltreatment
Educational Advocacy and the IEP
Getting Through the Educational Gatekeeper
Ted Talks:
To transform child welfare, take race out of the equation
Listening to Shame
Other:
Educational Advocacy and the IEP
Getting Through the Educational Gatekeeper
Videos:
What is Trauma - Raul Almazar
Never Give Up: A Complex Trauma Film by Youth for Youth
Articles:
About Child Trauma
Signs of Trauma in Children
How PTSD and Trauma Affect Your Brain Functioning
Preventing ACES
Navigating Trauma with Teens
Books:
Parenting Children of Trauma: The Foster-Adoption Guide to Understanding Attachment Disorder
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle
Human Development and Trauma: How Childhood Shapes Us into Who We Are as Adults
Garbage Bag Suitcase
Webinars:
Intergenerational Trauma
The Inner World of a Child with PTSD: Making Sense of Behaviors that Make No Sense
Making Sense of Trauma
Becoming More Aware of Child Abuse & Neglect in a Virtual World
Child Grief and Loss: A Trauma Informed Care Approach
Garbage Bag Suitcase Book Discussion with Shenandoah Chefalo
Childhood Trauma Informed Care for Teens and Tweens
Ted Talks:
How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime - Nadine Burke Harris
The Power of Vulnerability
The big data behind complex human emotions
Other:
ACES and Resiliency
ACES Training
The Anatomy of Addiction
Normalizing and the Role of Therapy
The Issue of Trust & the Parent/Child Bond
CASA Becoming More Aware of Child Abuse & Neglect in a Virtual World
Overview of CASA Edu
Garbage Bag Suitcase Book Discussion with Shenandoah Chefalo
CASA on Social Media
Educational Advocacy and the IEP with Josh Axelson
Older Youth Resources & Emancipation
Managing Stress & Anxiety During the Pandemic - Dr. Mark Reinecke
Domestic Abuse 101
Self Care for Resilience with Dr. Miriam Ojaghi
Back to Basic Series, Termination of Parental Rights Hearing
Advocate Supervisor Panel
CASA Overview of Permanency Review Hearings - Back to the Basics Series
CASA Back to Basics Series Volunteer Responsibilities to a Case.mp4
Childhood Development with Dr. Jennifer Kleinfeld
Articles:
Child Development Basics
What Are Childhood Mental Disorders?
Childhood Development - Dr. Kleinfeld
Books:
Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids
Discipline Your Kids with Positive Parenting: A Practical Guide to Building Cooperation and Connecting with Your Child
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7
The Irreducible Needs Of Children: What Every Child Must Have To Grow, Learn, And Flourish
Webinars:
What Babies and Toddlers Need
Trauma Informed Care: Key Strategies for Healing and Behavioral Change
Stages of Development
Childhood Development with Dr. Jennifer Kleinfeld
Ted Talks:
Lessons from the longest study on human development
How does income affect childhood brain development?

Articles:

Interviewing Children

Interviewing Children V2

Essential Tips for Interviewing Children

Communicating with Children Principles and Practices to Nurture, Inspire, Excite, Educate and Heal

How to Navigate Difficult Conversations

Tips for Video Chatting with Young Children

Books:

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

Webinars:

Conflict Resolution - Gloria Kelly

CASA on Social Media

Ted Talks:

The importance of using inclusive language

The Power of Vulnerability

Articles:
Back to Basics Permanency Review Hearing
Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts
For Anyone Concerned About a Foster Child
Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act
CASA Back to Basics Series Volunteer Requirements to a Case
Books:
Therapeutic Interventions for Families and Children in the Child Welfare System 1st Edition
Representing Children in Dependency and Family Court: Beyond the Law
Webinars:
CASA Judicial Perspectives Study: Building Evidence for Best Interest Advocacy
Legislation 101 for CASA Volunteers and Staff
Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act: Family, Connection and Culture
TPR Hearing - Back to the Basics Series
CASA Overview of Permanency Review Hearings - Back to the Basics Series
CASA Back to Basics Series Volunteer Responsibilities to a Case.mp4
Ted Talks:
How I defend the rule of law
How judges can show respect
Articles:
LGBTQ Children
Working With LGBTQ Youth and Families
IL LGBTQIA+ Resources
Books:
Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child
Race, Class, and Gender: Intersections and Inequalities
Coming Out, A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People
Webinars:
Juvenile (In)justice: Confronting Racial Disproportionality, Disparity, and Bias Against Children of Color
Diversity & Inclusion, Steve Robbins
Strengthening families using a racial equity lens
Compassionate Racial Awareness
We Need to Talk: Navigating Challenging Conversations about Diversity
Ted Talks:
To transform child welfare, take race out of the equation

Videos:

Child Trafficking: Recognizing the Risks and Signs

Child Trafficking: Knowledge for Working with Survivors

Advocating for Trafficked and High-Risk Child and Youth Victims

Podcasts:

National CASA: Domestic Violence

Articles:

Can Domestic Violence be Stopped

Domestic Violence has Long Range Consequences

Webinars:

National CASA: Child Trafficking, Part 1

National CASA: Child Trafficking Part 2, Working with Survivors

CASA Domestic Violence 101

The Anatomy of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence and Youth in Care

Children and Domestic Violence

Ending Child Trafficking

Advocating for Trafficked and High Risk Child Victims

 

Ted Talks:

It's Time to Talk about Psychological and Verbal Abuse

How We Turned the Tide on Domestic Violence

Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave

Podcasts:
The Urgency of Placing Kids with Relatives
Changing the Face of Foster Care
Articles:
CASA Volunteers - Champions for Foster Children
Welcome a Child or Teen into Foster Care
Helping Children in Foster Care Successfully Transition into Child Care
FAQ's: Asked by Foster Parents - Answered by DCFS
Foster Care Child Trends
Books:
A Chance in the World
Invisible Kids
Webinars:
Child Family Team Meetings
Digital Safety Education - Trending Apps
Understanding Your Family's Digital Habits and Maintaining a Safe Online Environment
A Chance in the World
A child of the state

Articles:

3 Ways to Nurture the Positive in Difficult Times

How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day

11 Simple Ways to Find Joy in your Everyday Life

Books:

Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Your Inner Critic

Little Ways to Keep Calm and Carry On: Twenty Lessons for Managing Worry, Anxiety, and Fear

Webinars:

Managing Stress & Anxiety During the Pandemic - Dr. Mark Reinecke

Self Care for Resilience with Dr. Miriam Ojaghi

Ted Talks:

There's no shame in taking care of your mental health

Listening to Shame

The Power of Vulnerability

Articles:

Mindfulness for Kids

Emotional Wellness

Health Care Issues for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care and Kinship Care

Abusive Head Trauma in Infants and Children

How Anxiety Affects Teenagers in School

Books:

Mindful Kids: 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness , Focus and Calm

Barefoot Books Yoga Pretzels: 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids & Grownups

CBT Workbook for Kids: 40+ Fun Exercises and Activities to Help Children Overcome Anxiety & Face Their Fears at Home, at School, and Out in the World

Webinars:

Resources for Support the Health and Well Being of Children and Families During COVID

Managing Stress & Anxiety During the Pandemic - Dr. Mark Reinecke

Ted Talks:

Why Students Should Have Mental Health Days

Podcasts:
Supporting Youth in Higher Education
Articles:
Promoting Independence
Are You There?
Extending Foster Care
Working with Youth to Develop a Transition Plan
Transition Toolkit
Get Goal'd
CASA Transition Timeline
Books:
Emancipating from the Care of Strangers: The Experiences, Insights and Recommendations of Ten Former Foster Kids
Macro Perspectives on Youths Aging Out of Foster Care
Grit & Gratitude: The Foster Youth's Playbook for Adulting
What I Carry
Webinars:
Developing Resiliency and Life Skills by Enhancing Protective Factors: Introduction
Developing Resiliency and Life Skills by Enhancing Protective Factors: Financial Literacy
Ted Talks & Videos:
The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain
Bridges of Hope: From Foster Care to College
The Silent Minority - Deeper Look into Foster Care