In-Service Independent Learning

CASA volunteers of Montgomery County are required to complete a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year in order to stay abreast of new information, services, policies and legislation. In-service training credit can be earned through a variety of different delivery methods, including attending workshops, watching videos, and reading articles, and should be related to their role as a CASA volunteer.

The chart below outlines the amount of credit which can be earned for different types of training. Be sure to speak to Wanda Smith if you do not see a specific type of training listed below or would like to know if a certain type of training will qualify for credit.

Watch the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder video series to learn more about FASD.

New training is available for Texas teachers and other school staff on how to recognize and report child abuse. The self-paced training is available on the DFPS website at: www.dfps.state.tx.us/Training/Reporting

The National CASA website (Casanet.org)

This article provides helpful guidelines for professionals who work in the area of child welfare about what is "normal" childhood sexuality, what might be cause for concern, and what needs immediate intervention. Document

Helping Infants and Toddlers Through Transitions in Foster Care (The Source,Fall 2004)

This issue of the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center's bi-annual newsletter focuses on transitions for infants and toddlers in foster care. Document

Violence & Childhood: How Persisting Fear Can Alter the Developing Child's Brain

This article by Bruce Perry, a leading researcher in children's mental health and neuroscience, offers a neuro-developmental perspective on the impacts of violence on children. Website

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Frequently Asked Questions on the Provisions to Impact Youth and Young Adults

This document from the National Foster Care Coalition answers questions about Fostering Connections - improvements that will impact youth and young adults in foster care and assist in the implementation process. The questions are designed to be used by those charged with implementing Fostering Connections: improvements, those advocating for implementation, to the youth, young adults, parents, relative caregivers, and others who will be most affected by implementation of this new law. 

Giving the Family a Chance: Working Towards Reunification

This National CASA article presents a fresh look at the issues surrounding reunification, discusses reasonable efforts, offers tips for advocates, and provides useful resources for CASAs. Website

Making Reasonable Efforts: A Permanent Home for Every Child

This report was published in 2000 by the Youth Law Center and includes guidelines for attorneys, judges and child welfare agencies as well as a list of resource organizations and internet resources. Website

The Indian Child Welfare Act & CASA/GAL Volunteers: Advocating for the Best Interests of Native Children

This article provides a brief history of the Indian Child Welfare Act and helpful advice for CASAs who are advocating for Native American children. Website

A Practice Guide for Working with African American Families in the Child Welfare System

Although it is aimed at caseworkers, this article is instructive for CASA/GAL volunteers as they seek to employ a culturally competent, strengths-based approach to working with African American families. Website

Culture Matters: The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook

This cross-cultural workbook was designed for Peace Corps volunteers, but provides an excellent resource for cross-cultural awareness in America as well as for learning how to interact with people of other cultures in a respectful and successful manner. Website

Flipping the Script: White Privilege & Community Building

The authors of this monograph intend it to help those involved in improving communities to work in more equitable and thoughtful partnerships with community residents and other stakeholders, with special attention to issues of privilege, oppression, racism and power as they play out in this work. Website

Serving Native American Children in Foster Care (The Connection, winter 2009, pg. 6-11)

This article discusses current realities for Native American children in the foster care system and offers tips and resources to advocate more effectively. Document

Understanding the Relational Worldview in Indian Families

This National CASA Association article summarizes both the linear and relational worldviews and shows how Indian family functioning can be understood from the relational view. Website

Blueprint for Change: Education Success for Children in Foster Care FACT SHEET

This fact sheet offers a framework for both direct case advocacy and system reform efforts to improve educational outcomes for children in foster care. It presents 8 goals for youth, benchmarks that indicate progress toward educational success as well as national, state and local examples of policies, practices, programs and resources. Website

Foster Children & Education: How You Can Create a Positive Educational Experience for the Foster Child

This paper gives an overview of the educational obstacles facing children in foster care and the role adults can play to have a positive impact on their educational experience. Website

Mythbusting: Breaking Down Confidentiality & Decision-Making Barriers to Meet the Education Needs of Children in Foster Care

This paper gives an overview of the education needs of children in foster care, explains the federal laws regarding confidentiality of education records, and debunks myths about confidentiality. Website

National Conference of State Legislatures, "Educating Children in Foster Care"

This informative policy article looks at challenges and services involved in educating children in foster care. Website

The McKinney-Vento Act at a Glance

This issue brief provides an overview of the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act which is educational legislation that includes foster children. Website

Transition Planning for Foster Youth with Disabilities: Are We Falling Short?

This issue brief from the Fostering Futures Project discusses the findings of a study which evaluated the school transition plans of students who are in both foster care and special education. It explains some of the contributing factors to the problem and presents seven recommendations for improvement. Website

The Difficult Transition to Adulthood for Foster Youth in the U.S.: Implications for the State as Corporate Parent (Social Policy Report 2009 - Article 1 - Author: Mark E. Courtney)

The author briefly describes the U.S. child welfare system, summarizes research on the transition to adulthood for foster youth, and examines the evolution of U.S. policy towards foster youth using the concept of "corporate parenting." Website

It's My Life: A Framework for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Successful Adulthood

This guide, published in 2001, was created by, for, and with youth, drawing on the expertise and insights of youth in foster care, alumni of care, social workers, researchers, and education specialists. It is designed for child welfare professionals and others responsible for guiding and supporting teens as they prepare for adulthood.

Transitions: Building Better Lives for Youth Leaving Foster Care

This 2005 report from Children's Action Alliance provides information on federal laws and funding, existing state support programs and services to support transitioning youth, findings from focus groups with youth in/from foster care and state actions taken to improve transitions for youth. Website

Parental Substance Use and the Child Welfare System

This fact sheet from the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides an overview of the issues confronting families affected by parental substance use and who enter the child welfare system. Website

Protecting Children in Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders

This manual addresses the nature of substance use disorders (SUDs) and provides an overview of how child welfare and other related professionals can assist families affected by SUDs. Website

Recovery: A Philosophy of Hope and Resilience (SAMHSA News September/October 2009)

This issue of SAMHSA News highlights The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's recovery-related programs and recent white papers on research, case studies, and lessons learned. Website

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) offers this report four times each year to provide a forum for scholarly reviews and discussions of developmental research and its implications for policies affecting children. Website