CASA dead week is a great chance to wrap up your CEUs for the year by watching recorded trainings with other CASA volunteers and enjoying free drinks and snacks at the CASA office! On Dec. 13 and 14, we will play recorded trainings in the training room all day long. You can come by and watch one or two - or more!
Even if you have earned 0 CEUs so far this year, there are enough trainings offered over these two days for you to earn all 12 of your required credits!
These trainings are available for active CASA volunteers only.
Here is the schedule for Dec. 13:
8:30-10:15 a.m. - IEPs, 504s and Looking Into Special Education (1.75 CEUs)
CASA staff member and former teacher Liz Matherly and School Psychologist and Instructional Resources Consultant Cindy Matherly discuss the acronyms, processes and services that make up the special education system. This training will provide an overview of the difference between RTI, 504s and IEPs and what to expect at an ARC. This recorded continuing education training is worth 1.75 CEUs for CASA of Lexington volunteers.
10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - ACEs Across the Lifespan (1.5 CEUs)
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and household challenges stemming from child abuse and neglect can result in poor health outcomes and decreased well-being across the life span. This training explores the kinds of adverse experiences that can culminate in changes to the structure and function of a child’s brain, which may influence negative health outcomes across the lifespan. The training offers approaches for the prevention of ACEs, and discuss resilience and protective factors.
12:30-2:00 p.m. - All Children, All Families Intro to LGBTQ+ Inclusion (1.5 CEUs; counts for DEI training)
This webinar covers foundational information related to serving LGBTQ+ youth and families. Topics include key terminology and concepts, an overview of the barriers faced by LGBTQ+ youth and families in child welfare, and the steps all service providers can take to overcome these barriers in order to create a welcoming environment.
2:00-4:30 p.m. - How to Succeed as a CASA Volunteer in an Imperfect System (2 CEUs; dead week exclusive - this training cannot be viewed online)
Many times the legal system takes our kids’ cases in directions that immensely frustrate us as CASA volunteers. We know that they are not in the children’s “best interest” by any means. But the overburdened social work system, or the legal and constitutional framework of the court system may compel results that we discussed in CASA PreService Training as “mimimal sufficient level of care,” rather than ideal outcomes.
In this continuing education training, we discuss how to remain motivated when these “sharp right turns” or even “about faces” happen; how to sharpen our advocacy by focusing on resilience and resources for our kiddos regardless of where they may be placed; and how to celebrate those important, life-changing victories we play a role in achieving even where a perfect outcome at case closure might remain elusive.