The CASA Book Club will meet Sept. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CASA of Lexington office to discuss “The Car Thief" by Vicki Reed.

Reed is currently the executive-director of the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Initiative, an advocacy group whose goals included ending the practice of mandatory waiver to adult court and banning the detention of status offenders. She serves on the local Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). She is a former Juvenile Justice Commissioner for the state of Kentucky.

Reed will be attending the book club discussion to talk about her book and answer questions.

Register to attend using the button below. This book club meeting is worth 2 hours of CEU credit. You may also earn up to 4 hours toward your annual required CEUs by reading the book.

Book Summary from the author

Meet Sam Murry. He lives a quiet, orderly existence, alone—just how he likes it. But when a judge sends a skinny, young kid to be in his charge, that life gets turned inside out, leaving his heart uncomfortably and irretrievably exposed.

What happens when not just a decent kid, but an extraordinary one falls into the clutches of the juvenile justice system? Debut novelist, Vicki Reed, relies on decades spent working in the field to craft this inspiring story of loss and redemption. A powerful novel that shows how the transformative power of friendship, kindness, and love can heal the deepest wounds.

Copies of “The Car Thief” are available from the CASA lending library at the Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. Copies are also available from the Fayette, Bourbon, Woodford and Jessamine public libraries. Information for purchasing “The Car Thief” is available on the author’s website.

Lejla Kingsland, BASW, DCBS Family Services Office Supervisor, Juvenile Services will be available to discuss Cabinet services to older children. The discussion will be moderated by CASA of Lexington Volunteer Manager Dennis Stutsman. 

This should be an interesting opportunity to discuss the challenges of placement and treatment options for kids with significant trauma histories, the challenges of preparing them for adulthood, and what to expect for them should they choose to extend commitment if safe and permanent placements are not available.

This training is worth 2 continuing education credit hours and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 25 at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. Seats are limited; sign up to attend using the button below.

Join CASA of Lexington for a tour of Aspire Day School in Lexington. The school is for children ages 5-17 who have mental health and behavioral issues that prevent them from succeeding in a traditional classroom setting. Behavioral interventionists and therapists work with students daily, focusing heavily on mental health support, with a goal of preparing them to return to the school setting they came from and be successful students. This training will include a tour of the school, allowing CASA volunteers to see some of the classrooms and group rooms where therapy sessions happen. This training is worth 1.0 CEU credits.

The next CASA Book Club discussion will be for the book, “Misplaced Childhood” by Joan Ulsher. The discussion will be held 6-8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington.

Ulsher will join the discussion from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom for a question-and-answer session.

“Misplaced Childhood” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Shop and as an e-book for Kindle. You can find links to purchase the book at joanulsher.com.

“Misplaced Childhood” description

After foster care, Joan is returned home and subjected to more abuse. How can she be saved?

Misplaced Childhood chronicles one woman’s powerful journey to overcome a tragic past and use her “lived experiences” to inspire others. Wounded by poverty, child abuse, and foster care, Joan Ulsher discovers a purpose-filled life through military service and faith in God. This transformational journey of survival and triumph ultimately leads Joan to become a fierce volunteer advocate for children in foster care, despite not having a dedicated advocate as a child herself. Misplaced Childhood introduces readers to the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) model, where Joan continues exploring childhood memories while highlighting her exceptional advocacy journey shaped by the children whose lives are impacted along the way.

With its candid look at child welfare and advocacy alongside a personal narrative of healing, Misplaced Childhood opens up new levels of compassion for children suffering from abuse and neglect. Impeccably researched and told with great transparency, empathy, and vulnerability, Misplaced Childhood will inspire readers to embrace the vulnerable inner child in us all and take action for America’s forgotten children.

This book contains language about family dysfunction and generational trauma.

Join CASA for a tour of Behavioral Health Group’s (BHG) Lexington Treatment Center at 455 Park Place, Suite 130 in Lexington. Learn about the recovery services provided by BHG that may be appropriate for family members of CASA children while you tour the facility. This tour will also include training on the use of naloxone/Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses and a distribution of naloxone/Narcan to participants.

This event is worth 1 hour of continuing education credit. Two tour times are being offered - 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Register here for the 5-6 p.m. tour time.

Join CASA for a tour of Behavioral Health Group’s (BHG) Lexington Treatment Center at 455 Park Place, Suite 130 in Lexington. Learn about the recovery services provided by BHG that may be appropriate for family members of CASA children while you tour the facility. This tour will also include training on the use of naloxone/Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses and a distribution of naloxone/Narcan to participants.

This event is worth 1 hour of continuing education credit. Two tour times are being offered - 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Register here for the 11 a.m.-12 p.m. tour time.

Join Executive Director Melynda Jamison and fellow CASA volunteers, board members and staff at Condado Tacos for our first Eating Out With CASA social CEU of 2024!

During this lunch event, Melynda will lead an educational discussion that enables CASA volunteers to log the lunch as CEU time in Optima. You can also socialize with others in the CASA community, all while you enjoy delicious tacos and dips!

Everyone will pay for their own meal. If you would like to attend, please RSVP using the button below.

On Sept. 23 at 9 a.m., we'll be hiking at the Pinnacles in Berea. The hike is a little steep and closed-toed shoes are recommended. The views at the top are amazing! Executive Director Melynda Jamison will lead this hike and provide an educational component to the conversations so it can be logged for CEU hours. RSVP to mjamison@lexingtonky.org.

Bridges Out of Poverty training helps participants better understand the causes and effects of poverty. This four-hour training will help you put yourself in the shoes of someone living in poverty and see all the obstacles that work against people who would like to emerge from poverty.

This training is being provided by the Heart of Kentucky United Way at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. It is worth 4 CEU credits.

Seats are limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. If you register and all seats are already full, we will place you on a wait list in case of any cancellations.

CASA of Lexington now has a quarterly book club, enabling CASA volunteers to earn CEU credits while reading and discussing together. The first book is “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver.

You can join our bookclubs.com group now if you’d like to discuss with others as you read, and you can make plans to attend our quarterly discussion at the Lexington office on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.

CASA volunteers can earn up to 4 hours of CEU credit every year for reading books. You can also earn unlimited hours of CEU credit for book discussions.

Behavioral Health Group will lead this Narcan distribution and training at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington, 6-6:30 p.m. on Aug. 8.

There will be a Narcan training followed by a discussion of Behavioral Health Group’s services and how Narcan has benefited the organization’s patients. Presenters will also take any questions from those in attendance.

This training is worth 0.5 CEU credits. If questions take the training beyond its allocated 30 minutes, you can log additional CEU credit time in Optima.

Elizabeth Adams, BSW, will educate attendees about the Job Corps program and the benefits offered for youth between the ages of 16 and 24. Attendees will learn about eligibility requirements, receive information about the Job Corps program and Conservation Centers and discuss the current centers and how clients can apply.

This is a virtual training held over Zoom and is worth 0.5 CEU credits. If questions extend the session beyond the planned 30 minutes, participants can log additional CEU credit for the additional time.

Note: this is one of two opportunities for the same informational session. This session occurs on April 19. The same session is also offered on April 5.

This virtual continuing education opportunity from 6 to 6:30 p.m. on April 19 will provide participants with information about the Helping Hands Wellness Program, a service of the Rhema Word Foundation. The HHWP helps connect women, children and survivors of abuse to health and wellness supports in the community, including assistance with food, clothing, finances, housing, utilities and financial literacy. These services may be valuable for some families served by CASA of Lexington.

This informational session is virtual-only, offered through Zoom. You can register using the button below. This informational session is worth 0.5 CEU credits for CASA of Lexington volunteers. If questions lengthen the time of the session, volunteers in attendance will receive additional CEU credit.

Note: this is one of two opportunities for the same informational session. This session occurs on April 5. The same session will also be offered April 19.

This continuing education opportunity will provide participants with information about the Helping Hands Wellness Program, a service of the Rhema Word Foundation. The HHWP helps connect women, children and survivors of abuse to health and wellness supports in the community, including assistance with food, clothing, finances, housing, utilities and financial literacy. These services may be valuable for some families served by CASA of Lexington.

This informational session is hybrid: You may attend in-person at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington, or virtually on Zoom. RSVP for either attendance option below. This informational session is worth 0.5 CEU credits for CASA of Lexington volunteers. If questions lengthen the time of the session, volunteers in attendance will receive additional CEU credit.

CASA volunteers will learn about substance use and treatment services available through Isaiah House during this 1-hour continuing education training, hosted at the Isaiah House Women’s Center.

Attendees will learn about the background and history of the Isaiah house and the services currently provided by the organization for individuals struggling with substance misuse, including what the day-to-day schedule is like for women in treatment.

Isaiah House Women’s Center - Versailles is a 28-bed facility in a beautiful, serene setting located in Versailles, across from the Kentucky Castle in Woodford County. The women’s program provides healing, support, and guidance for substance use disorder recovery. The program accepts women who are pregnant with their doctor’s approval.

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. 14:

8:30-10:00 a.m. - Understanding the Court Process (1.5 CEUs)

This virtual volunteer training was held by CASA of Lexington on May 14, 2020, and featured Joe Schuler and Tiffany Yahr with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. It summarizes many steps of the court process from an initial petition through return to parents, placement with family members or possible termination of parental rights and adoption.

10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. -Caring for Children Who Have Suffered Sexual Abuse (2 CEUs; not publicly available online)

This virtual volunteer training was held by CASA of Lexington on June 25, 2020, and featured Dr. Jacqueline Sugarman and forensic interviewer Kristin Jenkins. It provides an overview of the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, the process of forensic interviews of children when there are allegations of sexual abuse, the importance of case history in substantiating claims of sexual abuse, and myths about what findings from physical exams.

12:30-2:30 p.m. - Caring for Kids Who Have Suffered Physical Abuse (2 CEUs; not publicly available online)

Dr. Christina Howard, MD, FAAP, a Child Fatality and Injury Prevention Pediatric Consultant and Child Abuse Pediatrician, explains how signs of physical abuse present themselves, how bruising and injuries differ between accidents and abuse and how doctors work with children who may have suffered abuse.

2:45-3:45 p.m. - All Children All Families: Neither/Nor: Stories of Life Beyond Binary Gender (1 CEU; counts for DEI training)

Non-Binary; NB; Gender Fluid, Genderqueer… More and more people are negotiating gender beyond the binaries of Male/Female/Man/Woman/Boy/Girl. This panel of youth and young adults will share their experiences beyond the gender binary and how child welfare professionals and organizations can create inclusive spaces for folks of all genders.

4:00-5:00 p.m. - All Children All Families: Putting Intersectionality into Practice (1 CEU; counts for DEI training)

This webinar will introduce participants to intersectionality -- a theory that calls on us to recognize that oppressions are linked and cannot be resolved alone -- and how it informs our efforts to achieve safety, permanency and well-being for all young people. Participants will hear directly from LGBTQ youth on what intersectionality means to them and what it looks like in practice for child welfare professionals. Case scenarios focused on serving LGBTQ youth and adults in child welfare will illustrate what intersectionality can look like in practice.

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.

Monthly CASA of Lexington Training

Please note the location of this training has changed to the CASA of Lexington office. This training will be held in-person at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2022, with an hour for lunch. Attendees who registered before Nov. 1 will receive a free lunch. This training is open to the public. CASA of Lexington volunteers will earn 3 CEU credits for attending.

Monthly CASA of Lexington Training

This training will be in-person at the CASA of Lexington office and led by the Lexington Pride Center. It focuses on understanding, working with and advocating for LGBTQ youth. This training is open to the public. CASA of Lexington volunteers will earn 1.5 CEU credits by attending. A virtual attendance option is available.

CASA of Lexington Monthly CEU

Join CASA of Lexington and four area attorneys working in Kentucky's dependency, neglect and abuse (DNA) courts for a discussion of attorneys' perspectives on working with CASAs.

Attendees will learn what attorneys find valuable from CASA volunteers and provide insight on how to navigate obstacles that hinder CASA volunteers’ success. CASA volunteers will gain a better understanding of how others in the courtroom see their work, improving their abilities to build collaborative solutions for abused and neglected children.

This panel discussion will be held at the Georgetown Police Department, 550 Bourbon St. in Georgetown, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2022. A virtual attendance option via Zoom is also available. This event is worth 2 CEU credits for CASA of Lexington volunteers. CLE credit for Kentucky Attorneys is being worked on.

CASA of Lexington Monthly CEU

THIS TRAINING IS NOW FULL.

This two hour in-person training will include a panel of Department for Community Based Services Social Workers who serve in a wide range of roles in different counties. This panel will include investigative, ongoing, and R&C workers as well as supervisors from DCBS. Attendees will learn what social workers find valuable from CASA volunteers and will gain insight on how to navigate obstacles that hinder CASA volunteers’ success. CASA volunteers will gain a better understanding of Social Workers’ roles, different processes within DCBS, and how to improve your abilities to build collaborative solutions for abused and neglected children.

This in-person training will be held at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. in Lexington. It is worth 2 CEU credits for CASA of Lexington volunteers.

CASA of Lexington Monthly CEU

This three-hour in-person training will be led by presenter Emily Drury. Emily is a full-time inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility consultant. This training fulfills the National CASA requirement for DEI training. This training is worth 3 CEU credits for CASA of Lexington volunteers. It is open to the public.

Join CASA Bourbon County Volunteer Manager Gudrun Allen for a relaxing chair yoga session at the Paris-Bourbon County Public Library. This one-hour self-care training is open to all CASA volunteers and the public to attend. CASA volunteers in Bourbon County are encouraged to attend — and to bring friends with them! Informational materials about becoming a CASA volunteer will be available. The Paris-Bourbon County Public Library is at 701 High St. in Paris. The training will be held in the community room.

CASA of Lexington’s monthly continuing education training will be focused on trauma-informed care for children. This virtual training is being provided by The Ridge, which will also provide information for CASA volunteers on how to connect children with services offered at the facility.