National CASA
Poverty Learning Center Resources
The Poverty Learning Series is a robust and well-rounded learning experience, available for CASA staff and volunteers, to become more knowledgeable on the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect, and the resources available to the children and families we serve. The series will feature a number of resources and learning opportunities for staff and volunteers that will be rolled out through the fall of 2021.
These resources can better prepare you to advocate for abused and neglected children affected by poverty. You can log time you spend reading and watching these resources as CEU hours using Optima. Remember only 4 hours of reading each year counts toward your required 12 hours of continuing education.
New resources available for CASA volunteers will be added to this page as they become available from National CASA/GAL.
Poverty Learning Center Resources PDF
This PDF from the National CASA Association provides information about organizations researching and addressing poverty; blogs focused on poverty issues; books about poverty; documentaries about poverty; and other ways to learn about poverty, including an online poverty simulator and a prevention resource guide. All materials linked to from this resource PDF qualify for CEU credits.
Poverty Learning Book Club Series
This book club series is focused on the topic of poverty. Participants will gain a better understanding of poverty and its impact on the children and families we serve.
While most people in financial need do not maltreat their children, poverty can increase the likelihood of maltreatment, particularly when poverty is combined with other risk factors, such as depression, substance use, and social isolation.
Poverty is especially harmful to children during the early years of life — a finding demonstrated by countless studies over the years. It has been linked to disruptions in learning and academic performance. A number of studies have shown that children living in poverty begin to show lower cognitive and academic readiness, as early as age two, and to perform worse on a number of cognitive measures. Poverty is seen as a significant obstacle for families involved with the child welfare system.
Reading Schedule
“Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong About Poverty” - Sept. 19-Oct. 16; Author Event Oct. 26
“The Lines Between Us: Two Families and a Quest to Cross Baltimore’s Racial Divide” - Jan. 3-Feb. 4, 2022; Author Event Feb. 15, 2022
“Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive” - March 3-April 1, 2022; Author Event, April 11, 2022
“Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration” - May 9-June 3, 2022; Author Event June 13, 2022
Learn About Influential Figures
National CASA/GAL has selected three influential figures whose lives have been spent addressing issues of poverty in the U.S. You can read and watch more about these important figures using the links below. Time spent learning about these people can be logged for CEU credit.
Congressman John R. Lewis
Achievement.org biography — Includes a link to a digital book, a link to a podcast and a brief biography
Britannica biography — Includes a longer biography of Lewis, with links to sources and more resources.
Michael Tubbs
Mtubbs.com — Includes info about Tubbs and recordings of speeches and interviews.
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
Breachrepairers.org — Includes biographical information about Barber and recordings of speeches