National CASA Podcast

National CASA Podcast episodes:

• 08.28.2014

  Partners for Permanency

  The National CASA Association and the National Council of Family and Juvenile Court Judges (NCJFCJ) have an extensive collaborative history in working towards permanency and well-being for children.  Sworn in as President of NCJFCJ in July of 2014, and an active...

  
• 12.05.2013

  Working Towards Cultural Competency

  LaDonna Wattley, founder of Wattley Training Institute and former Volunteer Director with Child Advocates, Inc. in Indianapolis, IN, has used her vast experiences in the child welfare, adoption and educational fields to develop in-depth trainings for others working in those...

  
• 10.28.2013

  Technology and Advocacy

  Sharon Nelson and John Simek have been busy as the President and Vice President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc., a successful digital forensics, information technology and information security company. Their schedules just got even busier as Sharon was elected President of...

  
• 08.23.2013

  I Have a Dream - audio collage series week 4

  To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, members of the National CASA Facebook community have shared their dreams for future generations of children.  Listen to the final week of a four...

  
• 08.23.2013

  Reflecting on a Career of Service to Children

  In this podcast, National CASA chief program officer, Sally Erny reflects on her experience and inspiration throughout her career. Listen to Sally talk about her 27 years of service to CASA and her vision for National CASA. National CASA is...

  
• 08.16.2013

  I Have a Dream - audio collage series week 3

  To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, members of the National CASA Facebook community have shared their dreams for future generations of children.  Listen to week three of a four part...

  
• 08.08.2013

  I Have a Dream - audio collage series week 2

  To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, members of the National CASA Facebook community have shared their dreams for future generations of children.  Listen to week two of a four part audio collage series...

  
• 08.01.2013

  I Have a Dream - audio collage series week 1

  To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, members of the National CASA Facebook community have shared their dreams for future generations of children.  Listen to week one of a four part audio collage...

  
• 06.21.2013

  Increasing LGBT Cultural Competency

  The Human Rights Campaign Foundation initiatve All Children - All Families helps child welfare organizations improve their recruitment and retention of volunteers and resource families in the LGBT community and works to enhance the LGBT cultural competency within the child welfare system....

  
• 05.11.2013

  Improving Outcomes for Older Youth

  Older youth often age out of the foster care system without the tools and resources needed to successfully transition to adulthood.  CASA and GAL volunteers that have been trained with the National CASA Fostering Futures curriculum are more aware of...

  
• 03.28.2013

  First Voice, First Face of CASA

  After 35 years of CASA volunteers representing children in court, we caught up with the man who started it all.  In this podcast, hear Judge David Soukup remind us how it all got started.

  
• 02.15.2013

  Meeting the Emotional Needs of Children One Dog at a Time

  Since 2003 specially trained facility dogs have been assisting children and other individuals with physical, psychological or emotional trauma in the court system.  In this podcast, Ellen O'Neill-Stephens and Celeste Walsen from the Courthouse Dogs Foundation talk about how this program got...

  
• 12.03.2012

  Understanding the National CASA Standards and Quality Assurance Process

  This podcast takes a closer look at the most recent revision of the National CASA Standards for Local CASA/GAL Programs.  Listen to Shelley Morgan, Sybil Turner and Melissa Protzek discuss the importance of the standards and quality assurance process and...

  
• 11.21.2012

  Teaming Up to Change Children’s Lives

  Glenn and Sherri Eckhardt were named the 2012 Florida GAL Volunteers of the Year.  Hear how this husband and wife team has also partnered with other GAL volunteers to more effectively serve on complex cases and form lifelong bonds while...

  
• 11.02.2012

  Addressing Racial Disproportionality and Disparity in Child Welfare

  Judge Louis A. Trosch Jr. of the 26th Judicial District in Mecklenburg County, NC, has done extensive work both personally and professionally to address issues of racial disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.  Hear Judge...

  
• 09.27.2012

  A Judge's Perspective

  In the Fall 2012 issue of the Connection magazine, Judge Joyce Williams Warren of Little Rock, AR, shared her advice to CASA volunteers on working with their judge.  In this interview, hear Judge Warren talk about why CASA volunteers are...

  
• 05.24.2012

  Providing Hope, Offering Insight

  After spending her childhood in an abusive home and several years in the foster care system, Stephanie Holt finds strength through her work as a CASA volunteer.  In this podcast hear Stephanie share her story as she offers hope to...

  
• 04.16.2012

  Celebrating National Volunteer Week

  We asked members of the National CASA network and Facebook community to describe the successful qualities of a CASA volunteer. Hear some of the responses we received.

  
• 03.02.2012

  Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth

  In this podcast, hear how Educational Advocacy Coordinator Jeff Perry is working to improve the educational outcomes for youth in the San Francisco CASA program and how CASA volunteers can be better advocates for the CASA youth they serve.

  
• 02.18.2012

  2012 National CASA Conference

  In this podcast Dawn Rego, conference and events manager and Anthony Petrarca, training director talk about some of the workshops and events lined up for the 2012 National CASA Conference being held in Washington D.C. June 9-12.

  
• 02.07.2012

  The Peer Coordinator Model - Program Experience

  In this second installment of podcasts on The Peer Coordinator Model we talk with program staff to hear their experiences on transitioning to this model.  Megan Shultz from CASA of Lane County in Springfield, OR offers insight into the process...

  
• 02.07.2012

  The Peer Coordinator Model - Program Experience

  In this second installment of podcasts on The Peer Coordinator Model we talk with program staff to hear their experiences on transitioning to this model.  Laurie Laughlin from Maricopa County CASA in Phoenix, AZ discusses the challenges she has experienced...

  
• 01.09.2012

  Peer Coordinator Model

  National CASA is working to find ways to provide a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one. In this podcast Michael Heaton, western regional program officer, talks about how CASA programs can maximize their resources, serve more kids and...

  
• 12.12.2011

  National CASA Podcast Update

  We thank Rebecca Grossman for pioneering the podcasts for National CASA and we look forward to bringing more educational and informative topics to the CASA/GAL network with new upcoming podcasts with Sybil Turner.  Click on the link below to hear...

  
• 08.15.2011

  Today's Health for Tomorrow

  This podcast is an interview with Syeda Naqvi from CASA of Cook County in which she discusses the importance of a youth's health and its effects on their well being in the future.

  
• 05.12.2011

  Speaking Up for Autism

  This interview is a follow up to the podcast "Autism Spectrum Disorder." It is the story of a volunteer from Coweta CASA, Inc. in Newnan, GA, who advocated for a child diagnosed with autism. You will hear what resources she...

  
• 04.26.2011

  A Question of Balance

  The latest edition of "A Question of Balance" is a must-have for every person in our CASA/GAL network, if not for every person who works in child welfare. The book brings together all the pieces of the puzzle we work...

  
• 04.12.2011

  Making a Lasting Difference

  In this podcast, foster care alumna Lauren Mueller describes how her relationship with her CASA volunteer advocate, Stephanie, changed the way she looked at herself and, ultimately, gave her the motivation and confidence to pursue her goals and dreams. This...

  
• 02.11.2011

  Autism Spectrum Disorder

  Stacy Shook, a board certified behavior analyst and the director of Northwest Behavioral Associates in Seattle, WA, discusses autism spectrum disorder, how it may be treated, and possible services for children and their caregivers.

  
• 01.31.2011

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

  Stephen McCrea, CASA Supervisor with CASA for Children in Portland, OR, talks about the history of mental health treatment of foster youth, including the introduction of psychotropic medications, their use now and what a CASA/GAL volunteer should know when working...

  
• 01.10.2011

  Families Living in Poverty

  In this podcast Monica Boguki, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, discusses issues around families living in poverty, their battle to get out of poverty, and ways a CASA/GAL volunteer advocate can assist these families.

  
• 11.15.2010

  Effects of Bullying in Children

  In this podcast we talk about bullying with Tracy Flynn, a trainer and consultant. She describes signs a child might show, the long-term effects of bullying and how you can help children who are experiencing bullying.

  
• 11.15.2010

  Q&A with Michael Piraino

  You asked the questions, now we have the answers. Hear how National CASA's CEO stays hopeful in today's difficult economic climate and how he feels his role effect our network.

  
• 11.02.2010

  Training Director and Child Advocate

  Brian Washburn, training director at National CASA, became a CASA volunteer advocate in 2007. In this interview he will explain why he became a volunteer and how this work affects his role developing the National CASA curriculum.

  
• 11.02.2010

  Training as a Retention Tool

  In this podcast, you will hear how CASA of Atlantic and Cape May Counties is keeping volunteers engaged by offering ongoing training opportunities.

  
• 10.18.2010

  Advocating for Children with Developmental Delays

  A CASA volunteer from Washington state who has both personal and professional experience dealing with families affected by developmental delays discusses how to advocate effectively either for children with developmental delays or for children whose parents have delays.

  
• 10.04.2010

  Change of Focus

  In this podcast Alicia Kinser, Program Manager, talks about the process of taking the Family Advocates CASA Program in Boise, ID, from a staff driven model to one of volunteer management.

  
• 09.07.2010

  Project Family Connect: Working with Children and Youth Impacted by Parental Incarceration

  One goal of CASA/GAL advocates is to ensure that the youth they serve visit with their biological parents. When their parents are incarcerated, this task is tricky-but certainly not impossible. In this podcast two woman who work on Project Family...

  
• 08.23.2010

  Supporting Children Experiencing Grief and Loss

  In this podcast, Lisa Barsky Firsker Phd., Executive Director from Morris and Sussex Counties, discusses how to work with children who are dealing with the death of a family member or other significant loss in their lives. Firsker describes services...

  
• 07.26.2010

  A View from the Board

  In this podcast, Suzanne Greenberg, president/CEO of CAN Council Saginaw County and member of the National CASA Board of Trustees, shares how her passion for the CASA mission inspires her efforts as a board member.

  
• 07.12.2010

  Advocating for Immigrant Youth, Part 2

  Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)-the most common legal status available to immigrant youth-is an important consideration in a growing number of our network's cases. In this podcast, Susan Schmidt, a consultant for Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services, discusses why...

  
• 06.29.2010

  Advocating for Immigrant Youth, Part 1

  Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)-the most common lawful status available to immigrant youth-is an important consideration in a growing amount of our network's cases. In this podcast, Susan Schmidt, a consultant for Bridging Refugee Youth and Children's Services, provides an...

  
• 06.14.2010

  Communicating with Children Using Drawings

  Lisa Barsky Firsker, PhD explains how the use of simple materials such as crayons, paper, colored pencils and markers can be a powerful way to communicate with a child. As she says: "Inside every quiet child there is a loud...

  
• 06.02.2010

  Change from Within

  This podcast features National CASA Association Kappa Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year Melissa Protzek of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.

  
• 05.17.2010

  Volunteer Story - Dee Horn

  This is the second story teller from the 2010 National CASA Conference closing general session. It is a live recording of Dee Horn from Fulton County CASA, Georgia. In this podcast Dee shares his story about his volunteer advocacy work.

  
• 05.10.2010

  Volunteer Story - Leana Lowery

  At the 2010 National CASA Conference we asked four volunteer advocates from our network to share a story at our closing general session about their volunteer work. This podcast is a live recording of our first story teller Leana Lowery,...

  
• 05.03.2010

  Stories from Youth

  At our 2010 National CASA Conference, we invited volunteers, staff, supporters and others to share their CASA/GAL stories in a story booth.  In this week's podcast, we present the first edited interview: a conversation between a youth who recently emancipated...

  
• 03.22.2010

  Volunteer's Story: Jo-Anne Vanin

  Massachusetts CASA volunteer Jo-Anne Vanin explains how she views her role as a volunteer advocate and why she chooses to do this important work.

  
• 03.08.2010

  National CASA CEO Michael Piraino: Technology and Our Network

  National CASA CEO Michael Piraino talks about how new technologies are helping members of our CASA/GAL network improve volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children.

  
• 02.08.2010

  Fostering Connections Legislation and Kinship Care

  The option of placing a foster child in a family member’s home is often overlooked. In this podcast Heidi Redlich Epstein from the American Bar Association talks about the importance of kinship care and ways that the Fostering Connections legislation...