2023 CASA Training: Schedule and Descriptions
In 2023, we will offer our training courses in several different formats in order to accommodate the schedules of volunteers. All of our training classes cover the same topics, and include some outside “homework” and the writing of a court report. The differences will be in the length of the session (8 weeks or 10 weeks), the amount of outside “homework”, and the use of either virtual class meetings on Zoom, in-person classes at the CASA training room in Springfield, or a combination of virtual and in-person classes.
The 8-week course has 8 class meetings, which meet once a week for 3.5 hours. In addition, there are four online units of work to be completed. The online component (called “Moodle”), includes short articles, video clips, and questions for the trainee to answer on an online discussion board. Each Moodle unit requires approximately three hours of work outside of class. The final assignment in the course is to write a court report on a mock case. Trainees will write their court report in parts over several weeks, with feedback from the training coordinators along the way.
The 10-week course has 10 class meetings, which meet once a week for 3.5 hours. There is only a small amount of outside “homework,” usually no more than a half-hour reading assignment per week. The final assignment in the course is to write a court report on a mock case. Trainees will write their court report in parts over several weeks, with feedback from the training coordinators along the way.
2023 Training Schedule:
Summer 2023: 8-Week Virtual Training, July 12-Aug 30. Wednesday evenings from 5:00-8:30pm. All class meetings will be held on Zoom, and there will be an online “Moodle” component to be completed outside of class.
**Application deadline June 19, 2023
Fall 2023: 8-Week In-Person Training, Sept 28-Nov 16. Thursday evenings, from 5:00-8:30pm. All class meetings will be held in person, and there will be an online “Moodle” component to be completed outside of class. We will also offer the option of people joining class virtually when necessary (due to illness, travel, or living in distant rural area), but the expectation is that people will attend in-person when possible.
**Application deadline Sept 1, 2023
The topics you will learn about in training include:
CASA 101 Nuts & Bolts
CASA Reality Stories & Case Dynamics
CASA Role
Culturally Responsive Advocacy
Court Process
Court Etiquette
Court Reports
CRB and Other Meetings
Juvenile Court Hearings
Case Documents, Information Management
Professional Role Playing
Home Visiting
Safety Issues
DHS Overview
Foster Care
Child Abuse
Children’s ‘Best Interests’ and Standards for Minimum Community Sufficient Level of Care
Attachment and Bonding
Early Child Development
IEPs, Resources for Children with Special Needs
Substance Abuse & Addictions
Sexual Abuse
Domestic Violence
For more information, please email [email protected] or call (541) 731-3763.