Learning center

We offer continuing education opportunities for all volunteers, ambassadors, and supporters through webinars and workshops, along with in-person and virtual training

Passaic County Court Complex Historic Walking Tour

Join the honorable Judge Daniel J. Yablonsky and Robert Tracy on July 17 at 4pm for a behind-the-scenes special access walking tour of the historic Passaic County Court Complex! Meet at the Historic Courthouse, 71 Hamilton Street, first floor rotunda. Comfortable walking shoes advised. RSVP to Robert@childfocusnj.org.

Getting to Know the Children's System of Care (CSOC)

CASA volunteers are invited to join us on ZOOM on Thursday, July 17 from 6-7:30pm for an online training on Getting to know the Children’s System of Care (CSOC) presented by Zulma Cheung, Chief Operating Officer at Families and Communities Together (FACT), Union County's Care Management Organization (CMO), and Lori Mendoza, Community Coordinator at New Jersey Safe Babies Court Team.

This 1.5-hour in-service will provide participants with a basic understanding of the workings of the Children's System of Care, from the initial call to PerformCare to closing/transitioning from CSOC. Attendees will learn about:

  • Utilizing the PerformCare website as a resource.

  • Acronyms and clinical criteria.

  • Levels of Out-of-Home Care

RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.

About Zulma Cheung: Zulma Cheung is the Chief Operating Officer at Families and Communities Together (FACT), Union County's Care Management Organization (CMO). Zulma has over 20 years of experience with New Jersey's Children's System of Care, in both Hudson and Union Counties. Zulma has partnered with a variety of community resources, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, and most importantly, families. Zulma's expertise has been invaluable in supporting the successes of New Jersey's most vulnerable children.
About Lori Mendoza: Lori Mendoza was employed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency for over 27 years, in seven counties. For the past 13 years, Lori has served in the role of Area Office Team Leader. In this role, Lori became fluent in her understanding of the Children's System of Care and their contracted programs. Lori brings years of advocacy for youth with behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use, and juvenile justice involvement, as well as a vast knowledge of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

Overview to the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS)

CASA volunteers are invited to join us on ZOOM on Wednesday, September 10 from 6-7:30pm for an online training on Overview to the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS) presented by Karen Loaiza, Family Support Coordinator Family Link-REIC.

Volunteers will learn:

  • How to recognize developmental red flags using the cdc developmental milestones and understand eligibility for NJEIS services.

  • The process of referral, evaluation, services offered, and how NJEIS focuses on each child by creating an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

  • How to support families and ensure children in foster care receive timely developmental screenings and services.

RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.

The Anatomy of a Fact-Finding Hearing

CASA volunteers are invited to join us at the Wayne office on Wednesday, October 22 from 6-8pm for an in-person training on The Anatomy of a Fact-finding Hearing presented by Ed Marable. Volunteers will learn more about the hearing wherein a court determines whether a child has been abused/neglected, in the legal sense. RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.

CASAs Connected — A Monthly Roundtable Series

February's Advocate Roundtable at the Union County home of a CASA volunteer was well-attended and full of robust conversations. It's such a great way for advocates to connect, we're expanding the roundtables from predetermined topics to an open space for all the experiences, questions, and considerations that are top of mind for you.

Advocacy Supervisors will still facilitate discussions and look forward to seeing you there to talk about all the things! Here's the scoop on March and April roundtable opportunities to connect ... in our CASAs Connected, Monthly Roundtable Series! RSVP to annie@casapassaicunion.org.

July 14 from 6-7pm on Zoom

August 13 from 6-7pm on Zoom

Virtual training courses for NJ CASA volunteers, available online through Traliant:

  • Courtroom Procedures

  • The Effects of Trauma On A Child's Developing Brain

  • Opioid Addiction

  • Individual Education Plans and the Special Education System

  • Educational Advocacy

  • Child Development During the Early Years

  • CASA Medical Advocacy

Access to Traliant requires a login and password. If you're not sure how to log in, please contact Annie at annie@casapassaicunion.org.

CASA of NJ CASA College

CASA of New Jersey’s CASA College regularly has virtual training classes available for all advocates. Check the training calendar for details!

CASA College archives

Learning resources

CASA 101
For Kids

How To Write A Court Report

Court Report Template

Book Review
Form

In-service
Review Form

National CASA/GAL Association 2023 Archived Webinars

This catalog features a series of webinars hosted by the National CASA/GAL Association for Children throughout 2023. Topics include:

  • Tips and Technology: CASA/GAL Witness Testimony

  • Advancing Education Rights, and Addressing Barriers for Students in Care

  • Understanding Relationships and Their Importance to Early Childhood Development

  • Mental Health Essentials Part One: Foundations of Mental Health

  • Mental Health Essentials Part Two: Strategies to Support & Promote Mental Health

  • Through the Eyes of the Child: Exploring Protective Factors and Supporting Resiliency

On-Demand Training on Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) in Children and Adolescents

Understanding and Serving Children with PSBs (2-hours, 3 minutes)

NOTE: You must register for the training. You will then receive a link to the recording. You cannot close out of the training once you begin it. If you close out of the training before completing the short quiz at the end, you will need to contact katherine@njcainc.org to send you a link so that you may resume the training where you left off.

Training series on working with children and youth with PSB (four x 30-minute modules)

Overview of PSBs

Special Considerations for CACs

Treatment Response

Community Engagement

NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.

Understanding and Serving Adolescents with PSBs (2-hours, 44 minutes)

NOTE: You must register for the training. You will then receive a link to the recording. You cannot close out of the training once you begin it. If you close out of the training before completing the short quiz at the end, you will need to contact katherine@njcainc.org to send you a link so that you may resume the training where you left off.

Perceptions and Practices of CACs and their Community Partners in Serving Children and Adolescents with Problematic Sexual Behavior (90 minutes)

NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.

Training Series from OneOp, Problematic Sexual Behavior of Children and Youth (PSB-CY): Clinical Assessment and Treatment

This training series provides professional development for clinically assessing, responding to, and treating PSB-CY. These courses were created from evidence-based best practices and focus on youth between the ages of 9 and 14 with problematic sexual behaviors (PSB).

Clinical Assessment of Children and Youth with PSB (90 minutes)

Caregiver Engagement in Assessment and Treatment (90 minutes)

Clinical Decision-making and Treatment Planning (90 minutes)

Monitoring, Safety Planning, Supervision, and Treatment Progress (90 minutes)

NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. This series recommends seven prerequisite webinars. Five are included above. The content of the remaining two is covered in the first webinar, Understanding and Serving Children with PSB.

Engaging families with youth with problematic sexual behaviors in mental health services (105 minutes)

NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series. Use code 15462 for the organizational ID when creating your account.

Training Series from OneOp, Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth

This training series addresses normal sexual behavior in children in addition to exploring cautionary and problematic sexual behavior (PSB) that children may display. Various factors associated with children’s sexual behavior are identified in order to assist clinicians in understanding the appropriate assessment and disclosure processes involved when problematic symptoms are present.

Culturally Competent Responses to Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior (90 minutes)

Supporting Youth to Set Healthy Boundaries with Technology (90 minutes)

Considering the Adolescent Brain When Addressing Problematic Sexual Behavior of Youth (90 minutes)

Talking with Youth about Sex, Sexuality, and Media (90 minutes)

Modeling Healthy Technology Behaviors for Young Children (90 minutes)

NOTE: You must create a login to view the free training series.

Additional training and resources

Fact Sheets & White Papers

Media suggestions for additional reading, watching and listening

To receive In-Service credit after reading/watching/listening, please complete the Book Review Form or In-Service Review form above and send it to your Advocacy Supervisor; then enter the In-Service hours directly on the Training page in Optima.

Books

  • “The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband” by David Finch

  • “Three Little Words: A Memoir” by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

  • “A Beautiful Boy” by David Sheff

  • “Tweak: Growing Up on Amphetamines” by Nic Sheff

  • “The Leavers” by Lisa Ko

  • “Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery” by Catherine Gildiner

  • “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey  and Bruce D. Perry 

  • “Bright Burning Things” by Lisa Harding

  • “This is All I Got” by Lauren Sandler

  • “The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog” by Bruce D. Perry

  • “Demon Copperheard” by Barbara Kingsolver

Movies/Documentaries

  • “Maid,” 2021

  • "Paper Tigers," 2015

  • “Instant Family,” 2018

  • “They Have Names”,  a documentary film by AZCentral and The Arizona Republic that follows five families navigating Arizona's child welfare system, highlighting the human stories behind the numbers


Podcasts

  • NPR’s Fresh Air, “The Neuroscience of Addiction”

  • NPR, The Connection Between Early Childhood Experiences and Long Term Health

  • NPR, Adverse Childhood Experience Study

  • NPR, How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Health