Winter Wonderland is this Friday!

Please join us at First American Bank on Friday at 5:00 for this amazing auction event.  It is free to the public!

Webcast to Examine Impact of Brain Development Research on Youth Programs

On November 5, at 1:00 p.m. eastern time, the 2014 Kristin Anderson Moore Lecture will present "The Developing Brain: Implications for Youth Programs." Kristin Anderson Moore, senior scholar and former president of Child Trends, will moderate this free hour-long webcast. Topics will include:

• How the brain grows and learns.
• How the brain responds to trauma, and how this response differs in children and adults.
• How environment, experience, and genetics affect the brain's response to challenges and the ability to learn.
• How programs can apply this research to help children and older youth.

Watch the Webcast on November 5.

Team of Rosie the Riveters Set Up Winter Wonderland

We Can Do It!

Policy Brief: Medicare to 26 for Former Foster Youth

We are pleased to share a new policy brief by our partner First Focus on Medicaid access for youth formerly in foster care. This brief provides an overview of the mandatory Medicaid coverage for former foster youth under the Affordable Care Act and explains issues regarding the “state option” around portability of coverage for former foster youth that aged out of care in another state.

Read the executive summary or the full policy brief from First Focus, through its State Policy Advocacy Reform Center.

National CASA would like to hear more from you about any challenges, issues, or concerns you have faced in working with youth on this issue.

Resource Available: Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care

The Children's Bureau has published a new guide on managing psychotropic medications written specifically for youth in foster care: Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care. The guide was developed for the youth audience and can serve as a valuable discussion tool for child welfare professionals, foster parents, clinicians, health care providers, mentors, and others working with youth. The guide provides ways in which youth can manage powerful feelings and behaviors and make healthy, informed choices. It can help youth understand how psychotropic medication can help, as well as learn about other options that are available.

Read more about the guide and download the file at FindYouthInfo.gov.

Developing Trauma-Informed Approaches to Children in Courts

Understanding the impact of trauma on children of all ages and being trauma-informed is very important for judges, lawyers, court appointed special advocates, and all systems that interface with juvenile court. It is important to recognize how the approach to children and the work and decisions made by judges, lawyers and CASA volunteers will be different if they are trauma-informed. When individuals, be they children or adults, experience trauma it can be overwhelming and impact their capacity to cope. Children, especially young children, may feel helpless, fearful and hopeless because of trauma they have experienced, and have less ability to control and regulate their behaviors and emotions. Children and adolescent will have different reactions. Younger children may show their feelings by having frequent temper tantrums, hitting and throwing things. School-age children may have difficulty sitting still and concentrating in school; they may act out in negative ways or withdraw. Adolescents, especially with the influence of their peers, may show risky behaviors, substance use, delinquency and other negative behaviors that come to the attention of the juvenile justice system.

To read more, go here.

Phil Tedeschi Teaches us About the Impact of Animals in our Lives

TedX Talk:  Our pets are our family. Phil (and friend Samantha) share new insights into the importance of animals as sources of comfort and aid to people suffering from stress, depression, anxiety, trauma and other life issues. Watch the video here.

Moose and Emma approve.

Wings For Life - A Domestic Violence Survivor's Story

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

Rebuilding Your Life:  Sarai Peterson,

“A Domestic Violence Survivor’s Story”

Presented By

Roswell Refuge

                        

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

Andy’s Place (Free to Public)

SUNDAY, October 12, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

>Door Prize Drawing<

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources

Webinar from CWLA on Trauma Informed Care: October 8

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is presenting a webinar to explore the new on-line, video-enhanced resource tool developed through a collaborative effort between JBS International and Georgetown University's National TA Center for Children's Mental Health. This tool is intended for use by state and local decision makers who want to build capacity for their child-serving systems and provider organizations to become more trauma-informed. The interactive webinar will explore portions of some of the eight modules that include video, issue briefs, and annotated resources.

“Trauma Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources” will be presented Wednesday, October 8, at 3:00 p.m. eastern time. Register at gotomeeting.com.

President Signs Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

On September 29th, President Obama signed H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, which is intended to "prevent and address sex trafficking of children in foster care, to extend and improve adoption incentives, and to improve international child support recovery."  You can read a summary here:  

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr4980?utm_campaign=govtrack_email_update&utm_source=govtrack/email_update&utm_medium=email#summary

Wings For Life - CASA!

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

Making a Better Future for Our Children…

Presented By

Mary Colby, BSW, CASA

Meet and Greet CASA dogs Emma and Moose

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

505 N. Pennsylvania 

SUNDAY, August 31^st, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Free Dinner Provided

for questions call Shelly Currier, Director, 317-2042 

Webinar: "Finding Your Oxygen Mask: Living Well with Resiliency"

Upcoming webinar: “Finding your oxygen mask: Living well with resiliency.” Taking care of yourself so you can take care of others is not a new idea. Every airline in the world encourages you to first put on your own oxygen mask. In this interactive webinar, you will learn new strategies for taking care of yourself so you can be more resilient. The goal is not just bouncing back from adversity, but living well so you can flourish in your personal life as well as in your work at your CASA/GAL program.

Join Karen Kalergis, President, Mani partners, on September 25, at 11 a.m. Pacific. Register for this webinar on the National CASA Training Calendar.

Announcing a Co-Occurrence Webinar Series and a Custody Webinar Series

Overlap of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Series  Please join the Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Child Protection and Custody (RCDV:CPC), a project of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), for a four-part series exploring both the complexities and opportunities that arise in working with families experiencing domestic violence and child abuse or neglect. This series is designed as both a conversation and learning opportunity for child welfare personnel, domestic violence advocates, legal professionals, and other community programs working with adult victims, men who use violence, and children exposed to violence. This series will be presented by Jennifer Rose, independent consultant for the NCJFCJ and Futures Without Violence. All webinars will last for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Part 1: Wednesday, August 27th, 2014 | 1pm PDT Exploring the Complexities and Opportunities: The Overlap of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect Part 2: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 | 1pm PDT Beyond Leaving: Working with All Families Impacted by Domestic Violence. Part 3: Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 | 1pm PDT Engaging with Men Who Use Violence: Building Opportunities for Safety and Change. Part 4: Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 | 1pm PDT Developing Practice and Partnerships that Support Safety and Well-being for Adult Victims, Children, and Men Who Use Violence. To register for one or more of the webinars in this series, please click the button below:

Wings For Life - Building Assets

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

Reducing Risks and Building Resiliency

Building Assets Program

Presented By

Shelly Currier and Karen Barnett

(Registration Forms for After-School Programs Will Be Available)

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

SUNDAY, August 10^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

>Door Prize Drawing<

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources 

How Childhood Neglect Harms the Brain

Experts have long known that neglect and abuse in early life increase the risk of psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety, but now neuroscientists are explaining why. They're showing how early maltreatment wreaks havoc on the developing brain. 

Like any new mother, the woman we’ll call Braille was full of hope and excitement the day she welcomed her son into her life seven years ago. “Peter” was 7 years old at the time of his adoption. He’d been living in foster care after being taken from his biological mother.

According to Braille, Peter and his siblings endured years of neglect and abuse living with their biological mother and her violent boyfriend. “It was physical, emotional and continual,” she says.

Peter, now 14, and his adoptive parents are very close now, but the years since the adoption have been challenging. His father recalls Peter’s unpredictable anger, and the times Peter would punch him, out of the blue. His mother says her son could be very sweet and affectionate one minute, but then “he would just fall apart and start banging his head against the wall or start screaming.”

More of the article here.

Film Suggestions for CASA Volunteers

National CASA asked volunteers and supporters on the National CASA Facebook page to suggest movies and television shows that they found applicable to CASA/GAL advocacy. Over 30 suggestions were given—everything from documentaries about sexual abuse to kid-friendly movies about adoption. We have organized this list and added additional information about each film. Not all films have been viewed by National CASA staff. 

Topics touched on by each film are noted, and links are provided for documentaries and online video. See the list of films.

Wings For Life - Trauma, Resilience and Recovery

Wings for L.I.F.E.

Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education

“Trauma, Resilience and Recovery”

Presented By:

Dr. Bob Phillips, DBH/LMSW/LADAC

DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS!

DOORS OPEN 5:45p.m.

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

SUNDAY, April 27^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Meeting starts at 6:00

Free dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources 

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

“COLOR ME HUMAN”

FIND OUT YOUR COLOR AND WHAT IT MEANS

Presented By

Rhonda R. Gutierrez, LPCC – Turquoise Health & Wellness

EASTER GIFT DOOR PRIZES

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

SUNDAY, April 13^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Free enchilada dinner provided &

crafts for children in a family friendly environment (Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources

Wings For Life - Opioid Addiction

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

 “I HEAL…”

Suboxone: Treatment for Opioid Addiction
A Video Every Individual with Children Should See

Presented By

Rebecca Trujillo, RN/MSN, School Health Advocate

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

SUNDAY, March 23^rd, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00
Door Prize Drawing!
Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

 For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

 Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources

Wings For Life - What Happens CYFD Enters Your Life

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

What Happens When CYFD Enters Your Life

Presented By

Henry Dickson and Frank Patterson, Attorneys at Law

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

SUNDAY, March 9^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Free to Public

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment (sitter available)

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS…MOVE YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD 1 HOUR!

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resources

Parents With Disabilities in Child Welfare Cases

The newest issue of Rise magazine has an article called "Disabled But Not Unable: How Bias Impacts Parents with Disabilities in Child Welfare Cases--and How that Can Change." You can read the article here: http://risemagazine.org/featured_stories/Disabled_but_not_unable.html

The article also has a link to a very helpful report by the National Council on Disability: Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and their Children.

Wings for L.I.F.E.Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTHHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPSPresented ByTillie Crawford, Program Coordinator & Kerry Hopes, C.N.P. 505 N. Pennsylvania AvenueSt. Andrew’s Parish HallSUNDAY, February 23^rd, 20146:00 PM to 7:30 PM Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00 Calendars Available Plus Door Prize Drawing Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment(Sitter available) For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042 Wings for L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization that provides education, life-skill training, and access to community resource

New Documentary on Opiate Addiction

The Hungry Heart is a new documentary from Bess O’Brien, director/producer of numerous award-winning documentary films. The movie primarily follows teens and young adults in a rural corner of Vermont who are addicted to prescription opiates and getting treatment from their pediatrician.

CASA/GAL programs that are seeing children or parents struggling with prescription drug addiction may be especially interested in this film. For more information see TheHungryHeartMovie.org or view the trailer.

Wings for Life - Diffusing Anger

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

Diffusing Anger When Someone Pushes

Your Buttons!

Presented By

Dr. Van Warren, Doctor of Oriental Medicine

Door Prize Drawing

St. Andrew’s Church Parish Hall

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

SUNDAY, January 26^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042

Wings For Life - Getting Off to the Right Start

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

GETTING OFF TO THE “RIGHT” START…

FOR A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Presented By

Diane Taylor, DWI Preventionist

          

                                                           2014 CALENDARS/PLANNERS

and FREE GIVEAWAY

ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH PARISH HALL

505 N. PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

SUNDAY, January 12^th, 2014

6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Meeting starts at 6:00

Dinner provided & crafts for children in a family friendly environment

(Sitter available)

For Questions call:  Shelly @ 317-2042