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.