In this section you will find a variety of community resources, research, tips and information on advocating for specific needs. Check back often as new resources are added frequently.
- Resources for Transitioning Youth
- Education Planning for Youth
- Online Safety for Youth
- Human Trafficking Resources
- Working with and Advocating for Specific Needs
- Working with LGBTQ Youth
- Additional Resources
- Research on Child Welfare
- Important Contact Information and MD Regulations
Volunteer Toolkit
Download a variety of forms that help volunteers organize and prepare for activities related to their cases.
Services 24/7
Comprehensive listing of a variety of services available in Prince George’s County, searchable by service category.
ReMoved
Excellent film that portrays the experience of youth who are removed from their families and placed in foster care.
Resources for Transitioning Youth
Transitioning Youth Resource Guide
CASA has developed a Transitioning Youth Resource Guide that provides information on a wide-range of community resource providers that can assist youth as they transition out of foster care to adulthood.
The Prince George’s County Ready By 21 program provides transitional resources and services to youth in foster care, starting at age 14 up until age 21, regardless of their permanency plan or placement type. The goal is to prepare youth for life after foster care and to assist them with making a successful transition to adulthood. This site provides resources on topics such as housing and employment opportunities.
The US Department of Health and Human Services offers an array of information, resources and tips on assisting youth who are preparing to transition out of foster care and into independence.
Finding Jobs & Apprenticeships
The Maryland Workforce Exchange is a great resource to help find a job along with several tools and other resources such as Job Seeker Solutions: Creating a Resume, Career & Workforce Information and more!
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
This initiative focuses on successful transitions to adulthood for older youth and provides a variety of resources and opportunities.
Education Planning for Youth
Foster care youth in Maryland who are enrolled as a candidate for an associate, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate at a Maryland Public institution of higher education are eligible to have their tuition waived.
Education and Training Voucher Program
This federally-funded program offers current and former foster youth up to $5,000 a year for school-related expenses on a first-come first-served basis.
College Scholarships and Grants for Foster Care Youth
This comprehensive list of college scholarships and grants available for current and former foster care youth contains both nationwide and state-specific resources. Scholarships can also be found here on the National Foster Parent Association website.
A 4-year STEM education program that aims to provide over 2,500 high school students in Prince George’s County with education and skills training, internships, college prep and dual enrollment, mentoring, and job readiness.
Online Safety for Youth
Every year, thousands of youth who are aging out of foster care find out they have been victims of identify theft and must work to clear their credit histories. Help your foster youth start off on the right track by making sure their identity and information are protected.
Tips for keeping foster kids safe online.
A Guide to Bullying and Cyber-bullying
Definitions, effects of bullying and cyber-bullying and preventative measures.
A Student’s Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Cyber Crime
Explanations of cyber-bulling, reporting tools and additional resources.
Human Trafficking Resources
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Children and youth in foster care are disproportionately victimized by human trafficking. Research has shown a direct connection between foster care and human trafficking. In particular, foster care youth who are out of placement or have aged-out are more likely to be recruited for human trafficking. Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force has resources available to assist with identifying and reporting human trafficking.
Maryland Human Trafficking Resource Guide
A guide compiling resources available in Maryland for human trafficking victims, including healthcare services, legal and case management services, victim housing and therapy, and residential programs.
National Human Trafficking Resources
Brief review of nationwide human trafficking statistics, the different elements of human trafficking, and resources available nationwide for recognizing and reporting human trafficking.
Online Human Trafficking Training
Online training resources teaching sex and labor trafficking victim identification along with how to work with victims of trafficking.
Human Trafficking Awareness Media
Compilation of videos, documentaries, podcasts, books, and apps detailing stories of human trafficking survivors to raise awareness and encourage participation in combating human trafficking.
Working with and Advocating for Specific Needs
Parenting a Child Who has been Sexually Abused
A guide for foster and adoptive parents parenting a child who has been sexually abused. Includes information about sexual abuse and guidelines for developing privacy and safety rules for the house.
Helping a Child who’s Parent Is Incarcerated
This federal website provides interactive tools and other resources to help youth-serving organizations and community partnerships plan, implement, and participate in effective programs for youth.
Advocating for Pregnant and Parenting Teens
Understanding the legal rights of the youth you work with is one way to help address these challenges. Healthy Teen Network and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law collaborated to provide answers to some common questions practitioners face when advocating for pregnant and parenting teens. The answers can be helpful in your advocacy efforts.
Supporting Transitioning Youth
Guide created by the US Department of Health and Human Services on how to support youth who are transitioning out of foster care.
Resources for Working with Young Children
The Sesame Street Workshop introduces a new neighbor, Karli, who is living with her “for-now parents” which is a great resource for helping young children understand foster care. They also have a variety of resources, coloring sheets and activities available for providers.
Advocating for Child’s Education Needs
The above handbook along with the following brochure concerning the educational rights of children in care serve as guides in understanding and coordinating a CASA Child’s education. By registering for the Prince George’s County Family Portal, volunteers can oversee their CASA Child’s education and even check their grades here.
Working with LGBTQ Youth
The LGBTQ Youth Resource Guide
A guide for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and questioning youth in the Prince George’s County/Washington DC Metro areas. CASA is a proud founding member of the Prince George’s County LGBTQ Youth Task Force, which created the guide.
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has support groups in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. These groups are for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals, and their family and friends. Support groups are led by trained facilitators.
Resources provided through the Child Welfare Information Gateway on how to better understand the unique needs of LGBTQ youth and permanency planning.
Resources for LGBTQ Youth in Out-of-Home Care
Resources provided through the Child Welfare Information Gateway on how to support LGBTQ youth in their out-of home experiences.
Definitions, information for parents, foster parents, youth themselves and educators. Also provides information for college-bound LGBTQ youth including tips on picking an LGBTQ-friendly campus, course selection and scholarships. Additional scholarship information is provided here.
Lambda Legal — Getting Down to Basics
Online toolkit providing tools for supporting LGBTQ youth in care, describing what types of legal support exist for LGBTQ youth, and providing resources for LGBTQ youth.
Research on Child Welfare
Trauma-Informed Practice with Foster Care Youth
Results of a study conducted on trauma experienced by foster youth and recommendations on trauma-informed approach to working with foster youth.
Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse
A fact sheet on the emotional and physical impact of child abuse.
Findings on a study on the financial lives of youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
Recommendations on how to develop authentic youth-adult partnerships with your foster youth.
Additional Resources
The National CASA Association has a list of helpful resources, tips and organizations that you can turn to for help.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Connects professionals and the general public to essential information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
The AACAP is dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders. The AACAP also developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. After downloading the files, CASA Volunteers can print and distribute the PDF files as needed.
List of resources available to survivors of domestic violence in Prince George’s County.
Provides information on grants available to assist in remodel to create accessible homes and other spaces.
Important Contact Information and MD Regulations
The Maryland Community Services Locator
The MDCSL was developed as a centralized tool for Maryland service providers and the public to locate a comprehensive listing of community services, including maps and driving directions to locations.
Prince George’s County Department of Health and Human Services
List of important phone numbers for offices and partners. Volunteers can easily print or email the file to the families they work with.
Volunteers can access the Code of Maryland Regulations online which includes regulations regarding child welfare and foster care.
Resource for understanding Maryland’s Mandated Reporter guidelines and procedure
Prince George’s County Website
State of Maryland Website
NOTE: Neither CASA/Prince George’s County nor its staff endorse or promote any third-party websites or organizations. All are provided for informational purposes only.