Community Resources
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.
- Transitioning Youth Resources
- Keeping Youth Safe
- Working with LGBTQ Youth
- Important Contact Information and MD Regulations
- Working with and Advocating for Specific Needs
- Resources for Foster Youth
- Research and Additional Resources
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.
Transitioning Youth Resources
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!
The Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation has a variety of services for job seekers, including resources specifically for youth 14-21 years old.
MGM National Harbor frequently posts new job openings.
Keeping Youth Safe
Resource for understanding Maryland’s Mandated Reporter guidelines and procedure
Teen Dating Violence Resources
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families has put together this resource guide dealing with Teen Dating Violence.
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.
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.
You can also view an in-service training session on protecting youth from cyber-bullying here.
A Student’s Guide to Recognizing and Reporting Cyber Crime
Explanations of cyber-bulling, reporting tools and additional resources.
Working with LGBTQ Youth
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.
Supporting your LGBTQ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents
The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a resource guide that includes information on the special needs of LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system and tips on making your home a welcoming place for LGBTQ foster youth.
The following resources are available to help better understand the unique needs of LGBTQ youth and permanency planning.
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.
Information for college-bound LGBTQ youth to help find the best college environment. Information also available on scholarships for LGBTQ youth.
Substance use disorders often occur at higher rates in the LGBTQ+ community, who unfortunately face additional obstacles, including being denied substance abuse treatment because of their sexual identity. This site provides a variety of tools and resources for seeking treatment.
Legal support for the LGBTQ community. Here you can find financial resources to consult and hire and lawyer and/or find a representation that understands your needs or has experience with LGBTQ matters.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Resources for LGBTQ Youth in Out-of-Home Care (web section)
American Psychological Association –
Answers to Your Questions About Transgender People, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression
Lambda Legal
Getting Down to Basics (toolkit)
SAMHSA
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQI2-S) Resource Toolkit
bestcolleges.com has released a helpful resource guide for LGBTQ students on finding a college with a supportive environment.
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.
Volunteers can access the Code of Maryland Regulations online which includes regulations regarding child welfare and foster care.
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.
Prince George’s County Website
State of Maryland Website
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.
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.
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.
Advocating for Your CASA Child’s Educational Needs
Print out the most recent copy copy of the Handbook For Kids in Care as well as this brochure concerning the Educational Rights of Children in Care.
Check out the Prince George’s County Public Schools official website will help CASA volunteers advocate for their CASA child’s educational needs. Volunteers can quickly access the PGCPS School Calendar, the PGCPS Attendance Handbook, and the Schoolmax Family Portal User Guide. Also, you can keep up with your CASA child’s progress: CHECK GRADES NOW!
Resources for Foster Care Youth
United Friend of the Children– has a variety of resources available including resources for transitioning youth and a list of foster care youth scholarships.
Foster Club
Foster Club is an excellent resource for foster youth to connect with other foster youth and learn about ways to get involved in their community or take on leadership roles.
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
This initiative focuses on successful transitions to adulthood for older youth and provides a variety of resources and opportunities.
Research and Additional Resources
The National CASA Association also 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 timely, essential information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Volunteers can download helpful information like the Home Alone, which helps parents make wise decisions when leaving children home alone.
Volunteers can also print out a brochure funded by the State of Maryland Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families called “What’s the Buzz on When Your Child Can Be Left Alone”. which addresses “supervision neglect” in the state of Maryland.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 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.
Results of a study conducted on trauma experienced by foster youth and recommendations on trauma-informed approach to working with foster youth.
Recommendations on how to develop authentic youth-adult partnerships with your foster youth.
Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse
A fact sheet on the emotional and physical impact of child abuse.
List of resources available to survivors of domestic violence in Prince George’s County.
Findings on a study on the financial lives of youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
The Verizon Hopeline collects no-longer used wireless phones and accessories and turns them into support for domestic violence organizations nationwide. Hopeline has donated hundreds of thousands of phones and awarded millions of dollars in cash grants to partner agencies.
Provides information on grants available to assist in remodel to create accessible homes and other spaces.
Will purchase items directly for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities and those coping with chronic illness. Requests, limited to gifts of $500 or less, may include but are not limited to: rehabilitative therapy, assistive devices, medical equipment and sensory items.
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.
