Volunteer Training Pre-Work
Training Evaluation – Please complete this evaluation after each chapter.
Chapter One
Completing this work prior to the session will allow you to fully participate during the training session and build the knowledge and skills you need to be an effective and successful CASA/GAL volunteer.
Chapter Two
Prior to attending the second session of the volunteer training, please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information prior to the session will give you a foundation in children’s growth and development, children’s needs, the importance of attachment in childhood, recognizing child abuse and neglect, your state’s definition of abuse and mandatory reporting laws, risk factors for child abuse and neglect and your program’s court report.
Chapter Three
Prior to attending the third session of the volunteer training, please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information prior to the session will give you a foundation in understanding child trauma, basic communication and CASA/GAL volunteer work, open-ended vs. closed-ended questions, the CASA/GAL interview and initial case notes for the Black-Smith case.
Chapter Three – Pre-Work Handouts
Required Video: Shane’s Story
OPTIONAL Supplemental Resources:
ACE Study
First Impressions
Chapter Four
Prior to attending the fourth session of the volunteer training, please read through the pre-work handouts found in this document. This will give you a foundation in concepts such as: mental illness in families, mental health of children in care, a multimodal approach to managing mental health disorders in children, questions to ask regarding mental health of children, why poor children are more likely to be in the care system, how to obtain confidential case-related records of children and parents, confidentiality in CASA/GAL volunteer work, the need for timely and effective communication, the fine art of team work and the initial case notes for the Greene case.
OPTIONAL Supplemental Resources:
Chapter Five
Prior to attending the fifth session of the volunteer training, please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information before the session will give you a foundation in substance abuse, substance abuse statistics, diversity, National CASA Vision Statement and Guiding Principles, disproportionality in the child welfare system, disproportionality statistics, cultural competency glossary terms, initial case notes for the Lavender case and sample court orders.
Chapter Six
Please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information prior to the session will give you a foundation in several concepts covered in the chapter, including: domestic violence, cultural prejudices, preconceived notions and the impact of these perceptions on information disclosure to volunteers by the accused in cases, importance of practicing culturally competent child advocacy, risks associated with stereotyping and implications of institutional bias. You will also have hands-on practice activities that explore culture and perceptions, culturally competent child advocacy, and an individual action plan designed to increase your cultural competence.
OPTIONAL Supplemental Resources:
Chapter Seven
Please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information prior to the session will give you a foundation in several concepts covered in the chapter, including: resilience, how relationships in youth build resilience, how adverse childhood experiences affect resilience, permanence, concurrent planning, the educational challenges that children in child welfare system face, advocacy for children across age ranges, advocacy for children across age ranges, and advocacy for LGBTQ youth. You will also get familiar with working on a case of LGBTQ youth.
OPTIONAL Supplemental Resources:
Chapter Eight
Please read through the Pre-Work handouts found in this document. Reading this information prior to the session will help you review the concepts covered in the entire course. You will review the competencies that you built during the course and make plans for those competencies that you still need to strengthen. You will also get familiar with working on one last case and writing a complete court report.
