Anchorage CASA Newsletter
Anchorage CASA
December 2016
 
In This Issue
Continuing Education for CASA Volunteers
Fostering Futures
First Tuesdays and Evening Trainings
Support Groups
Parents raising childen with FASD
PPP
Boots, Shoes and Winter Gear
Keeping Alaska's Youth and Families Safe
This & That
Quick Links
Top Greetings Anchorage CASA volunteers!    
   
Here are the highlights:
  • Continuing Education for CASA volunteers
  • Upcoming Fostering Futures Trainings
  • First Tuesdays and Evening training dates
  • Parent and Teen Support Groups
  • Parents raising children with FASD
  • Practical Positive Parenting
  • Resource (boots, shoes, winter gear)
  • Keeping Alaska's Youth and Families Safe
  • This & That

 
Food for Thought
Greetings and Happy Holidays!!

Continuing Education Resources for CASA Volunteers 

From Friends of Alaska CASA


 

CASA volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually.  Training sponsored by a local CASA program or Alaska CASA is available free to active volunteers with support from Friends of Alaska CASA (FAC).  There is also often excellent training on topics important to child welfare available in the community that may have a fee.  CASA volunteers wishing to attend such training may apply to FAC for a scholarship.  


 

Criteria considered for scholarship awards:  

  • You must have been an active CASA volunteer for a minimum of one year 
  • Availability of funds
  • Relevance of the proposed training to CASA volunteer work
  • Priority is given to volunteers who have not received a scholarship from FAC in the previous two years.  

Active CASA volunteers wishing to request financial assistance to attend community-based training should apply online  for a scholarship at the FAC website: friendsofalaskacasa.org/casa-volunteer-scholarship-application/.   

 
Fostering Futures Trainings

Alaska CASA will be hosting a fostering futures training session in Anchorage this February!

F ostering Futures Alaska s eeks to pair older youth with a specially trained and equipped CASA volunteer who works in a mentoring capacity, in addition to the advocate role, to improve outcomes on such measures of well-being as educational attainment and delinquency prevention.

Training will take place:

 

  • February 15th & 16th from 5-8:30PM
Location TBA. If you are interested in participating in one of these trainings, please let our State Director, LeeAnn Reicks, know by emailing her at  [email protected]
First Tuesdays and  Evening Trainings 
 
Note: There will be no first Tuesdays training in January! Instead we will be busy training our next CASA cohort!  First Tuesdays will resume on February 7th. If you need any support from the Anchorage CASA team, please remember you can reach out to us anytime at [email protected]. 
 Parent Support Group 
 
Alaska CARES and the STAR organization are collaborating and hosting a 6 week support group, which will be focused on providing support to adult family members and caregivers of teens and children whom have been abused (see attached flyer)
The group is free to attend and is available to all non-offending family members and adult caregivers who would like to gain useful and practical tools to help their family members heal. For more information please contact Audra at (907) 212-6856 or Eden (907) 276-7279.
Teen Support Group
Alaska CARES will also be hosting a teen support group.  The teen group will focus on art therapy and is free for all who want to attend (see attached flyer) The group is available for teen girls ages 13-17 years of age (12 and 18 may be accepted as well). For more information and to reserve your spot contact Audra at (907) 212-6856.
 
Parents raising children with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
 
 
The Anchorage School District will be hosting education sessions and support groups for parents whose children have been diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
 
Where: Lake Otis Elementary School
 
When: 11:00-1:00 on the following Saturdays
 
January 21, 2017          February 18, 2017    May TBA
   March 25, 2017        April 22, 2017
 
 
This is a great resource for parents/foster parents that would like to learn more information on FASD and how to help their children who experience challenges related to FASD.  Please see attached flyer for more information on signing up and who to contact for questions. 
 
Practical Positive Parenting
 
Alaska Christian Ministries will be hosting a 7 session parenting class at both Kasuun Elementary School and Chapel by the Sea. Each week the topics will change covering a wide variety of skills and techniques all geared toward positive parenting. For more information please see attached ( flyer1 ) ( flyer2 ).  

 
COLD WEATHER GEAR AND OTHER CLOTHING RESOURCES FOR YOUTH   

As the Alaska winter season continues, many families may be in need of cold weather gear for their children. One of our GALs, Stephanie Schulling, recently received information about a great local resource. Kicks for Kids ([email protected]) p rovide gently used shoes and boots for children. They also provide gym shoes, coats, hats and gloves. If anyone knows of a family in need, please do not hesitate to contact kicksforkids at the e-mail provided above.
 
  Keeping Alaska's Youth and Families Safe!

A two part conference series is available for individuals that work with  Alaska youth and families experiencing trauma and mental health challenges.  The conference will cover a wide variety of topics related to cyber bullying, inappropriate use of social media, domestic violence, substance abuse and much more.
 
If you are interested in attending this training please  attached flyer for pricing details, dates, times, location and credit hour information. 

This & That 
 
Volunteer Activity Logs
Many thanks to those of you who've been sending in your Activity Logs! The online form link is currently under construction.  We apologize if you have been having trouble accessing the link and submitting your hours.  Please be on the look out for an updated link.
 

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