Continuing education
SFCASA’s continuing education opportunities have grown!
The California CASA Academy offers CASA staff and volunteers to access and use across the state! This new online resource is available and live 24/7 with a growing catalog of recorded and/or interactive training opportunities that you can start utilizing to complete the mandated 12 hours of in-service training for CASA volunteers each year.
Simply click here to create an account, following the steps outlined. After creating your account, check out the Volunteer continuing education courses available HERE.
To request CE credit:
Log into your A.L account.
Please use the same email that you shared in Advocate Link when you register. It helps us to give you CE credit. Thanks!Click on the ‘Continuing Education’ box/link
Follow the prompts to request CE credit for the independent learning you have done!
California CASA Continuing Education Opportunities
EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY 201: What Every Advocate Should Know
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 12-1:30 PM, on Zoom. (2 CE Credits)
This webinar is ideal for CASA volunteers and program staff seeking to stay current on Educational Rights and strengthen informed, effective advocacy for youth.
Register HERE
SFCASA Continuing Education Opportunities
IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON YOUTH with Dr. Natalia Estassi
Monday, October 19, 2026, 6-8 PM on Zoom (2 CE Credits)
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the United States Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, the definition of domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate partner. Explore and learn the many forms of domestic violence and how it impacts children and families including age-specific indicators, trauma and the brain, and best practices for providers and how you can make a difference in your CASA Role.
Register HERE
CASA COMMUNITY NETWORK - CCN IN-PERSON HUDDLE
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 6-8 PM in person @SFCASA office (2 CE Credits)
For October, the CCN Huddle wants to do something special. On Wednesday, October 21, we will meet in person to celebrate Halloween together. Please register if you would like to participate. Please join us for drinks, arts and crafts, snacks, and to meet other volunteers.
The CASA Community Network (CCN) is a network for CASAs organized by CASAs and hosted by CASAs. We share, lean in and on, and support each other through events such as The Huddle. Sometimes we learn from expert guest speakers in continuing education sessions. In The Huddle, we learn from experts – ourselves – we have collective years of expertise among us. We are a network of support – who better understands the ups, the downs, the joys, the challenges than we do?
Costumes aren't required, but feel free to bring your Halloween spirit!
Register HERE
2027-28 FAFSA “How-to” FAFSA/CADAA WEBINAR with John Burton Advocates For Youth (JBAY)
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) will host its annual “how-to” webinar on completing financial aid applications. The webinar is geared toward adult supporters of youth with experience in foster care or homelessness. The webinar follows the October 1 launch of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the 2026–27 academic year.
The California Student Aid Commission advises students to complete the FAFSA or CADAA as early as possible to maximize access to state, federal, and institutional financial aid. While most students should complete the FAFSA, the CADAA is California’s state financial aid application, which should be completed by undocumented students in order to receive financial aid and pay in-state tuition at public institutions.
The webinar will review the FAFSA and CADAA page by page and provide important updates on relevant state and federal policies. Presenters will also provide key steps to take after the FAFSA or CADAA is completed, such as creating a WebGrants account and claiming a CalKIDS Scholarship. To register for the webinar, follow this link. JBAY also has a range of financial aid resources for youth and adult supporters, which will be updated by the October 27 webinar.
EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY: BUILDING BRIDGES WITH EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS CE with SFCASA Educational Consultant Lorna Gilbert
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Zoom (2 CE Credits)
As a CASA volunteer, your educational advocacy changes lives. While it takes a village to support a foster youth, you are the vital communication bridge connecting their unique needs with day-to-day educators. Join us to discover practical, intentional strategies for discussing a youth's social-emotional well-being, academic goals, and support systems. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow CASAs and share real-life scenarios. Learn how to purposefully identify and advocate for a youth’s needs with their educational team.
Workshop Agenda & Takeaways
The Power of Advocacy: Discover how your role as a CASA volunteer/ERH serves as the vital communication bridge between a foster youth and their daily educators.
Targeted Communication & Problem-solving Strategies: Learn practical, intentional tools to discuss a youth's academic needs and social-emotional well-being effectively.
Navigating Support Systems: Master how to purposefully identify a youth’s unique needs and align them with available school and community resources.
Collaborative Roundtable: Share real-life scenarios, problem-solve challenges, and collaborate with fellow CASA volunteers.
Register HERE
READY, SET, FILE: SUPPORTING FOSTER YOUTH FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR FREE TAX FILING with Karen Mouritsen and Erika Dirkse of SFCASA
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, On ZOOM, 2 CE Credits
If you are a CASA or Natural Support volunteer working with a young person age 16 and older, this continuing education opportunity is designed to provide you with practical, easy steps to coach the youth you serve to be prepared with the documents and information needed to access SFCASA's IRS-certified free tax preparation for foster youth starting in late January 2027.
In this session, we'll cover financial literacy topics specific to tax filing: everything from employment documents, withholdings, and tracking expenses related to gig economy work and post-secondary education, to the value of personal Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board accounts (including Identity Protection PINs), how to secure a foster care eligibility letter, and the importance of tax filing for housing and financial aid applications. We'll also review the various filing statuses and eligibility for certain federal and CA state credits like the Foster Youth Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.
Register HERE