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►Bullying
California Anti-Bullying Laws
Take a look at California laws and regulations, it’s full of helpful links, definitions, prevention, and action plans.
Bully-free: how to be an advocate
Do you know a child who is being bullied? Learn ways to advocate with schools to provide effective anti-bullying programs.
Social Media Cyber-Bullying: Take a look at these tips to keep your youth safe on social media.
Online Safety and Security Tips for Children, Teens, and Young Adults. Our culture, and the use of social media, has led to bullying becoming more normalized than ever before.
Bullying of LGBT Youth and Those Perceived to Have Different Sexual Orientations: Take a look on ways you can support LGBTQ youth.
CASA Conversations – Bullying: California CASA Association has developed multiple topics, to help volunteers navigate difficult conversations with their youth.
►Child Abuse Information
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
The Clearinghouse is a national resource for professionals and others seeking information on child abuse and neglect and child welfare.
Child Abuse Prevention Network
Childhelp USA
Childhelp USA® is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. It does this by focusing its efforts and resources upon treatment, prevention, and research.
Children’s Defense Fund
Concentrating on the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities, the Children’s Defense Fund stresses the importance of preventative investment in children.
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
An association of nearly 1,000 public and private non-profit agencies, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the largest publisher of child welfare materials including general trade books, child advocacy books, the Child Welfare journal, and the Children’s Voice magazine.
►Children and the Law
Center on Children and the Law
ABA Center on Children and the Law
Children’s Rights, Inc.
A leading litigator on behalf of abused/neglected children and kids languishing in foster care, this organization has helped prod considerable reform throughout the country by use of statewide or local class action law suits, brought with the help of local child advocates.
National Center for Youth Law
A private, non-profit law office serving the legal needs of children and their families.
The Children’s Defense Fund
The Children’s Defense Fund has compiled state-by-state fact sheets on children in foster care, as an advocacy tool for programs serving vulnerable children on the state and federal levels.
Juvenile Dependency Court Orientation
This video is an introduction to the court process. It describes detention, jurisdiction, disposition, and review hearings.
Interactive Dependency Court Process
Take a journey through the California Juvenile Dependency Court system. Travel this interactive and powerful story!
►Child Advocacy
Best Interests– The E-Magazine for Children’s Advocates
►Continuing Education
Note: Speak to your Volunteer Supervisor / Case Manager regarding collecting Continuing Education / Hours credit before accruing them.
National CASA Conference Audio Clips
For example 1) Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence: a Toxic Triangle 2) Conflict Management 3) Facing the Methamphetamine Epidemic 4) Keys to Best Practices for Non-Native Advocates for Native Children 5) Successful Advocacy and Intervention for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 6) Speaking Out for Rural Children & Families 7) The Power of Education in a Child’s Life 8) Domestic Violence and the Impact on Children).
Transitional Services Information PDF File
(Link to section of Sonoma CASA’s Summer 2005 newsletter discussing transitional services.)
Sonoma County Superior Court Juvenile Dependence Court Info
Juvenile Dependency Court Information Website
Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services
Santa Rosa Junior College Independent Living Program
►Cultural Competence Resources
CASA and Immigration Advocacy March 2017
In California, CASA volunteers, “represent the best interests of the children involved, and consider the best interests of the family.” Therefore these FAQs are written from that perspective, in order to help CASA volunteers in California advocate for children and youth affected by immigration law and policy.
►CASA Book and Film List – suggestions from National CASA
►Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco Use for Teens + Addiction Resources
Teen Drub Abuse and Addiction Web Resource
Facts about E-cigarettes and vaping from the American Academy of Pediatrics
►Education Advocacy
California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
California College Pathways website for students
Foster Youth Educational Planning Guide
Accredited Online Schools Financial Aid Guide
Accredited Online Schools Guide to Affordable Colleges
Accredited Online Colleges That Offer Laptops
Guide to College to LGBTQ Students
The Most Affordable Online Colleges of 2017
►Extreme Weather (Resources in Response to)
In response to the wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat happening across the United States, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help families and communities. The following resources may be relevant depending on what is happening in your area:
For Responding to Wildfires:
• Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires (En Español)
• Wildfires: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage (En Español)
• Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire (e-book for young children; En Español)
• For providers working with firefighters, take the Helping Heroes web-based training
To Help Children and Families Cope with any Extreme Weather Event:
• Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents when Evacuating or Playing Outside is Limited
• After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. An online training course for PFA is available on NCTSN Learning Center. PFA Handouts include:
• Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers (En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers (En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children (En Español)
• Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents (En Español)
For additional information
• On wildfires: https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/wildfire-resources
• On extreme heat: https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/extreme-heat-resources
• On floods: https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/flood-resources
NCTSN Mobile Apps (for Android and Apple mobile devices):
• Help Kids Cope
• PFA Mobile
Disaster Helpline
SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Helpline – call 1-800-985-5900 or text TALKWITHUS to 66746.
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►LGBTQIA Resources
LGBTQ youth enter the foster care system for same reasons as non-LGBTQ youth in care, abuse and neglect. Many LGBTQ youth have the added layer of trauma that comes with being rejected or mistreated by their family because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
LGBTQ youth in the Foster Care System
The Human Rights Campaign resource.
When We Rise – Series Trailer
Five decades of the fight for LGBTQ rights, putting a cinematic take on the stories of real-life activists like Cleve Jones, Roma Guy, and Ken Jones.
►National and State CASA Programs
►Resources on Neglect
The science of neglect
Extensive biological and developmental research shows significant neglect—the ongoing disruption or significant absence of caregiver responsiveness—can cause more lasting harm to a young child’s development than overt physical abuse, including subsequent cognitive delays, impairments in executive functioning, and disruptions of the body’s stress response. This edition of the InBrief series explains why significant deprivation is so harmful in the earliest years of life and why effective interventions are likely to pay significant dividends in better long-term outcomes in learning, health, and parenting of the next generation. This 6-minute video provides an overview of The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain, a Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.
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►Physical & Mental Health
Mental Health Awareness Month & Sports
It’s HARD for youth to talk about mental health issues, The Player’s Tribune may help a youth feel a little less alone.
Foster Youth Wellness Website
The website was designed to help foster youth and the adults in their lives learn more about pursuing wellness by providing links to youth friendly wellness resources. The Foster Youth Wellness Website consists of a home page, eight dimensions of wellness, a crisis resource page, and a printable documents page which lists all the documents referenced throughout the website.
Mental Health Tips for Survivors of Disaster or Traumatic Event ~ Each Mind Matters
Each Mind Matters campaign is California’s mental health movement and their goal is raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and prevent suicides.
It is always essential to take care of our mental health, but especially during times of tragedy. This block includes a few resources to share with staff and community members as well as a reminder, and tools, to practice self-care.
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Disaster Distress Line: 1-800-985-5990
- Disaster Distress Line: 1-800-985-5990 or
- Text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor
- https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
- And here are additional resources available through SAMHSA
- Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Tips-for-Survivors-of-a-Disaster-or-Other-Traumatic-Event-Managing-Stress/SMA13-4776
- Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Traumatic Event: What to Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Tips-for-Survivors-of-a-Disaster-or-Traumatic-Event-What-to-Expect-in-Your-Personal-Family-Work-and-Financial-Life/SMA13-4775
- Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers:https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Tips-for-Talking-With-and-Helping-Children-and-Youth-Cope-After-a-Disaster-or-Traumatic-Event-A-Guide-for-Parents-Caregivers-and-Teachers/SMA12-4732
- Tips for College Students: After a Disaster or Other Trauma: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Tips-for-College-Students-After-a-Disaster-or-Other-Trauma/SMA13-4777
►Successful Transitions into Adulthood
Foster Care Transition Toolkit
Take a look at this toolkit developed by the U.S. Department of Education to create support for young adults pursuing college and career opportunities. (PDF, 66 pages, link above)
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