Whatever the reason youth enter the foster system, the experience is often marked by sudden loss of parents, siblings, extended family, pets, school, home, friends, personal history, belongings, identity, control, and more. Many youth experience profound grief related to this loss, though the grief doesn’t always present in the ways we might expect. Further, because grief doesn’t have a specific timeline,- youth may experience feelings of grief and loss intermittently for years.
Because the impact of grief can be so significant, it is crucial for the involved adults to navigate and support foster youth experiencing grief with sensitivity and understanding.
This workshop will support attendees to understand the grief faced by foster youth, how it manifests, and what they can do to help and support youth who are navigating this complex emotional terrain.
You’ll learn:
- The expected and unexpected manifestations of grief for foster youth
- How grief impacts foster youth
- How to support foster youth who are navigating grief related to family separation, family loss, or death
- What to say (and what NOT to say) to foster youth who are experiencing grief
- Recognizing and supporting feelings of grief that may present at unexpected times (such as in a happy moment, when achieving a milestone etc.)
- Practical tools for effectively supporting foster youth navigating grief.

Each year we have the opportunity to hear from attorneys Allison Cruz & Georgina Dews on updates to dependency law. We invite CASA staff and volunteers to join us who want to learn about updates to dependency law. This session will be fast paced and review changes to statutes and case law.

This course will empower CASA volunteers to discuss the value of higher education with foster youth and provide ideas for how they can play an active role in supporting these youth to and through college. CASA volunteers will learn the significance of early college exploration, preparation, and key steps that they can take to help youth make a smooth transition from high school to college. Attendees will learn about the benefits of college and the different pathways available to better support youth in making a plan. Participants will also learn about the supports and resources that exist to help foster youth turn their dreams into degrees.

Join us for a one-hour crash course that delves into the world of neurodivergence and ADHD. This workshop will equip attendees with both essential knowledge and practical tools that will help them to better understand and support neurodivergent foster youth/youth with ADHD.
You’ll learn:
Fundamental concepts of neurodivergence and ADHD
- The visible and subtle manifestations of neurodivergence and ADHD
-Why many typical behavioral approaches aren’t successful for neurodivergent youth (and what to do instead)
-How ADHD and/or neurodivergence can impact executive functioning skills such as planning ahead, self-control, following multiple-step directions, staying focused, and more (and how you can help)
- Practical advice and actionable tips, tricks, and tools to support neurodivergent foster youth more effectively

By the end of this workshop, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of neurodivergence and ADHD, and be armed with practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent foster youth.

AFSP’s Talk Saves Lives has long been one of the country’s leading suicide prevention education programs, covering the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight this leading cause of death. The newly updated module of this essential program, Talk Saves Lives™: Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community gives participants essential and lifesaving understanding of topics including:

• Suicide risk and its unique considerations in LGBTQ communities

• Recognizing suicide risk factors and warning signs for LGBTQ people

• Protective factors that can help lower the suicide rate

• The latest research related to LGBTQ suicide prevention

• How to seek and offer support for yourself or others

• Crisis resources and services for the LGBTQ community 

• What communities can do to support LGBTQ people

We all have a role to play in preventing suicide, and those in the LGBTQ community may face additional challenges and barriers to help because of discriminatory factors. This new program informs more people of the best ways to provide caring and support to those who need it.

First 5s are fundamental partners in the education advocacy of young children in foster care. Approximately half of the children in foster care are ages 0-5 and understanding the importance of supporting protective factors in the early years of development will have a positive impact over a child’s life course. Core to the vision of the network of First 5s is to develop programs, supports and structures to create healing centered, trauma informed and culturally responsive systems. Children in foster care have been exposed to many Adverse Childhood Experiences that can impact brain development in the early years. Learn how to partner with First 5s to buffer against the long term impact of this trauma.

November is National Runaway Prevention Month, a time dedicated to shining a light on the experiences of youth who have run away and youth who have experienced homelessness. As you know, youth in foster care are one of the most vulnerable populations affected by homelessness and are at greater risk to experience homelessness in the future. California CASA has partnered with the National Runaway Safeline and researchers dedicated to studying the issue to deliver a webinar on this important topic. This session will explore local and national data, programs and services available to support youth, as well as ways to best advocate for youth experiencing homelessness.