NEWS
This year’s small get together will recognize volunteers reaching a milestone anniversary with CASA/LA and honor our Volunteer of the Year and Rookie of the Year award recipients. Attendance is by invitation and RSVP only.
We hope you’ll join us for refreshments, connection and celebration as we recognize and appreciate all the amazing contributions from volunteers like you!
Are you interested in connecting with other CASAs? Prefer to do it one-on-one instead of in a group setting?
Sign up for Coffee with a CASA! You’ll be put in contact with another CASA also interested in connecting. Together, you can decide if you want to hop on a call, text, meet up in person – no coffee necessary.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Welcome our new CASA Volunteers
We’re so excited to welcome two new classes of CASAs. We had a graduation on May 21st and swore in some new wonderful CASAs. We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated advocates and deeply grateful that they’ve chosen to commit their time, compassion, and voices to empowering and supporting our young people.
We also swore in a couple more folks on May 28th!
Volunteer Voices: Adina Sullivan
For as long as Adina can remember, she’s been interested in being a foster parent. As an adult, fostering didn’t end up making sense for her, so when she found CASA/LA, it felt like the perfect fit.
When Adina first met her CASA youth Olivia* in 2020, she was a quiet and almost too polite 15 year old. In the previous 18 months, Olivia had 6 social workers and was living in a home with seven other girls. She was behind in school and remote classes weren’t working for her. Olivia was lost in the shuffle. Throughout the pandemic, Adina would FaceTime Olivia weekly. She shared that, “Olivia didn’t always answer, but that consistency was key.”
After a year, Adina saw a shift in Olivia. She began to open up and gained confidence. She asked to speak to the judge at her hearing for the first time, and explained why she wanted and deserved unmonitored visits with her dad. The judge told her they would make it happen that day. Adina explained that “it had never occurred to her to be able to advocate for herself. She had never been in control.” Adina also helped Olivia get transferred to a school that was more supportive and allowed her to attend in person, working directly with a supportive teacher.
Olivia was able to graduate high school on time and received an award for academic excellence. She was also able to get her driver’s license after Adina helped secure funding for driver’s ed courses. Once Olivia turned 18, she was able to further take control of her life by moving in with a family member. Adina was able to meet important advocacy goals for Olivia so she no longer needed a CASA volunteer. Adina is now supporting another youth. However, Adina and Olivia still text to this day. Thanks, Adina, for your incredible advocacy and good luck to you and Olivia on each of your next chapters!
*Name changed for youth.
Thank you, Adine, for your amazing efforts in your work as a CASA!
Thank you to the CASAs that came out to our Happy Hour, let’s do it again soon!
TRAINING
Other Training Resources
Logging Continuing Education Hours
CASA volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year to support their advocacy. We have launched a new system for tracking continuing education (CE) entirely in Litmos.
Click here to view the recording of the In-Service Training – CASA CE 101: Requirements, Tracking, and Logging Hours. This recording will provide an overview of everything you need to know about the new system AND it will count towards your continuing education hours.
If you need more background information, help logging into Litmos, or have other questions, please review the following guide documents:
Foster Together Network
The UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence is excited to share a collection of resources for child welfare professionals, generously supported by Pritzker Foster Care Initiative. Available on the Wellbeing for LA Learning Center, this curated collection includes handouts (also available in Spanish), videos, and online trainings that utilize evidence-based behavior management strategies and resilience-promoting parenting skills to reduce placements for children in LA County’s welfare system and promote family and individual development.
Learn more and view all available resources here.
Create an account and view resource library here.
DMH + UCLA Training Calendar
UCLA’s PMHP provides over 250 trainings available at no cost via the DMH + UCLA Wellbeing for LA Learning Center. These include self-paced recorded trainings, live Zoom sessions with continuing education credits, and structured learning pathways designed for various service providers such as case managers, clinicians, nurse practitioners, housing specialists, peer providers, and substance use specialist
Learn more and view thier training calendar here.
California CASA Academy
This new platform replaces the California CASA E-Learning Center and offers more than 75 courses for both volunteers and staff. All courses count toward your 12 hours of required annual Continuing Education (CE) Hours.
Learn more and create an account here.
Resources to Support Advocacy
Sign Up for a 1-1 Consultation with an Education Attorney
Date: September 8th, 2026
* On Pause for July and August *
Time slots: 9am, 10am or 11am
CASA/LA is hosting an IEP consultation clinic with the help of the Alliance for Children’s Rights. This clinic is an opportunity to consult one-on-one with an education attorney to get guidance about your young person’s education.
Steps to schedule a consultation:
- Check your availability: Confirm that you’re available on the clinic date and during possible appointment times. Tentatively mark these on your calendar
- Gather education documents: collect as many documents as you can from the last two years of your young person’s educational history
- Complete the consultation form
- Look out for a confirmation email
Note: Appointments are limited and scheduled on first come, first serve basis. Submit your form early to secure your spot.
Where: Zoom
REGISTER by completing consultation form
Contact Aimee Borrayo with any questions
New Volunteer Resource Hub
Click here to view our new shared resource folders. Our directory of resources will now live in these new folders. Only new and time sensitive resources will be listed in the Buzz.
Click here to submit your own resources. Submissions will regularly get added to the resource hub.
Housing Navigation for TAY
Next Office Hour- Tuesday, July 14th, 12-1pm.
Need support advocating for your CASA youth?
Connect with Public Counsel’s Transition Age Youth (TAY) Team. They provide free, civil legal support to youth ages 16–26 who have experienced foster care. Their areas of expertise include: Housing & Family law, Public benefits advocacy, Education and more. Learn more about the team here.
Register to join a virtual drop-in session with attorneys from Public Counsel to:
- Ask questions specific to your youth’s situation
- Understand their legal rights
- Explore available services & referrals
Please reach out to Aimee Borrayo with any questions.
Jenette bras, in partnership with local CASA chapters, offers an in-person bra fitting, a well-fitting bra, and underwear of their choice, all free of charge. Eligible youth can take advantage of the program once a year! Learn more here.
Inner City Arts Family Day!
Get creative and join Inner-City Arts on June 6th to create some ceramic critters, work on improv comedy, and listen to the Inner-City rock band. More information here: Family Arts Day.
Free Museum Days in LA
Every month, museums across Los Angeles offer free entry on specific days. Find out more here.
Touchstone Indoor Rock Climbing
Free YMCA Membership
Kids ages 12 and older are eligible for free YMCA memberships at locations across Los Angeles County until they turn 26. Additionally, resource families living within the service areas of the Antelope Valley YMCA or Weingart South Los Angeles YMCA are eligible for free one-year memberships. YMCA facilities can also be used as visitation sites, offering a safe and welcoming space for families.
Click here for the application!
Applications for Camp Erin are now open!
Camp Erin LA is a FREE bereavement camp for families grieving the death of a significant person in their lives within the past 4 years. Children and teens ages 6 to 17 attend a day camp experience that combines grief support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, families are provided a comfortable environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make connections with peers who understand them. Learn more about Camp Erin and Our House here.
Educational Scholarship Opportunity!
- Scholarship Background: Established in 2000 by Mr. Aaron Ruben, the Aaron Ruben Scholarship has long supported current and former CASA youth as they pursue higher education. Through Mr. Ruben’s generosity, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded to date.
- Purpose: The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to current and former CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) youth, helping them pursue and achieve their educational dreams and goals.
- Eligibility and Application Requirements: Detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements are outlined in the scholarship application, Aaron Ruben Scholarship Application 2026-2027. Applicants are encouraged to review all instructions carefully to ensure a complete and successful submission. The deadline to apply is August 15, 2026.
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Contact Information: For questions or additional clarification regarding the scholarship, applicants may contact Carolyn R. McGee, M.A., Advocacy Team Manager, at 323‑859‑2888 (extension 6327) or via email at cm****@****la.org.
Ongoing Resources
Baby2Baby: Resources for Pregnant or Parenting Youth and Young Children
Talk with your advocate supervisor about requesting diapers/wipes and other baby supplies through CASA/LA from Baby2Baby. All orders must be placed by CASA/LA staff.
If your CASA youth is expecting and at least 6 months pregnant, please speak with your Advocate Supervisor about requesting a Welcome Baby basket.
For Goodness Cakes: Treats for Youth Birthdays and Graduations
For Goodness Cakes is a collective of professional bakers who volunteer to make cakes for youth facing adversity. They’d love to make a cake for your CASA youth! See their FAQ part 1 here and FAQ part 2 here. Reach out to your advocate supervisor to ask them to request a cake for your youth.
Pick up a Handmade Quilt for your Youth
Contact your supervisor if you haven’t yet gotten a quilt from the office for your youth. Once you pick one up, please complete the thank you note that comes with the quilt. You can take a picture of the note or scan it and email it to Lauri Halderman
Workshops for Youth in Antelope Valley Hub
Workshops for Resource Parents at AV Hub
Classes for Youth in AV Hub
Connection
CASA Connections
CASA Connections are intended to be positive social experiences that encourage CASAs to connect and build networks of friendship and support.
These spaces are all about sharing ideas, offering encouragement, and working together to find solutions using a strength-based approach. While it’s a great space to talk through challenges, it’s essential to keep the focus constructive and always protect the confidentiality of the children and families we support.
CASA Connection: Newly Appointed CASAs
How are you doing on your CASA Journey?
- Connect with other volunteers that are in a similar place in their advocacy journey.
- Reconnect with peers from your cohort.
- Look for resources, we can try to provide tools for you to use.
- Receive some guidance, we can give insight on how to handle a challenging situation.
- Share a success, we can celebrate with you!
Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 23rd at 5:30 PM -7:00 PM – but please drop in anytime!
Aimee Borrayo
Manager of Volunteer Engagement
Hi everyone!
Consider me a friendly resource; whether you’re looking for a little extra support, want to chat about how things are going with your team, are curious about trying a different volunteer role, or just need someone to listen. You’ll be hearing from me now and then about connection events, but please don’t wait for an invitation!
Book Groups
Coastline Book Group
When: TBD
Where: CASA’s home in Santa Monica
We’re Reading: Paper Girl, A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy
RSVP: contact Lisa Baskin (ba*****@*******al.net)
*Space is limited to those with completed COVID-19 vaccines.
San Fernando Valley Book Group
When: TBD
Where: CASA’s Home in SFV
We’re Reading: “Letters to My Younger Self: An Anthology of Writing by Incarcerated Men”
RSVP: Contact Renne Bilson (rj******@*ol.com)
* Space is limited to those with completed Covid-19 vaccinations
Support casa/la
Become a Monthly Donor
Monthly donations are crucial to buffering our organization from the ups and downs of life, ensuring that there is no lull in service to the youth we serve.
Help us sustain our transformational programs through a monthly gift.
More Ways to Give
- Use your Ralphs Rewards Card to earn donations for CASA/LA.
- Donate your car, boat, RV, or motorcycle with Helping Hands Charity Services.
- Host a community drive.
- Consider CASA/LA in your planned giving.
- Invite others to become CASA volunteers.
Key guides & links
Emotional Support for CASAs
We care about your well-being. All volunteers may access our EAP program for anonymous counseling.
Click here to learn about the CASA/ LA Benefits EAP for volunteers
ETO: CASA/LA's Database
Need help with ETO? No worries, we got you covered. If the advocate handbook doesn’t have your answer, you can email the ETO helpdesk. Additionally, we have a recorded ETO training available on Litmos.