Casa For Children Of The District Of Columbia

ADVOCATES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. (SEE SCHEDULE O)CASA FOR CHILDREN OF DC IS A LEADING VOICE IN ADVOCACY FOR COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CASA DC CONNECTS SPECIALLY-TRAINED VOLUNTEER COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE AND AT-RISK YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. CASA VOLUNTEERS DEVELOP A MENTOR-LIKE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR YOUTH AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR YOUTH'S BEST INTERESTS IN COURT, PROMOTING GREATER OUTCOMES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

CASA FOR CHILDREN OF DC RECRUITS AND TRAINS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. THESE OFFICERS OF THE COURT WORK WITH OTHER CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THAT ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN HAVE SAFE, LOVING, AND PERMANENT HOMES. CASA DC IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE COVID-19 SITUATION AND IS CONSCIENTIOUS OF ITS IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND VOLUNTEERS. THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CASA DC COMMUNITY, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES WE SERVE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY AND OF PARAMOUNT CONCERN.(SEE SCHEDULE O)CASA DC SERVES ANY CHILD IN FOSTER CARE WITH SOME SPECIALITY SERVICES FOR TARGETED POPULATIONS:(1) BRIDGES PROGRAM (PREVIOUSLY THE JBDP/PINS PROGRAM)THROUGH THE BRIDGES PROGRAM CASA VOLUNTEERS ARE APPOINTED BY A JUDGE TO WORK WITH COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH WHO HAVE PAST OR CURRENT EXPOSURE TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ADVOCATES RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY IN BOTH THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND JUVENILE JUSTICE. (2) FAMILY TREATMENT COURT (FTC) PROGRAMDC'S FAMILY TREATMENT COURT (FTC) FOCUSES ON REUNIFYING FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED NEGLECT DUE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE VOLUNTARY INTENSIVE PROGRAM TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH, FOCUSING NOT ONLY ON SOBRIETY BUT STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.(3) PREPARING YOUTH FOR ADULTHOOD (PYA) PROGRAMTHE PREPARING YOUTH FOR ADULTHOOD (PYA) INITIATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007 TO BETTER ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUTH TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER CARE INTO ADULTHOOD. THE PYA PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING NECESSARY LIFE SKILLS AND EMPOWERING YOUTH TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PREPARED FOR ADULTHOOD BY THEIR 21ST BIRTHDAY. (4) EMPOWER PROGRAMTHE EMPOWER PROGRAM PROVIDES CASA VOLUNTEERS TO COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH IN DC WHO ARE SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND OTHER FORMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. EMPOWER'S CASA VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE EXTENSIVE AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEX CRIMES TO PREPARE THEM IN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY ADVOCACY ON THESE CASES.(5) MULTICULTURAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM (MAP)THE MULTICULTURAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM (MAP) FOCUSES ON PROVIDING EFFECTIVE AND FOCUSED ADVOCACY TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN YOUTH, UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS, AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE YOUTH. AT THIS TIME, THE CASA DC PHYSICAL OFFICE IS CLOSED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SELECTED WORKSHOPS AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES HOSTED IN THE OFFICE. STAFF IS WORKING REMOTELY TO ENSURE FULL SUPPORT AND CONTINUED OPERATIONS. CASA VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONTINUE ENGAGING WITH THEIR YOUTH IN A MANNER THAT THEY FEEL IS SAFE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MAINTAINING VIRTUAL OR PHONE CONTACT. VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT CAN BE COMMUNICATED TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEIR NEEDS DURING THIS TIME. CASA DC WILL BE PROVIDING REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AND CURRENT VOLUNTEERS AND WILL PRACTICE REMOTE INTERVIEWING FOR CONTINUED RECRUITMENT OF NEW VOLUNTEERS.