National CASA Podcast

Older youth often age out of the foster care system without the tools and resources needed to successfully transition to adulthood. CASA and GAL volunteers that have been trained with the National CASA Fostering Futures curriculum are more aware of the needs of older youth and are better able to work alongside them to realize better outcomes. In this podcast, four staff members from the Essex County CASA program in Newark, NJ discuss their experiences implementing Fostering Futures and how they are tracking and documenting outcomes.

Since 2003 specially trained facility dogs have been assisting children and other individuals with physical, psychological or emotional trauma in the court system. In this podcast, Ellen O'Neill-Stephens and Celeste Walsen from the Courthouse Dogs Foundation talk about how this program got started and provide their legal and clinical expertise on how dogs are changing the way emotional needs are being met in the courts, especially with child victims.

This podcast takes a closer look at the most recent revision of the National CASA Standards for Local CASA/GAL Programs. Listen to Shelley Morgan, Sybil Turner and Melissa Protzek discuss the importance of the standards and quality assurance process and talk about some of the reasons behind the most recent revisions.

Glenn and Sherri Eckhardt were named the 2012 Florida GAL Volunteers of the Year. Hear how this husband and wife team has also partnered with other GAL volunteers to more effectively serve on complex cases and form lifelong bonds while ensuring that the basic needs of children in foster care are met.

Judge Louis A. Trosch Jr. of the 26th Judicial District in Mecklenburg County, NC, has done extensive work both personally and professionally to address issues of racial disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Hear Judge Trosch talk about the work he has done and offer ways to address these issues in your own community.