Events - CASANYS

CASA Volunteer Training

CASA of the Capital Region will begin a training series for new volunteers from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. every Wednesday, starting October 1 and ending on November 5. On November 18, CASA will also be holding an in-service training on Cultural Competency in Conjunction with Mediation Matters. Both trainings will take place at 10 Russell Road, Albany. Call (518) 446-0379 for further information.

Other Trainings and Events

Friday, August 1, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 9 a.m.)
It’s A Plan, Not An Argument, sponsored by the NYS Office of Court Administration CASA Assistance Program, and featuring presenters Duke Fisher and Linya Bell. Hotel Utica, Utica, NY. The Collaborative Advocacy Training for CASAs was created by Learning Laboratories and The Resolution Center of Jefferson and Lewis Counties. The training will explore methods of being a truly effective advocate by building rather than burning bridges. The presentation will be interactive, skill-based, provocative and often counter-intuitive. Attendees will learn about listening, learning, understanding and then, finally, speaking. There is no cost for the training, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with priority to the host program. (To register, click here.) This registration is for the training only. If overnight accommodations are needed, please contact the Hotel Utica at 877-906-1912. There is a small room block available at the state rate. Ask for the “NYS Unified Court System” room block. Travel/hotel costs may be charged to your UCS contract. Directions and hotel information.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Web 2.0! What's All the Fuss About? CCSNYS Capital Regional Office, CCSNYS, Inc., 272 Broadway, Menands, New York 12204. What impact can (or should) Web 2.0 have on your nonprofit organization. How do you avoid "drinking the Web 2.0 Kool-Aid?" If someone at your organization has ever said "hey, we need a blog!" this may help you sort through the pros and cons of doing just that (along with deciding whether or not you should be on Facebook, Flickr or YouTube.) First we'll discuss the purpose of Web 2.0 and how these tools can change the culture of nonprofit organizations. We'll discuss specific examples of how they can change the nature of things like special events, online giving and internal office efficiencies. Second we'll talk about the basic functionality of different tools like Blogs, RSS Feeds, Video Story-telling, Social Networking, Social Bookmarking, and others. Cost: $20 members, $30 non-members. For more information and to register, click here.

Friday, August 22, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Prenatal Effects of Substance Abuse on Children and What Can Be Done to Help. Provided by NYS OCFS/Bureau of Traininga and SUNY Distance Learning Project. OCFS Downlink Sites throughout NYS. Dr. Ira Chasnoff discusses Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and whatyou need to know about prevention, assessment, and treatment. For more information, click here.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Step Up for Kids Day, sponsored by Every Child Matters (ECM). Albany and nationwide.
Think new investments in children should be a priority in the 2008 elections? ECM is working to organize an event on the capitol steps of all 50 states to draw public attention to issues affecting America's children such as poverty, health care, juvenile incarceration, early care and education, child abuse, and afterschool programs. With famed pediatrician, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, ECM will kick off this nationwide event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C on September 16th. On the same day, advocates, volunteers, and kids across the country will gather on the steps of state capitols to highlight the needs of children and families. for more information click here.

Monday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Water's Edge Inn, Old Forge, NY
New York State CASA Program Directors' Meeting

Tuesday, October 7 to Thursday, October 9, 2008
Responsible Fatherhood: A Road to Healthy Family Development, presented by the NYS Fatherhood Initiative of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) in partnership with NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Desmond Hotel, Albany. The goals of the conference are to: 1) Address the impact of fathers on the economic security of New York’s low-income families; 2) explore and build the programmatic capacity of service providers engaging in the work of promoting responsible fatherhood; 3) address the impact of public policy and legislation in the areas of family development and non-custodial parents; 4) educate government officials, legislators, advocates, academia and others about the importance of responsible fatherhood. For more information, click here.