ACEs: A Research Overview

When I was a 25-year-old Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in a Ukrainian public school, I found myself stymied by one of my students.  I don’t recall his name—Andriy or Sergei or Valeriy—but I still recall the day that I finally noticed something was wrong.  The...

CASA Case Work: The Challenge of the Blind Spot

In an effort to help form good habits for navigating lane changes and turns, some drivers’ education programs use the SMOG acronym (signal, mirror, over-the-shoulder, go). Adapting the SMOG habit may be a helpful model as CASAs interact within the cultural environment...

CASAs and White, Male, and Binary Privileges

In January 2017, four Native Americans from Pryor drove to Reed Point to attend a basketball game.  They reported being denied entry to the game until a group of white Reed Point people were allowed into the school gym.  Although the Montana Human Rights Bureau...
Self Care

Self Care

Self Care The work we do as CASA Advocates can take a toll on our emotional well-being. Working with families and kids who have experienced trauma can lead an Advocate to experiencing compassion fatigue. It is important to dedicate time to ourselves, and address our...

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