Shows / CASA Connection
Episodes
- CASA Connection
105. The Future of CASA's Core Model
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discuss the future of CASA's Core Model. As funding cuts are on the horizon for many CASA programs throughout New Jersey and…
- CASA Connection
104. The Importance of Self-Care
In this episode, Tracey and Jeff explore why self-care is so important for CASA volunteers and anyone who dedicates their time and energy to helping others…
- CASA Connection
103. Critical Funding For CASA
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed how critical funding is for Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster youth, and how there are significant…
- CASA Connection
102. We Appreciate Our CASA Volunteers!
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discuss the admiration and appreciation they, and the CASA team, have for all of the volunteers who make CASA possible. They…
- CASA Connection
101. Nurturing Birth Parent Connections
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff dive into how we can and should nurture birth parent connections within the foster care world and realm. Having compassion for…
- CASA Connection
100. Every Role Matters
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed how every role matters for children who are living in the foster care system. From resource parents to caseworkers…
- CASA Connection
099. Planting Seeds of Hope
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about planting seeds of hope for children and how the CASA experience encapsulates this notion. While the CASA journey is…
- CASA Connection
098. Understanding CASA's Ethics and Boundaries
On this episode, we dove into the foundational principals of CASA - ethics and boundaries. Our Advocate Supervisor, Cynthia Jagnanden, joined Jeff this week…
- CASA Connection
097. How Stress Is Contagious In Families with Jeanette Yoffe
Our amazing guest this week, Jeanette Yoffe, wrote a fantastic piece in Psychology Today titled "How Stress is Contagious in Trauma-Impacted Families."…
- CASA Connection
096. Understanding Fight or Flight
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about understanding the concepts of fight or flight - and they also sprinkle in some freeze and fawn talk. How does…
- CASA Connection
095. Autism Within The Child Welfare System
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed autism within the child welfare system and the overall theme of individuals who live with autism on a daily basis…
- CASA Connection
094. How PACES Helps Youth With Careers And Education
This week, Jeff sat down with Anika Beckford and Ebony Lenard from the Pathways to Academic and Career Exploration to Success (PACES) program at Embrella here…
- CASA Connection
093. Relationships with Biological Parents Are So Critical
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed how critical the relationships with biological parents are as youth navigate through the foster care system. Often…
- CASA Connection
092. The Realities Of "Aging Out"
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about the realities of "aging out" of the foster care system and the challenges young individuals face as they transition…
- CASA Connection
091. Shifts In Practices Within Foster Care
Over the years, there have been various shifts in practices within the world of foster care. As we progress, we learn and examine what is best for youth who…
- CASA Connection
090. Universal Goals With Foster Care
This episode dives into our collective universal goals within the world of foster care. What do we all agree on that will create better outcomes for children…
- CASA Connection
089. What Does Healing Look Like?
In this episode, Tracey and Jeff sit down for a thoughtful conversation about what healing truly means, especially for children and families involved in the…
- CASA Connection
088. Our Goals for 2026!
On this episode, we talked about how 2026 is going to bring some new goals for us to achieve here at our CASA program. Whether we're implementing programming…
- CASA Connection
087. "Best Of" 2025 CASA Connection
We've been reflecting on what 2025 has brought our CASA program and the children we serve day-in and day-out. As a result, we went back into the CASA…
- CASA Connection
086. Pathways To Permanency
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discuss various pathways to permanency within the foster care world. Every single family has their own set of circumstances…
- CASA Connection
085. What Does "Best Interest" Of A Child Actual Mean?
This week, we're diving into the phrase "best interest" within the world of foster care. What does "best interest of a child" actually mean? Tracey and Jeff…
- CASA Connection
084. What We're Thankful For
As the holidays approach, Tracey and Jeff talked about what we're thankful for, specifically within our CASA nonprofit. The nonprofit has continued to do great…
- CASA Connection
083. Hunger Behind The Scenes: Food Insecurity In Foster Care
In this episode, we shine a light on an issue that is, at time, overlooked within the foster care world — food insecurity within our communities and how it…
- CASA Connection
082. Accidentally Placed In Foster Care: Jeanette Yoffe's Story
This week, Jeff spoke to Jeanette Yoffe, a woman who wears many professional hats, but overall aims to educate the world about foster care and therapeutic…
- CASA Connection
081. The "Why" Part 3
Here at our CASA SHaW program, we have a number of CASA volunteers who have been with our program for well over a decade. They have been the eyes and ears on…
- CASA Connection
080. The "Why" Part 2
Here at our CASA SHaW program, we have a number of CASA volunteers who have been with our program for well over a decade. They have been the eyes and ears on…
- CASA Connection
079. The "Why" Part 1
Here at our CASA SHaW program, we have a number of CASA volunteers who have been with our program for well over a decade. They have been the eyes and ears on…
- CASA Connection
078. Finding Compassion And Dealing With Resulting Burnout
The one thing individuals in the social work world have is compassion. Compassion for those who are less fortunate within our local communities. We want to…
- CASA Connection
077. Summertime Positive Childhood Experiences
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed their own personal stories about summertime positive childhood experiences from their past. For many, summer…
- CASA Connection
076. Fun Funding Sources For CASA
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff are keeping things light. Well, as light as they can be. While funding for CASA programs throughout the United States remain…
- CASA Connection
075. The Importance of Resource Parents
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff dove into the critical importance of resource parents within the world of foster care. These individuals, mainly family…
- CASA Connection
074. Our "Big Ideas" And Concrete Resources
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff dove into the importance of help children and families via concrete resources. They spoke about CASA SHaW's "Big Ideas" plan…
- CASA Connection
073. It's Men's Mental Health Awareness Month
This week, Tracey and Jeff talked about men's mental health as we recognize Men's Mental Health Awareness Month here in June. Jeff shares some of his story…
- CASA Connection
072. Behind The Judicial Curtain with Former Judge Thomas Dilts
This episode features former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas Dilts who pulls back the judicial curtain within the realm of foster care. After having…
- CASA Connection
071. Burnout and Boundaries
In this episode, Tracey and Jeff talk about the very real condition of burnout and how we, in the social work profession, need to institute boundaries from…
- CASA Connection
070. The CASA Network Impact Initiative
We spoke to our friends at CASA of New Jersey about the CASA Network Impact Initiative they have undertaken with the 12 CASA programs throughout the state…
- CASA Connection
069. Celebrating And Commemorating CASA's 20th Anniversary!
On this episode, Jeff is joined by CASA SHaW Case Supervisor Lynn Kinkel as they discuss CASA's 20-year anniversary. Lynn was recently recognized at CASA…
- CASA Connection
068. Healing Centered Practices
Within this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed healing-centered practices that are valuable for adults. We all want to interrupt children’s negative behaviors…
- CASA Connection
067. Concerns And Realities About Future CASA Funding For Foster Youth
In this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed the concerns and reality of about future CASA funding as there is much uncertainty coming from our federal…
- CASA Connection
066. The Intern Experience At CASA
On this episode, Jeff sat down and spoke to CASA SHaW's intern, Matthew Wickman, about his internship as a social work major, and how he dove into his work…
- CASA Connection
065. CASA's Impact From The Inside
On this episode, Jeff talks with CASA SHaW Case Supervisor Wendy Parcell about her professional career, what led her to our CASA program, and how our CASA…
- CASA Connection
064. Effective Advocacy For Youth Living In Foster Care
On this episode, Jeff sat down with CASA SHaW advocate Karen Talbert to discuss her story about why she decided to become a CASA volunteer and how we can best…
- CASA Connection
063. Our CASA Goals For 2025
As we embark on a new year of serving youth living in foster care in our region, we outlined and discussed in this episode our CASA goals for 2025. Tracey and…
- CASA Connection
062. Our CASA Accomplishments As We End 2024
As we end the 2024 year, our CASA program has accomplished much, and we wanted to share just a few of those accomplishments with you on this episode. From our…
- CASA Connection
061. Trauma During The Holidays with Cory Matthew from Middle Earth
As the holiday season is here, we wanted to touch on what trauma means for children - and even adults - during this time of year. Cory Matthew, the Program…
- CASA Connection
060. Positive Discipline, Ages 13 to 18, Part 3
This is Part 3 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to children ages 13 to 18…
- CASA Connection
059. Positive Discipline, Ages 6 to 12, Part 2
This is Part 2 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to children ages 6 to 12…
- CASA Connection
058. Positive Discipline: Birth to age 5, Part 1
This is Part 1 in our three part series titled "Positive Discipline." In this episode we discuss positive discipline as it pertains to infancy to children to…
- CASA Connection
057. Healing-Centered Engagement And CARMA Principles
What is the future of healing? How can we better understand and embrace that process of healing from trauma? The healing-centered engagement model and…
- CASA Connection
056. Building Rapport With Parents Who Have Suffered Abuse
Based off our previous podcast upload (episode 55), we dove into how we can build rapport with parents who have suffered from trauma and repeat the cycle. How…
- CASA Connection
055. How To Interact With Abuse Victims
Within the world of foster care, abuse is tragically common. However, what we do not talk about enough is how we should be interacting with abuse victims…
- CASA Connection
054. Asking The Right Questions In Foster Care
On this episode, Tracey and Jeff discuss how we can go about asking the right questions in terms of our CASA advocacy - essentially making sure that everyone…
- CASA Connection
053. Supporting Academic Success In Foster Care
This week, Tracey and Jeff discussed how we can support academic success in foster care. Our CASA program is proud that four of our CASA youth graduated high…
- CASA Connection
052. Respect for Parents
When we look at the foster care world as a whole, parents bear the brunt of so much. Whether they are dealing with internal struggles, addiction, or need more…
- CASA Connection
051. Our Core Values at CASA
This week, Tracey and Jeff discussed CASA SHaW's core values: C.H.I.L.D. It's an acronym that's critical to the foundation and work of the CASA SHaW program…
- CASA Connection
050. Advocating For Babies In Foster Care
This week, one of our amazing CASA volunteers, Ashley K., joined us for a great discussion and dive into how to advocate for babies who are in foster care…
- CASA Connection
049. It's Pride Month! Let's Support Our LGBTQ+ Community!
It's Pride Month here in June! Jeff and Tracey talk about how we can support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members even more in the future. Plus, it's a great…
- CASA Connection
048. What Does CASA Training Look Like?
Over the years, the CASA training model has evolved. This week, our Volunteer Trainer at CASA SHaW joined us to discuss our pre-service training program…
- CASA Connection
047. Topical Shifts In Foster Care
As we recognize Foster Care Awareness Month, we dove into topical shifts in foster care. Programs like CASA have experienced changes within the foster care…
- CASA Connection
046. Sexual Assault Awareness, Part 2
We continued our discussion on this episode of what sexual assault look like for youth in our community as we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month here in…