Volunteer Resources
CONTINUING EDUCATION
In order to keep current with topics/subjects that relate to the volunteer role, our volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education per year. There are various ways to accumulate continuing education hours. We provide recommendations and information about classes, webinars, podcasts, documentaries, books, conferences and lectures available online or in the El Paso area.
CASA TRAINING OPPORTUNITY & PRESENTATION
El Paso Children's Hospital, Child Life Services Department
Friday, Sept. 26 at 2:30-3:30 PM
Gain 1 hour of in-service training!
In-Person & Virtual (Teams)
Join us on Friday, Sept. 26 at 2:30pm as a representative from the Child Life Services team shares ways we can recognize emotional cues or trauma triggers in children, strategies for using appropriate communication & language, and tools children can use to cope with stress.
The Child Life Services Department provides emotional and developmental support to children and their families during medical experiences. The team helps prepare children for procedures by explaining them in age-appropriate ways, reducing fear and anxiety. They use therapeutic play and distraction techniques to help children express their feelings, cope with stress, and manage pain. More Info about them: https://elpasochildrens.org/specialties-services/child-life-services/
In-Person: CASA Conference Room: 221 N Kansas, 15th Floor (snacks provided)
Virtual: Microsoft Teams | Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 262 854 012 974 1
Passcode: Zx7DR7go
EL PASO CASA ONLINE LEARNING CENTER
El Paso CASA advocates have access to https://texascasa.org/ through the learning center and CASA College for Continuing Education courses and recorded webinars. To access available courses, advocates first need to create an account with CASA College (https://casacollege.myabsorb.com/#/login) During registration, when asked your “affiliation” be sure to select “CASA Advocate” to receive access to continuing education courses.
In the upper right hand, corner you will see 3 bars to help you navigate through the website. This is also, where you will access your “transcript”. This will serve as your supporting documentation to upload to Optima to receive credit. If a certificate was offered, that will serve in place of transcript. All documents can be sent to mponce@casaofelpaso.org for credit and to be uploaded to Optima.
Some recommended courses and webinars to get started. Once you begin any of the courses below, you will see an extensive catalogue of opportunities.
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Effective CASA Advocacy in a Virtual Environment – CLICK HERE
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Communicating with Children – CLICK HERE
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Communicating Effectively in the Child Welfare System – CLICK HERE
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The Seven Habits of the Highly Effective CASA – CLICK HERE
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Reasonable Efforts – CLICK HERE
APPROVED MOVIE LIST
In order to keep current with subjects/topics that relate to the volunteer role, our volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education per year. We make it easy to keep up with your continuing education hours and learn something new! There are great movies to immerse yourself in. Don’t forget to send self-reflection form to mponce@casaofelpaso.org to receive your credit.
Below is a list of approved movies for continuing education hours. A short self-reflection form must be submitted to receive credit for the movie. Each movie provides 2 hours of training. With a maximum of two movies per year, for a total of 4 hours of credit.
Maid (2021)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
Foster Boy (2019)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
Short Term 12 (2013)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
Four Good Days (2021)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
I Am Somebody’s Child (2019)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
From Place to Place (2011)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
The State of Texas vs. Melissa (2020)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
Ben is Back (2018)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
Instant Family (2018)
Submit Self-Reflection form =
2 hours of training
PRE-SERVICE TRAINING
30-hour CASA Volunteer Pre-Service Training Schedule 2024-2025
Please be aware you must complete an entire 30-hour training session and have all background checks returned favorably to be sworn in as an advocate. You must be at least 21 years of age and be able to pass an extensive reference, Child Protective Services, sex offender registry, and criminal background checks before becoming a CASA volunteer. You may not be a current foster parent or be in the process of adopting a child from Child Protective Services. If an attorney, you may not concurrently be appointed to any cases involving Child Protective Services in El Paso County.
The pre-service training classes are a part of the screening process, and that acceptance to participate in training does not guarantee that you will be sworn in as a CASA volunteer or that you will be assigned a case.
The training is a combination of in-person and online training for a total of 30 hours. You will need to attend all training classes during the same month.
* Please note there is a $25 fee associated with the background checks for becoming an Advocate. This fee will be collected after your pre-screening interview.
All prospective CASA Volunteers must attend orientation, submit applications, attend pre-screening, and complete background checks and references before starting any training session with CASA of El Paso.
SEPTEMBER 2025
Pre-Service Training Class (AM)
*Each prospective Advocate must complete each session listed below*
Blended Pre-Service Training
In-Person Sessions with Trainer and Independent e-Learning
**Applications and screening process for this class need to be completed by September 3, 2025**
Title | Date | Format | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Session #1 | Thursday, Sept 11 | In-Person w/Trainer | 5:00-8:30PM |
Session #2 | Monday, Sept 15 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #3 | Tuesday, Sept 16 | In-Person w/Trainer | 5:00-8:30PM |
Session #4 | Wednesday, Sept 17 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #5 | Thursday, Sept 18 | In-Person w/Trainer | 5:00-8:30PM |
Session #6 | Monday, Sept 22 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #7 | Tuesday, Sept 23 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #8 | Thursday, Sept 25 | In-Person w/Trainer | 5:00-8:30PM |
Advocate In-Service Sessions via Zoom/Person (Mandatory)
TOPIC | DATE | DAY | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
CVC In Person | Sept 24 | Wednesday | 9:00-10:00AM |
Praesidium Zoom | Sept 29 | Monday | 5:00-7:00PM |
Swear In Zoom | Sept 30 | Tuesday | 12:00noon |
OCTOBER 2025
Pre-Service Training Class (AM)
*Each prospective Advocate must complete each session listed below*
Blended Pre-Service Training
In-Person Sessions with Trainer and Independent e-Learning
**Applications and screening process for this class need to be completed by October 8, 2025**
Title | Date | Format | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Session #1 | 10/14/2025 | In-Person w/Trainer | 9:00AM -12:30PM |
Session #2 | 10/15/2025 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #3 | 10/16/2025 | In-Person w/Trainer | 9:00AM -12:30PM |
Session #4 | 10/17/2025 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #5 | 10/20/2025 | In-Person w/Trainer | 9:00AM -12:30PM |
Session #6 | 10/21/2025 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #7 | 10/22/2025 | Online E-Learning | On your own |
Session #8 | 10/23/2025 | In-Person w/Trainer | 9:00AM -12:30PM |
Advocate In-Service Sessions via Zoom/Person (Mandatory)
TOPIC | DATE | DAY | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
CVC Zoom | October 22 | Wednesday | 9:00 - 10:00AM |
Praesidium Zoom | October 27 | Monday | 9:00 – 11:30AM |
Swear In Zoom | October 28 | Tuesday | 12:00 noon |
IN-SERVICE FORM
TO BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER MEANS YOU ARE
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Willing to commit at least 18 months of your time (on average, volunteers spend 10-15 hours a month on their case);
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Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing;
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Willing to participate in an in-depth training program;
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Able to pass criminal and CPS history background checks; and
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Over age 21