CASA of Westmoreland began using the Fostering Futures program in 2014 and has trained 36 dual Advocate-Mentors to date.  Each has used the Fostering Futures approach to help their case teen envision and prepare for their future. 

Fostering Futures prepares Advocates to provide:

• Positive and productive advocacy to address a foster teen’s “present life” amidst  the challenges of everyday adolescence.
• Purpose- based  mentoring  focused on the near  future – the day they turn 21 –that entails preparing  the youth to understand and explore options for his/her post secondary success.

Helping  a foster youth without parents to plan their  transition to post-secondary success will enable them to support themselves in a meaningful job or career…and to enjoy a secure early adulthood.  It is  one of the most important goals/gifts a CASA Advocate can share with a youth.

Beverages and lunch will be provided.
RSVP below:

Fostering Futures I introduces the science and psychology of working with and understanding teens who have been traumatized.  It provides tools including “Possible Selves” that provides questions for the CASA Advocate-Mentor and their youth to explore dreams for an exciting future, and the steps that it would take to accomplish that future.  It also provides prompts to identify fears, influences and obstacles that could derail a youth’s quest for a positive future.  Another tool, the Older Youth Needs and Resource Assessment  (OYNRA), charts 56 conditions or tasks that should be accomplished in 6 domains before they age out of care at age 21.

The Fostering Futures training will focus on working with older youth and preparing them for transitioning out of foster care. Volunteers who work with older youth are encouraged to attend.

Fostering Futures provides powerful self-confidence building tools for Advocates to adapt for middle school school-age children, too, not just teens.   And, since a future CASA case you may accept could include an older child, attending Fostering Futures brings you an enhanced, “mentor” type perspective you can draw upon to help a middle school/high school youth to think positively about their future.