2024 Colorado CASA Conference
The 2024 Colorado CASA Conference was a huge success! It was held on Saturday, September 21st at the Denver Marriott South at Park Meadows. Over 200 volunteers, staff members, and community members attended.
2024 Colorado State CASA Conference Keynote Speaker: David
Ambrose
David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate, Emmy nominated, and best-selling author. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.
Breakout Sessions
Vicarious Trauma and the Effects of Family Separation
Lauren Shaw, Psy.D. (Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience)
The 5 Languages of Appreciation: The Secret to Employee & Volunteer Engagement
Diana Rogers Jaeger (Love To Appreciate Consulting)
Overcoming Communication Barriers as a CASA Volunteer
Luis Echeverria & Matt Cale (CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties)
Changing Minds: Community Conversation about Substance Use Disorders
Hannah Groves & Shelley Marie (Health District of Northern Larimer County), Lucrecia Medrano & Kyle Rogers (Yarrow Collective)
Safety and Permanency for Families
Karen J Langsley (Langsley Mills Law LLC), Elizabeth Martinez (OCR contact attorney)
Making it Count - Robust Court Report Writing Essentials
Jillian Wiker (CASA of the Pikes Peak Region), Judge Gomez (2nd Judicial District)
Collaborative Family Engagement
Candice Dosman (Texas CASA)
Bridges out of Poverty
Jenny Macias (Hope House Colorado)
Self-Care During Case Transitions
Katie Karow, Care For the Caregivers; Traci Gurley-Tomashosky, CASA of the Ninth; Lisa Drake, Life Stories
There is Wisdom in Trauma
Kathy Watters, Public Health Consultant and Enneagram Teacher
Collaborating With Youth: What we’ve learned by effectively supporting youth during life’s transitions
Jarrod Herrick & Mercedes Wright, CASA of the 7th Judicial District
Everyday Matters: Student Attendance and Engagement
Amy Werpy, Colorado Department of Education
Trends in Policy Closing Panel
In this panel we heard from those that have blazed the trail and done the hard work to create meaningful and lasting change in the child welfare system. Local legislators, youth advocates, and change-makers spoke about their experience navigating lasting system change.
Panelists:
Honorable Don Touissant, District Court Judge, Arapahoe County
Nyomi Davis, Youth AdvocateMaya Chandler, Youth Advocate
Joseph Homlar, OCYF Director of the Division of Child Welfare
Ashley Chase, Staff Attorney and Legislative Liaison, Office of the Child's Representative