The first Volunteer Monthly Meeting went well. 12 volunteers and 3 staff members showed up and we had a blast!! I think the idea will grow and even more people will show up nest time. We are going to do them bi-monthly instead of monthly so people will not get burned out on them. We will keep you posted, so stay tuned!
_____________________________________________________________ Sometimes getting children to open up can be difficult. Children who are in foster care are experiencing fear, confusion and loss which can make it difficult for them to trust in others.
Ben Wilkins, Director of Training and part of the National CASA Curriculum Advisory Committee has eight tips for engaging children in conversation.
Empathy is the most important part of engaging your CASA child into conversation. Learn as much about their personality that you can before meeting them. Understand their developmental level and past experiences as well as you can. Ask yourself how he or she might feel about meeting you.
2. Find a peaceful place
Find a clam place where you can meet with your child. Join them on their level, physically and emotionally. Avoid rooms where there are TVs or other electronic distractions.
3.Keep it light
Find a game or toy so that the children have a neutral focus for their attention when nervous. Maybe play a game of cards or color with your CASA child to keep it light.
4. Start Small
Begin with the safest topics. Ask them about their likes, dislikes and interests. With older children, it may be helpful to know about the current movies and engage in small talk about them. Engaging in small talk will help you make a quick assessment on their developmental level so you can be sure to use the appropriate level of language.
5. Know your limits
Be mindful of your boundaries, you are not a therapist, attorney or forensic interviewer. It is not your job to find out more about the conditions that brought the children in to care or to correct any misbehavior. As a CASA it is your job to learn more about the children and to help them understand your role.
6. Acknowledge feelings
As the conversation progresses, children may begin to share feelings and perceptions of events in their lives. Be aware that something that is intended to be comforting may instead sound like a contradiction and cause a child to shut down. Acknowledge feelings explicitly. Instead of saying “I’m sure the teacher was only trying to keep the class in order,” try saying “that must have been rough, what happened next?”
7. Don’t just say “No”
Children will make requests that you will be unable to fulfill. Pause and think about the request and tell the child what your reason I for saying no is so they can understand. Follow up with an alternative solution.
8. Listen. Listen. Listen
Above all, listen more than you talk. Listening t children demonstrates respect and builds self esteem.
