Close to Home Webinars
Zoom into the world of Piedmont CASA. Meet our Volunteers, Bridges Coaches, staff, and partner organizations. Hear about our kids, their struggles and their successes. Together, we are changing stories for children and youth who have been abused and neglected, stories that are close to home and close to our heart.
Falling Into Foster Care

Falling Into Foster Care was a webinar series that explored issues in our community which lead to children entering the foster care system. Each webinar featured a guest speaker or speakers from one of our partner organizations. Piedmont CASA President Kate Duvall was the host. At the end of each webinar, there was be a Q&A period.
IMPACT OF POVERTY ON FAMILIES
September 30 at noon
Guest Speaker: Ridge Schuyler Dean of Community Self-Sufficiency, Piedmont Virginia Community College.
Click here to see a recording of the webinar
FOOD INSECURITY AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS
October 6 at noon
Guest Speakers:
Bria Williams Program Director of the Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network
Jane Colony-Mills Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
Click here for more information
HOUSING INSTABILITY
October 20 at noon
Guest Speakers:
Frank Valdez Youth Justice Program Organizer, Legal Aid Justice Center
Nancy Carpenter Prevention and Pathways Coordinator, The Haven
Click here to see a recording of the webinar
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE
November 17 at noon
Guest Speaker: Gail Esterman ReadyKids
Click here to see a recording of the webinar
Past Webinars
Housing Instability
For the 3,000 families in Charlottesville making less than $15,000 a year, owning a home is simply unattainable. Just renting in the city can exceed the annual income for a family living in poverty. Piedmont CASA hosted this conversation about housing needs with Frank Valdez of the Legal Aid Justice Center and Nancy Carpenter of The Haven. “Housing Instability” was the third in our Close to Home webinar series, “Falling Into Foster Care”. It took place on October 21, 2021.
Impact of Poverty on Families
Our guest speaker was Ridge Schuyler, Dean of Community Self Sufficiency at Piedmont Virginia Community College. It took place on September 30 at noon.
Working to End the Cycle
Our guest speaker was Liesel Robinson, Shelter for Help in Emergency. The webinar took place on 28 April 2021 at 10:00 am.
Emotional Effects of the Pandemic on Mental Health
Our guest speaker was Paige Nolt, MSW, LCSW. This webinar took place on February 8, at 10:00 AM.