Voices for Children

I said to her, ‘I am your CASA and I work for you. I don’t work for anybody else. I am your advocate. That means I’m your voice.’ She said, ‘You work for me?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I work for you - and only for you.’ And that thrilled her. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, Jayne Amelia Larson, via Los Angeles Times. - The Los Angeles Times shared a great article outlining the value CASA volunteers have in the lives of the children they serve. For abused, abandoned, and neglected children in an overburdened foster care system, the presence of an advocate is crucial. And with the rise of the pandemic, this need has increased. Read the article here: https://lat.ms/3k2fd1x

"The biggest accomplishments of my last few years advocating for foster kids was the joy of seeing my first case child, a girl, reunited with her biological mom who was clean after many months of rehab, and the second case child (who was a teenage girl) reunited with her dad. We were so happy to see one of our wonderful Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, Kavita, featured by ZCode Magazines! In the article, Kavita shares how she first became a CASA and how the pandemic has affected the ways in which she advocates for her youth. Check out the full feature below! https://bit.ly/33WjePa via 92130 Magazine, 92127 Magazine, 92128 Magazine, 92129 Magazine, 92130 Magazine, 92131 Magazine, and 92064 Magazine

Are you passionate about helping our community's most vulnerable children? Did you know that you can make a difference in the life of a local child in foster care as a volunteer? Our Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are mentors, friends, role models, advocates, and so much more. As an officer of the court, a CASA gets to know the child with whom they are matched, communicates with the professionals on the child's case, such as their teachers, doctors, social workers, and caregivers, and writes a report to the judge who is making decisions about that child's future. We are currently recruiting new CASA volunteers in both San Diego and Riverside Counties! To learn more about the life-changing impact you could make as a CASA, please visit our website at: speakupnow.org/volunteer

Once a month, we share a story exemplifying how our Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers make a difference in the lives of children in foster care through our series, "One Child At A Time." This month, we share the story of "Anna" and her CASA, Renee. Anna was paired with CASA Renee two years ago, in September of 2018. Anna is a medically fragile child, and Renee stepped in to advocate for the girl in a myriad of ways, including co-holding educational rights wi...th Anna’s caregivers to help support her academic needs. When the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person visits, CASA Renee’s support transferred seamlessly to virtual visits, when they exercised or did yoga, read together, and discussed fun topics like Disney movies. Recently, in September 2020, Anna was adopted by a wonderful family who expressed their gratitude to CASA Renee and hope for her to continue to be a presence in the young girl’s life for years to come. Thanks to CASA Renee, Anna was able to benefit from educational support, stability, and a positive relationship with a caring adult. Like Renee, you too can provide much-needed advocacy to a youth in San Diego or Riverside County foster care. Sign up for an online volunteer Information Session to learn more: bit.ly/CASA-Info.

In this recent article, CalMatters explores how children across California, including children in foster care, are faring in the areas of poverty, family environment, and education: https://bit.ly/33JJfRV

It is both beautiful and motivating to reflect that, as activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu said, "our destinies are bound up in one another's." We are so grateful for our volunteers and supporters who recognize that when everyone in our community thrives - including our most vulnerable children - we will all experience greater harmony.

Thank you to everyone who participated in tonight's first-ever virtual Starry Starry Night event! We are overwhelmed by the support we received tonight, which will help provide more children in San Diego County foster care with the caring advocacy of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. In case you missed it, tonight's program featured "We Are Family," the story of one boy named Austin, whose life was forever changed by the advocacy of his CASA. The support we received tonight will help to make more stories like this possible for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Watch below or at: https://youtu.be/UOclYLFlFts #lightingtheway

Tonight's the night! Join us in #LIGHTINGTHEWAY. . Beginning at 7:00 PM, Starry Starry Night will be held virtually for the first time ever, and we could not be more excited to have you join us in support of San Diego's foster youth. The pre-event show begins at 7:00 PM with Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, followed by a program including a celebration of our CASA of the Year, moving impact stories from our CASA program, a live auction, and a chance to virtually raise your padd...le to support local children in foster care. Register now and tune in tonight by visiting www.voicesforchildrenssn.org. . As we prepare to celebrate with you, we'd like to extend our gratitude to our incredible sponsors, who made tonight's event possible. Thank you! . George Lai and the Lily Lai Foundation, Annette and Daniel Bradbury, Genentech, MG Properties Group, Qualcomm, The Rose Foundation, Bill and Dorian Sailer, Capstone Advisors, The San Diego Foundation, Pulido Walker, AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, City National Bank, Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, Sempra Energy, Silvergate Bank, Lynn Gorguze and the Honorable Scott Peters, Blue Shield of California, California Bank & Trust, Coastal Payroll, Dowling & Yahnke, LLC, Kaiser Permanente Thrive, Paul Plevin Sullivan & Connaughton LLP, bkm OfficeWorks, Briefcase Studios, Cadence Travel Management, Glendalough Distillery, Joy Culture Events, Las Patronas, McCulley Design Lab, We Drink Bubbles, GB Magazine, KPBS, Ranch & Coast Magazine See more

The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce named Voices for Children the Nonprofit of the Year during a virtual ceremony yesterday on October 1. We were recognized for our outstanding advocacy on behalf of children in southwest Riverside County. Voices for Children’s Riverside County executive director, Jessica Muñoz, was honored to accept this award on behalf of CASAs serving in Murrieta, Wildomar, and throughout Riverside County. Thank you, Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, for this recognition!

Children who find themselves in the foster care system need a voice. Voices for Children is seeking volunteers in San Diego and Riverside Counties to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to support local youth in foster care. As a CASA, you will help to connect a child with much-needed resources, spend time with them, and write court reports to inform the judge's decisions for that child's future. . We provide all the training needed and a dedicated staff member to support you on your case. During the pandemic, all training and advocacy can be done safely and remotely, with options to visit your case children in a safe, distanced setting if desired. Start your journey towards child advocacy today; sign up for an online Volunteer Information Session to learn more: bit.ly/CASA-Info

One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house in which I lived, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. - Forest E. Witcraft - At Voices for Children, our mission is to serve abused, abandoned, or neglected children in foster care by pairing them with a trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. The future impact of investing in a child today is immeasurable. Join us in envisioning a better future for our children and for our community. Learn more about how you can get involved at www.speakupnow.org.

Austin and his siblings had been paired with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Carolina for a year and a half. The children reunified with their parents, and Carolina stayed in touch with the family. On one pivotal Christmas Eve, CASA Carolina discovered something that would change Austin and his siblings' lives forever. Don't miss the premiere of this video at this year's Starry Starry Night! Register for free at www.voicesforchildrenssn.org. #lightingtheway Briefcase Studios https://youtu.be/uLWfjqb8HGc