Impact Report
How our CASAs and supporters made a difference for children in foster care in FY2021-2022
CASAs are connectors.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers connect youth in foster care to vital resources they may not have access to otherwise, such as play therapy for a child experiencing outbursts or temporary housing for a teen on the brink of homelessness. CASAs connect with other members of a child’s care team – including parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists, social workers, attorneys, and more – to find the best ways to support them. CASAs provide human connection, whether taking a child to see live theater for the first time or attending a soccer game so the child knows they have someone cheering for them in the stands. Finally, CASAs write detailed court reports about all aspects of the child’s life. They connect the dots so judges can see the full picture of the child and make the best decisions about their future.
When a child in foster care has a CASA who cares about them, listens to them, and understands them, they have more hope.
2019 Study by the Hope Research Center
Voices for Children (VFC) is the only nonprofit organization authorized by the courts in San Diego and Riverside Counties to match youth in foster care with CASA volunteers. VFC recruits, trains, and supports CASAs to advocate for a child or sibling group in court, in school, and in the community to ensure their needs are met.
This year, VFC supported more than 1,300 CASA volunteers. However, children throughout the region enter the foster care system every single day. Each child is counting on VFC to provide an advocate who will give them a voice.
Read more about how our organization works to meet this need in the full report.
children served by Voices for Children across San Diego and Riverside Counties
community members served as CASA volunteers
Where Consistency and Advocacy Meet
Upon first meeting their CASA, a child may be hesitant to open up. But when their CASA continues to visit week after week, and month after month, the child begins to trust them, sharing their thoughts, concerns, hopes, and dreams. Meanwhile, the CASA has done extensive research on the child’s case, knows what resources are available to youth in foster care, and is supported by their Advocacy Supervisor at Voices for Children. Using the tools and resources available to them, the CASA ensures the child’s needs – physical, emotional, medical, educational, and more – are met. When the consistent presence of a CASA connects with advocacy, the result is life-changing.
Stories from Our Program
Serving our region's youth in foster care
Service in San Diego County
FY2021-2022 marked 41 years of providing exceptional advocacy to children in foster care in San Diego County. As one of the earliest and largest CASA programs in the nation, we serve every child in San Diego County foster care with a CASA volunteer, staff advocacy, or case monitoring.
Service in Riverside County
Early this fiscal year, our Riverside County program reached a special milestone: our 1,000th child in foster care was matched with a CASA since our program’s inception in 2015. That’s 1,000 children who’ve experienced caring, individualized support to ensure their needs are met. That’s 1,000 children who felt seen, heard, and valued when they may not have otherwise.
“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.”
Brené Brown
Our Financials
During FY2021-2022, Voices for Children received generous financial support totaling $11,939,163. Because of you, we were able to serve 3,373 children across San Diego and Riverside Counties.
