Impact Report

How our CASAs and supporters made a difference for children in foster care in FY2022-2023

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Creating Ripples of Hope, One Child
at a Time

Voices for Children (VFC) is the only nonprofit organization designated by the Superior Courts in San Diego and Riverside Counties to match youth in foster care with volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). VFC recruits, trains, and supports CASAs to advocate for children or sibling groups in court, in school, and in the community to ensure their needs are met and their voices are heard.

CASAs create a powerful ripple effect that positively influences a child’s chances of thriving in school, work, and relationships. CASAs not only impact the children’s lives but also the lives of those they will influence as they grow throughout their lives. CASAs create ripples that last for generations.

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“Voices for Children serves two of California’s most populous counties. We strive to be greater than the sum of our parts and leverage our resources, knowledge, and passion for children and families while ensuring that we are responsive to the needs of each community we serve.”

- JESSICA MUÑOZ, ESQ., MFS | PRESIDENT & CEO

The vital support of a CASA in cultivating a child’s interests and goals for the future makes all the difference. It has a ripple effect that can make a child the first in their family to graduate, an advocate for other youth, a happy adult with financial security, and even a parent who breaks the cycle of abuse in their family by providing a safe home for their own family. This transformational impact all starts with the transformational advocacy of a CASA.

This year, VFC supported 1,236 dedicated CASA volunteers as they advocated for youth in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties.

Our Impact in FY2022-2023

children served by Voices for Children across San Diego and Riverside Counties

community members served as CASA volunteers

Meeting Challenges, Leading Change

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) comes into a child’s life and provides individualized advocacy, a trusting relationship, and the personalized, caring attention they deserve. Our CASA volunteers make a difference, creating the opportunity for each child to thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.

That’s why Voices for Children (VFC) is honored to have connected 2,295 youth in foster care with CASAs and staff advocates this year alone. The one-on-one attention and advocacy only a CASA can provide offers children and families a consistent presence through challenging times. They facilitate nurturing relationships and help create a support network to keep families connected and together when safe and possible.

Stories from Our Program

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The Gift of a Second Chance - Read Paul's Story

Through the nation’s largest Juvenile Justice Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, Voices for Children has served 240 at-risk and justice-involved youth since the program’s inception in 2018. Our innovative approach has seen positive outcomes, including improved access to prosocial activities and trauma-informed services and interventions. Even more inspiring is our youth participants’ high rate of successful probation compliance and completion. This story showcases the powerful ripple effect of one CASA volunteer on the life of a justice-involved youth in our community.

After a difficult upbringing battling mental health issues and volatile relationships at home, “Paul*” made some poor decisions that resulted in interactions with the juvenile justice system and his detention in a custodial rehabilitative program for youth on probation.

CASA Bruce was assigned to Paul’s case for more than two years, showing unwavering dedication and refusing to give up on Paul, even when others seemed to have lost hope. Paul is a bright young man with a talent for drawing and design. CASA Bruce continually encouraged his artistic interests, always asking to see his latest drawings during visits. At the suggestion of CASA Bruce, Paul’s therapist also engaged him through his art. CASA Bruce even advocated for Paul to participate in a graphic design course through the rehabilitative program.

Throughout Paul’s time in juvenile detention, CASA Bruce visited him weekly and built a trusting bond. He is the most consistent support Paul has had while being detained. Throughout their time together, CASA Bruce stressed the importance of earning a high school diploma, and, over time, Paul began to exhibit a genuine motivation to earn his high school degree. Encouraging this, CASA Bruce was in constant communication with Paul’s teachers and counselors about graduation planning.

Last year, CASA Bruce and Paul’s therapist attended his hearing, passionately advocating for his early release from the program. The judge, deeply moved by CASA Bruce’s report, granted Paul’s release with the requisite that he complete his school work to successfully finish high school.

CASA Bruce was instrumental in ensuring Paul was able to complete his remaining credits. Within a few weeks, Paul graduated from high school. CASA Bruce, Paul’s parents, and even the judge overseeing his case attended the ceremony. In his speech, Paul expressed gratitude to CASA Bruce and the judge, leaving an emotional impact on everyone present, including the judge, whose eyes welled up with tears.

Paul’s long-term goal is to build on his experiences and work with at-risk youth.

*Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality

A Consistent Presence, A Caring Heart - Read Sally's Story

“Sally*” and her baby sister entered foster care when she was four years old due to neglect and exposure to drug use by her parents. CASA Brenda was assigned to Sally when she was five, and they have since developed an inseparable bond.

The Court ultimately terminated Sally’s parents’ parental rights and placed Sally and her sister up for adoption. Fortunately, Sally and her sister were not separated, as some siblings are, when placed in foster care. Her grandmother became their relative caregiver and decided to adopt Sally and her sister.

CASA Brenda has gone above and beyond to consistently support and advocate for Sally. When Sally was having a hard time at school, she found comfort in knowing she could count on CASA Brenda to listen and just let her be a kid. Her grandmother informed the Court that she is thankful to have CASA Brenda in Sally’s life. She also shared Sally’s excitement whenever she knows CASA Brenda is coming for an outing: Sally eagerly waits by the door and asks her grandmother, “Is Brenda almost here?”

Sally loves learning and experiencing new things. CASA Brenda takes Sally to museums, science centers, libraries, and historical monuments, and they have a tradition of ending the day eating mozzarella sticks and drinking slushies.

Recently, they visited a park during an outing and made friendship bracelets together. Since then, Sally has not taken off the bracelet CASA Brenda made for her. Sally has told her grandmother she considers CASA Brenda her best friend and that she wishes everyone had a CASA.

Recently, the girls were officially adopted, and their grandmother is grateful to start a new chapter together with her granddaughters. With CASA Brenda and her grandmother by her side, Sally has a support system that makes her one step closer to growing up with her sister in a safe, stable home.

*Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality

By Your Side - Read Keri's Story

In 2021, the child abuse hotline received a referral for “Keri*,” a 10-year-old girl who had been abandoned at a local hospital. She had multiple developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Her mother refused to pick her up, sought to terminate her parental rights, and denied knowing the father’s whereabouts. Having no other options, caseworkers moved Keri to Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC), an emergency short-term residential facility.

Shortly thereafter, CASA Renee, who had just been sworn in as a CASA, accepted Keri’s case without hesitation. CASA Renee quickly learned that, due to Keri’s high level of need, there were tremendous barriers to identifying placement options. Keri’s support team went through exhaustive efforts to locate a suitable long-term home for her. At the same time, CASA Renee focused on acquainting herself with the PCC staff who knew Keri best. Thanks
to CASA Renee’s patience and persistence, Keri eventually warmed up to her. CASA Renee took the time to get to know Keri, learning that she had specific Barbies and snacks she liked and that she loved to sing and swim. She also got to see the charming and loving side of Keri, which few reports mentioned.

After months of countless phone calls and interviews, Keri’s team finally found a suitable placement. This placement would provide Keri with the longer-term level of care she required. However, Keri feared being in a car,
so on the day she moved to her new out-ofcounty placement, CASA Renee was there to comfort and help her stay calm while in the car. Together, her social worker and CASA Renee had a playlist of songs they knew Keri enjoyed, a ton of snacks, and, of course, her favorite Barbies all ready to go. The car ride went safely and smoothly because of CASA Renee’s profound awareness and familiarity with Keri.

Today, Keri is thriving in many ways beyond what most thought possible. The past few months have been incredibly optimistic, with CASA Renee sticking by Keri’s side throughout the journey. CASA Renee has advocated for Keri during transition plans for special school education programs and served as Keri’s educational rights holder for the past two years.

CASA Renee’s consistency has proven tremendous, and while other professionals have transitioned off the case, CASA Renee remains by Keri’s side.

Keri will be transitioning to a new supportive housing institute to cater to her unique developmental needs in the coming weeks. CASA Renee has been involved in every step, ensuring that Keri will continue to receive the care she deserves and progress in her abilities.

*Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality

Serving our region's youth in foster care

Service in San Diego County

FY22-23 was a year of continuity and innovation. We made great strides to advance the priorities and objectives of our Strategic Plan. We have augmented the diversity of our CASAs and staff members to reflect the identities of the children we serve and better meet their needs. We leveraged our partnerships to address specific challenges like the rise in youth mental health cases and a shortage of foster homes.

Our evolving CASA model surpassed our goal to serve more justice-involved youth and is regarded as a promising example of how to apply a CASA program to the juvenile justice system throughout the country.

In the following pages, you will see the ripple effects of our work serving the most vulnerable children in San Diego County.

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Read the full San Diego County Report

Service in Riverside County

In the 22-23 Fiscal Year, Voices for Children supported 521 local children in foster care in Riverside County through our CASA program. The Riverside County CASA program started in 2015 with four staff members serving 70 children. Seven years later, the Riverside County CASA program has 13 dedicated staff members serving 521 children with the support of countless community partners who believe in our mission. Most importantly, Voices for Children has become a trusted organization with a reputation for making a positive difference in the lives of children in foster care.

The trust that has been built over the years in the community led to our groundbreaking partnership with the Pechanga Band of Indians. The Pechanga Band of Indians is a sovereign government with its own tribal court proceedings, and Voices for Children is honored to serve as the designated CASA program for any child under the jurisdiction of Pechanga’s Tribal Court.

Read the full Riverside County Report

“My CASA Daniel recognized my potential years before I could even dream of going to college and graduating from somewhere as prestigious as UCLA. He supported me and advocated for me when I didn’t see my window of opportunity. My CASA is one of the reasons I’m here today. He showed me that I was capable of meeting my goals and my voice was powerful enough to be heard. Daniel proved to me that my experiences in the foster care system will not limit me.”

- ANTHONY | UCLA CLASS OF 2023
SOCIOLOGY & COMMUNICATION
REAL WORD PANELIST

Our Financials

During Fiscal Year 2022-2023, Voices for Children received generous financial support totaling $8,278,859. Because of you, we were able to provide one-on-one advocacy to nearly 2,300 children living in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties.

View our financial statements in the full report.