April, which marks National Volunteer Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, is the time to take action and speak up for children in foster care, says CEO
Research shows that volunteering is good for a person’s health and the health of their community. Now, more than ever, our world needs more people volunteering to speak up for vulnerable populations, including children in foster care. This is why Voices for Children is putting out an urgent call for volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in Riverside County.
“April is both National Volunteer Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which makes it the perfect time to take action and speak up for children in foster care,” said Jessica Muñoz, ESQ., MFS, President & CEO at Voices for Children. “If you’ve been thinking about how you can become more involved in your community, one of the best ways to make a real difference is by becoming a CASA. Our amazing CASA volunteers say it is one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives–and we know that the children they serve are forever impacted.”
Founded in 1980, Voices for Children transforms the lives of children in foster care by providing them with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers are everyday community members – trained and supported by Voices for Children – who advocate for children in the child welfare system. They form a relationship with the children and become acquainted with everyone involved in their lives, such as their parents, family, teachers, and therapists, so that they can make informed recommendations to the court.
Many Reasons to Volunteer as a CASA
This year, over 6,000 children will spend time in foster care in Riverside County as a result of abuse and neglect at home. They are among the most vulnerable members of our community. Once they enter the child welfare system, their world suddenly includes court hearings, social workers, attorneys, and often new homes and schools. They need someone to step up and speak up for them during what can be a scary and challenging time.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of backgrounds and experiences, from retired teachers to Air Force sergeants to youth sports coaches. CASA volunteers do not require any particular professional background, only a willingness to be trained and show up for a child. They are big-hearted, service-oriented community members who are willing to take the time to get to know a child living in foster care and to advocate for their best interests. Many CASAs say it’s one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
Finally, years of studies have demonstrated how volunteering is good for a person’s mental and physical health. Longer-term volunteer commitments, such as being a CASA, can provide someone with a sense of purpose and teach them valuable skills and advance their career, no matter how old they are. The outlet volunteering provides for social connection and problem-solving is especially good for older adults, as it keeps their brains engaged and strong. Volunteering as a CASA also fulfills all three of the main reasons why people volunteer: achievement, affiliation, and influence.
For more perspective on how a CASA volunteer can help youth in foster care, watch this interview with Anthony, a young man who had a Voices for Children CASA as a child.
How to Take Action
Voices for Children will celebrate 10 years in Riverside County this year. The organization is the largest CASA program in California, and one of the largest, most successful CASA operations in the United States.
Even so, the organization is in immediate need of volunteer CASAs, and is particularly seeking male volunteers and/or volunteers who are bilingual in English and Spanish. Now through May 1, members can make a life-changing impact on a child by participating in Voices for Children’s annual “Your Voice, Their Future” volunteer recruitment campaign. The organization has an ambitious goal of serving 175 local children who need a volunteer CASA advocate to ensure that they are safe, their needs are met, and their voice is being heard while they are in foster care.
Members of the public can learn more and take action for local children in foster care in the following ways:
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Volunteer. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are critically needed to speak for children in court. Learn more about the requirements to become a CASA volunteer by signing up for an Info Session here.
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Recommend a friend (or two!) to become a CASA by filling out the short form at speakupnow.org/recommend. It takes just five minutes!
If you would like to book a speaker from Voices for Children for your organization or event in Riverside County, please contact Kathi Urmanita at RCVolunteer@speakupnow.org or 951-391-8873.
Founded in 1980, Voices for Children (VFC) transforms the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties by providing them with trained, volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care in court, school, and the community to ensure their needs are met. VFC believes every child deserves a safe and permanent home and strives to provide a CASA volunteer to every child in the foster care system who needs one. Last year, VFC CASAs and staff provided direct advocacy to nearly 2,300 youth in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties as well as case monitoring services to hundreds of other children in foster care who might need an advocate in the future. For more information, visit speakupnow.org.
