Voices For Children
VCF recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for children in the foster care system.
VCF started in San Diego County and has expanded into Riverside County, which is the region that PositiviTEE supports.
VCF’s goal is to continue growing the Riverside County program in order to provide a CASA for every single child in the foster care system that needs one.
The CASA model has been used nationwide for 40+ years.
PositiviTEE’s Impact
What Is A CASA?
PositiviTEE was able to turn its $43,000 donation into a $64,500 gift by making the donation through another nonprofit called Focusing Philanthropy, which adds a 50% matching gift.
During VCF’s FY 24-25, they supported 414 CASA volunteers who served 730 children (204 from the Coachella Valley).
***With an average cost of $2,000 to recruit, train, and support each CASA volunteer, they anticipate being able to add approximately 32 more CASAs as a result of PositiviTEE’s grant.
When children experience abuse or neglect and it is unsafe for them to remain in their homes, they enter foster care. Each child and family is assigned to a juvenile court judge who makes all of the decisions about what happens next. In California and around the country, judges appoint exceptional community volunteers to advocate for the child’s best interests and to get to know the child in a holistic way. These volunteers are called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers advocate for these children in court, school, and community settings, ensuring their needs are met and their voices heard. CASA volunteers are the spark that ignites change and hope in the lives of children in foster care.
The childhood of a youth in foster care can be marked by trauma, disruption, and loss. A CASA represents a stable, trusted relationship with an adult who sparks hope during the darkest of times in their life. What seems like an insignificant action to most people — listening to concerns, meeting for a meal, and offering trust, safety, and respect — is paramount for the children we serve because these actions let them know they matter. A CASA volunteer’s dedicated advocacy, support, and mere presence can be a constant light that can make a world of difference in a child’s life and lead them toward a more hopeful future.
Statistics show that children with CASAs: