Founded in 1980, Voices for Children is a private, nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who speak up for the needs and well-being of children in foster care. As the only agency designated by the courts to provide CASA volunteers in San Diego and Riverside Counties, Voices for Children's CASAs play a crucial role in helping judges make the most informed decisions for children's futures.
Affiliations & Partnerships
The CASA Model
The role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was first conceived in 1977 by Judge David Soukup in Seattle, who wanted to find a way for the court to obtain better information about foster children’s needs. He believed dedicated and well-trained volunteers could accomplish that task, and the idea quickly spread across America, including in San Diego, where Voices for Children was founded in 1980. Today, there are nearly 1,000 nonprofit CASA programs operating in 49 states. Consistently ranked in the top three programs nationwide, Voices for Children is proud to be a part of the National CASA Association as well as the California CASA Association.
Live Well San Diego
Voices for Children is proud to join many local organizations and businesses as a Live Well San Diego Partner. As a Partner, we commit to the Live Well San Diego vision by improving the wellbeing of at-risk children in our community, advocating on behalf of these children to ensure they receive proper support and resources, and participate in collaborative efforts with other organization to offer comprehensive services to children in San Diego County.
Trauma-Informed Care Code of Conduct
Voices for Children adheres to the Trauma-Informed Care Code of Conduct. In alignment with LiveWell San Diego, these guidelines were facilitated by the Clinton Health Matters Initiative and were developed by young adults in San Diego's foster care system. It is a statement of their expectations about how children, youth, and families should be treated by government agencies and communities of support who interact with them.
As an organization that has adopted this code of conduct, Voices for Children commits to ensuring that our policies and staff practices adhere to these principles. Hover or tap to learn more about each one.
Safety
A safe and open-minded place where I feel welcome
a) Nurtures a reliable environment with respect for privacy and self-expression
b) Maintains a nonviolent environment free of intimidation
c) Respects confidentiality unless permission is given (unless someone is harming you, you are harming yourself, or you are harming someone else)
Effective Communication
Providing me with clear and consistent information
a) Ensures needs are met with an appropriate level of urgency, prioritization, and follow-through
b) Provides accessible means of communication, with appropriate measures taken for privacy (e.g. in-person, phone, email, social media)
c) Maintains transparency about the organization's processes, and explains actions taken in any high-stress situation
d) Utilizes a process to provide constructive feedback to the organization, and ensures steps are taken for improvement when appropriate
Individualized Support
Assists me and considers the factors affecting my situation
a) Implements a welcome process to the organization and community
b) Builds mutually beneficial partnerships to promote successes and coach people to reach personal goals
c) Connects people with services and partners, or offers alternatives until needs are properly addressed
d) Views each person as creative, resourceful, whole, and more than just a number
Supportive Staff
Is kind and has a true and genuine passion for helping me
a) Integrates trauma-informed care training and awareness
b) Reflects the community served (e.g. lived experiences, ethnicity, race, gender, social status)
c) Values everyone regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, social status, religious and personal beliefs, or culture
d) Offers a considerate, honest, and empathetic community that can be relied on