Each and every CASA has their own unique volunteer experience. Explore the stories below to discover the rewarding, funny, challenging, and unpredictable sides of being a CASA volunteer. Through the work of ordinary people with extraordinary hearts, these children's voices are heard.
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Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Carolina was matched with a little boy named Austin and his siblings. She advocated for them for a year and a half, after which they reunified with their parents. Carolina stayed in touch with the family, and during the holiday season, she went to visit the children and bring them gifts on Christmas Eve. During her visit, she discovered something that would change Austin's life. Watch "We Are Family" to learn how Carolina helped Austin find his forever family.
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Children
More than 8,500 children spend time in San Diego and Riverside County foster care systems each year. They are innocent victims who have been taken away from their homes through no fault of their own, but due to parental maltreatment. Once removed, the children are under the Court's jurisdiction until a judge determines the home is safe for return. If reunification cannot occur, the child continues to live in foster care until adoption or guardianship can be arranged. Sadly, many children are never adopted and spend their childhoods in foster care.
CASAs
Voices for Children’s 1,200 CASA volunteers come from every ethnicity, background, income level, age, and profession. They pass several levels of screenings and interviews and participate in our training program of 35+ hours. Being a CASA is an extraordinary responsibility, and those who take on this role are the best. One child described them as “big brothers with superpowers.”
Our volunteers perform everyday miracles, often changing lives and bringing joy to their case children, yet also face fear and mistrust from children who have been betrayed by adults. The stakes are very high for these children, yet studies show that CASA volunteers can make a significant difference in the lives of children.