Since 1980, Voices for Children has operated the CASA program in San Diego County, and in early 2015, was asked by the State of California Judicial Council to rebuild the CASA program in Riverside County. In June 2015, VFC’s Riverside County CASA program launched. Since then, the program exceeded its early goals and continues to grow, serving 356 children through the advocacy of more than 240 CASA volunteers. With the addition of the program in Riverside County, VFC has the opportunity to provide CASAs to 13% of all foster children across the state of California.
California law allows the Juvenile Court to designate one organization per county as its official CASA program. This designation gives CASA volunteers the legal authority to investigate the circumstances of a child who has been abused or neglected, spend time with the child, and make best interest recommendations to the Juvenile Court. A CASA learns about the child, observes their needs, and communicates with the other adults on the child’s case, including caregivers, social workers, and attorneys. In addition, they have the opportunity to write a report to provide information that the Court might not otherwise have. All of these activities are now taking place in Riverside County as well as San Diego County, thanks to the work of Voices for Children.
For more information about this new program and VFC’s role in assisting foster children in Riverside County, please contact our Riverside County team at rcvolunteer@speakupnow.org or 951-472-9301.
Voices for Children – Riverside County
P.O. Box 7219
Riverside, CA 92513
951-472-9301