IMPORTANT UPDATE
The COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on our community — including the children we serve, our volunteers, and our staff — is of great concern to us at Voices for Children. As the situation continues to develop, please check back here for updates regarding Advocate University in both counties.
San Diego County: As a precaution, San Diego County Advocate University training classes will be held virtually, unless otherwise noted.
Riverside County: As a precaution, Advocate University will now be offered in an online format for Riverside County.
Voices for Children's training program, Advocate University, comprises 35 hours of classroom and online training and includes the following topics:
Introduction to Voices for Children
Child Development
Court Report Writing
Working with Biological Parents
Educational Advocacy
Relationship Building
Early Intervention Training
Policies and Procedures
Child Welfare Services
Dependency Law
Courtroom Procedures/Court Files
Diversity
Advocating for Transitional Age Youth
Advocating for LGBTQ Youth
Domestic Violence
Substance Abuse
Training concludes with a graduation ceremony at which the volunteers are sworn in as officers of the Court by a Juvenile Dependency Court judge. There is a nominal fee for Advocate University, which can be waived if needed.
How to Apply
To be eligible for training, you must first attend one of our Volunteer Information Sessions and complete and submit our CASA Application for San Diego County or Riverside County. You must also interview with a Voices for Children staff member. Please keep in mind that there are application deadlines for each training session. Note: You must attend Advocate University in the county where you would like to volunteer.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
IMPORTANT UPDATE: San Diego County Advocate University training classes will be held virtually, unless otherwise noted. We will be evaluating future trainings as the Coronavirus / COVID-19 situation continues to develop.
Below are the dates for our upcoming trainings. All classes for each training session are mandatory. Please note that interviews must be completed by the interview deadline to be considered for each training.
September 2020 (Evenings)
September 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17 (5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
Graduation: October 27, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Interview Deadline: August 19, 2020
October 2020 (Evenings)
October 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22 (5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
Graduation: November 17, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Interview Deadline: September 25, 2020
November 2020 (Saturdays)
November 5 - Orientation (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
November 7, 14, 21 (8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Graduation: December 10, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Interview Deadline: October 28, 2020
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to the Coronavirus / COVID-19 situation, Advocate University will now be offered in an online format for Riverside County as a precaution.
Advocate University is held in various locations throughout the County. Below are the dates for our upcoming in-classroom trainings. All classes for each training session are mandatory.
August 2020 Online Training (Evenings)
August 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
September 2020 Online Training (Evenings)
September 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
October 2020 Online Training (Saturdays)
October 7 - Orientation (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
October 10, 17, 24 (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Our Thanks
Advocate University is funded, in part, by the generosity of Cox Communications, the Parker Foundation, the Leichtag Foundation, the Price Family Charitable Fund, the Galinson Family Foundation, an anonymous donor at the Jewish Community Foundation, and the Judicial Council of California. We are deeply thankful for their contributions.
