You’ve thought about it. Maybe you saw a post, heard a story at church, or a coworker mentioned it in passing. Volunteering with foster youth in Riverside County sounds meaningful, but what does it actually involve? What would you be walking into?
The answer is both simpler and more profound than most people expect. You don’t need a legal degree. You don’t need special credentials. You just need a few hours a month, a willingness to show up, and a belief that every child in the foster care system deserves one consistent, caring adult in their corner.
Here’s a candid look at what volunteering as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) through Voices for Children in Riverside County really looks like, from your first conversation with us to the moment you walk into a courtroom for a child who might not have anyone else speaking for them.
Where Most Volunteers Start: Curiosity Without Clarity
Most CASA volunteers in Riverside County will tell you the same thing: they spent months thinking about it before they actually reached out. The hesitation usually isn’t apathy, it’s uncertainty. What if I don’t have the right background? What if the time commitment doesn’t work with my job? What if I’m not equipped to handle what I might see?
Those questions are normal, and they’re worth answering honestly. CASA volunteers do work with children navigating some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. But the role isn’t about fixing everything, it’s about being present, being consistent, and making sure one child’s needs don’t get lost in the shuffle of an overwhelmed system.
If you’re someone who has ever thought, “I want to help, I just don’t know if I’m the right person,”, you might be exactly the right person.
What CASA Volunteers Actually Do in Riverside County
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. When a child enters the foster care system, a judge can appoint a CASA volunteer to represent that child’s best interests, someone who isn’t paid, who has no caseload of 40 other kids, and whose only job is to know that one child well enough to speak up for them in court.
It’s worth being clear: CASA volunteers are not social workers, and they’re not meant to replace them. Social workers handle the case management, placement decisions, family services, court filings. CASA volunteers complement that work by providing something the system often can’t: a single, consistent presence in a child’s life. To learn more about how these roles work together, visit our frequently asked questions page.
On a typical month, a CASA volunteer might:
- Visit with the child they’re assigned to, at school, a foster home, or a community setting
- Talk with teachers, coaches, therapists, and foster parents to understand how the child is doing
- Review records and stay current on the child’s education, health, and emotional wellbeing
- Write a report summarizing findings and recommendations for the judge
- Appear in court to advocate directly for the child’s needs
The time commitment averages 10–15 hours per month. If you’re wondering whether that fits with your schedule, our blog post on being a CASA while working full time addresses exactly that.
“I kept telling myself I’d do it ‘someday.’ Then I realized the child who needed a CASA wasn’t waiting for someday. Applying was the easiest decision I’ve ever made, and the training made me feel like I actually knew what I was doing from day one.”
— CASA Volunteer, Riverside County
Advocate University: The Training That Prepares You for the Real Thing
One of the most common concerns prospective volunteers share is feeling underprepared. What if I say the wrong thing to a child? What if I don’t understand the court system? What if I don’t have experience with trauma?
That’s exactly what Advocate University is designed for. Before you’re matched with any child, you’ll complete a 35-hour pre-service training program, a combination of interactive sessions, real case scenarios, and expert instruction covering child development, trauma-informed communication, the court process, and the specific dynamics of the Riverside County foster care system.
You’ll also be paired with an Advocacy Supervisor, an experienced staff member who stays connected with you throughout your service. You’re never handling a case alone. When you have a hard question, a difficult visit, or a confusing court report, your supervisor is there to help you think it through.
To see exactly how the process unfolds from application through matching, check out the 6 steps to becoming a CASA.
Being Matched with a Child: When the Work Becomes Real
After training, you’ll be matched with a child or sibling group in the Riverside County foster care system. The matching process is thoughtful, your Advocacy Supervisor will consider your background, availability, and any skills or languages you bring to the table.
One area of particular need: bilingual volunteers. If you speak Spanish, your ability to communicate directly with children, foster families, and extended family members can make an enormous difference in how well a child’s needs are understood and represented. Riverside County has a significant Spanish-speaking population, and bilingual CASA advocates help bridge a critical gap.
Once you’re matched, the relationship begins to grow, gradually, on the child’s terms. Some children warm up quickly; others need time and repetition before they trust that you’re actually going to keep showing up. That consistency is the entire point.
“The first few visits, she barely looked at me. But I kept showing up. By month three, she was saving things to tell me. That’s when I understood what this really is, just showing up, consistently, until a kid believes someone is actually there for them.”
— CASA Volunteer, Riverside County
What Ongoing Service Looks Like Month to Month
There’s no single script for what your service will look like, because every child’s situation is different. But across Riverside County, most CASA volunteers describe their months as a rhythm: connecting, listening, documenting, and advocating.
You’ll check in regularly with everyone in the child’s orbit, teachers, doctors, therapists, foster parents, and synthesize what you learn into reports that give judges an unfiltered picture of how that child is doing and what they need. In court, you’ll speak up. Not on behalf of the parents, not on behalf of the agency, on behalf of the child.
Voices for Children has been serving Riverside County since June 2015, with offices in Riverside, Murrieta, and Palm Desert. That local presence means your Advocacy Supervisor knows the county’s courts, schools, and foster care landscape, and can give you grounded, specific support rather than generic guidance.
Want a more detailed look at what a typical month looks like in practice? Read our post: A Month in the Life of a CASA Volunteer.
“I was nervous about court. But my supervisor walked me through everything — what to expect, what to say, how to present my report. When the judge thanked me and said my advocacy made a difference in the ruling, I drove home and just sat in my car for a while. You can’t really put that into words.”
— CASA Volunteer, Murrieta Office
Explore All Volunteer Opportunities in Riverside County
While becoming a CASA volunteer is the highest-impact way to engage, it’s not the only path. Voices for Children offers multiple ways to contribute your time and skills depending on your schedule, strengths, and availability. From event support to community outreach, there are options for all kinds of involvement.
Browse the full list of ways to get involved on our volunteer opportunities in Riverside County page, while this post is designed to walk you through the day-to-day experience of CASA service, that page gives you the full picture of where and how you can contribute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a legal or social work background to become a CASA?
No prior legal or social work experience is required. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, teachers, retirees, tradespeople, healthcare workers, and students. What matters most is your reliability and your commitment to a child. Advocate University’s 35-hour training program ensures every volunteer is fully prepared before being matched.
How many hours per week does CASA volunteering require?
Most CASA volunteers spend 10–15 hours per month on their service, which typically breaks down to a few visits, some phone calls, and occasional report writing. Many active CASA volunteers hold full-time jobs. See our guide on being a CASA while working full time for real examples.
Is a CASA the same as a foster parent or a social worker?
No. A CASA volunteer is appointed by a judge and serves as an independent advocate for a child in the foster system. Unlike foster parents, you don’t provide housing. Unlike social workers, you’re not managing a caseload, you focus entirely on one child’s wellbeing and report directly to the court.
What counties and areas does Voices for Children serve?
Voices for Children launched its Riverside County CASA program in June 2015 and currently operates three offices: Riverside, Murrieta, and Palm Desert. These locations allow the program to serve foster youth across the county’s vast geographic area, from the Inland Valley to the Coachella Valley.
What happens if I have questions or challenges during my service?
Every CASA volunteer is supported by a dedicated Advocacy Supervisor, a trained staff member who provides ongoing guidance, reviews your court reports, and is available when you encounter something difficult or unfamiliar. You’re never working alone. For more answers, visit our full FAQ page.
You’ve Been Thinking About This Long Enough
The children in Riverside County’s foster care system aren’t waiting for a perfect volunteer. They’re waiting for someone willing to show up, month after month, and make their voice heard in a system that can be overwhelming even for the adults in it.
If you’ve been sitting on this idea, consider this your nudge. The process is approachable. The training is thorough. And the impact, the real, documented, life-changing impact on a child who finally has someone consistently in their corner, is hard to overstate.
Ready to take the first step? Learn more and start your application on our Become a CASA volunteer page.
Become a CASA Volunteer in Riverside County
10–15 hours a month. No prior experience required. Real, lasting impact.
→ Apply to Become a CASA Volunteer
