Voices for Children is celebrating 10 years of providing Court Appointed Special Advocates to thousands of youth in Riverside County's foster care system.
The nonprofit, which began local operations in April 2015, recruits and trains volunteers who advocate for children in court, school and medical settings.
"We are honored to have been entrusted for the past decade as Riverside County's provider of CASAs for children in foster care," said Jessica Muñoz, president and CEO of Voices for Children.
More than 6,000 children in Riverside County are expected to spend time in foster care this year. CASA volunteers focus on one child or sibling group at a time, offering individualized advocacy that overloaded system professionals often cannot provide.
"The important thing is that we get to see every aspect of the child and to really focus on one child so that the judge can get a fuller picture than they would without us," said Mariana Robles, a volunteer advocate with Voices for Children. "And also so that the children are listened to and have a constant presence in their life."
Social workers typically manage 25 to 35 families, attorneys represent 100 to 150 children, and judges oversee up to 700 cases, according to the organization.
CASA volunteers attend juvenile court hearings, providing support to children and ensuring judges receive detailed information about each child’s specific needs and circumstances.
The milestone comes as the organization launches its annual “Your Voice, Their Future” volunteer recruitment campaign, which aims to provide advocates for 175 additional youth by May 1, National Foster Care Awareness Month.
"From a completely selfish point of view, it feels really great to be doing something for kids," Robles said. "You get their smiles, you get the smiles of the parents when you're lucky enough to have reunification."
Robles, a retired first-grade teacher, discovered the program while listening to NPR.
"I stopped the car in the driveway and just listened to the whole thing and decided that it was going to be my activity for retirement," she said.
No special background is required to volunteer, Robles emphasized. “You don’t need a special background. The organization offers training that gives you everything you need to be successful.”
Last year, Voices for Children CASAs and staff provided direct advocacy to nearly 2,300 youth across San Diego and Riverside counties, according to the organization.
Since its local founding, the organization has expanded its physical presence beyond Riverside to include offices in Palm Desert and, as of 2024, Temecula.
In 2023, Voices for Children established a partnership with the Pechanga Band of Indians to serve as the designated CASA program for children under the jurisdiction of Pechanga’s Tribal Court.
The organization created a Distance Advocacy Specialist position last year to serve foster youth placed outside county borders.
Community recognition has followed the group’s expansion. The Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce named Voices for Children its Nonprofit of the Year in 2020, and the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce bestowed the same honor earlier this year.
In 2022, the organization served 521 youth, its highest annual total to date.
Those interested in volunteering can find information sessions at speakupnow.org and select “Riverside County.”
For information about hosting a speaker, contact Kathi Urmanita at RCVolunteer@speakupnow.org or 951-391-8873.
