Southwest Riverside County Foster Kids Need Court Appointed Special Advocates: How You Can Help

TEMECULA, CA —Three Southwest Riverside County children in foster care are currently waiting for someone to speak for them. Could you be that person?

Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates are being sought in Southwest Riverside County, according to a recent news release from Voices for Children, the nonprofit organization that provides youth in foster care with volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).

This is an urgent call for volunteers in the Temecula Valley area, a spokesperson for that agency said. CASA volunteer–and the organization receives new referrals almost daily.

These CASA volunteers advocate for youth in court, school, medical settings, and more to ensure their needs are met.

Since 2015, Voices for Children has served thousands of Riverside County children in foster care with CASAs, with 730 youth served in the last fiscal year alone.

Voices for Children’s President & CEO Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS spoke on the program, and the immediate need.

“If you are looking for a way to make an immediate impact and give back to your community right now, I cannot think of a better way to do so than by becoming a CASA volunteer,” Muñoz said. “Our incredible volunteers have made a major difference for local children right here in our community, just by showing up as they are, listening to them, and being a consistent adult presence in their lives.”

This year, more than 6,000 children in Riverside County are expected to spend time in foster care. CASAs are vital sources of support for these children, who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

Many feel very much alone until they meet their CASA. A CASA often becomes the most consistent adult in a child’s life, providing stability in a complicated system.

CASAs step in to fill this gap, offering one-on-one advocacy, monitoring the child’s circumstances, and making recommendations that help shape their future. CASA volunteers devote their attention to one child or a sibling group at a time, advocating for them in court reports to ensure that any legal decisions meet the child’s needs.

Murrieta resident and CASA volunteer Brenda Olson spoke on what it means to be a CASA volunteer.

“Becoming a CASA volunteer was one of the best decisions I have ever made," Olson said. “You don’t have to have any previous experience with the legal system, or even working with children. I find it so easy to spend at least 10 hours per month meeting with my case child, getting to know them, taking them on fun activities, attending meetings on their behalf, and filling out court reports that help judges make the best choices for their future. I urge anyone in the Temecula Valley who is looking for a volunteer opportunity to sign up for one of our volunteer information sessions.”

To learn more about the valuable work of CASA volunteers and how you can get involved, please visit speakupnow.org.

To find the next CASA volunteer information session near you, please be sure to select "Riverside County" after visiting this link: www.speakupnow.org/volunteer/volunteer-information-session.

If you would like to book a speaker from Voices for Children for your organization or event in Riverside County, please email RCVolunteer@speakupnow.org or call 951-391-8873.