 
Voices for Children (VFC)
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs)
Voices for Children (VFC) is a nonprofit agency for the estimated 7500 abandoned, abused, and neglected children in San Diego's foster care system. VFC recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate in court for the best interests of a foster child, with the goal that each and every child find safety, permanence and well-being. These volunteers are called CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and they play a key role in the betterment of a child's situation.
More than 200 children, through absolutely no fault of their own, are removed from their homes on a monthly basis in San Diego because of abuse and/or neglect, and the entire community is needed to help. The children enter a system that, in many ways, cannot provide them with stability or hope. Issues presented to the judges are diverse and complicated, and the system is overloaded with cases. Presiding judges have, on average, only 15 minutes to understand, evaluate and decide about important issues such as parental reunification and sibling visit plans, special placement needs, and recommendations for additional mental or physical health services.
That is why the role of a CASA is so very vital. CASAs are given complete access to medical, school, and court files, as well as anyone with information about the case. With their broad understanding and support from the VFC staff, the CASA prepares reports for the court. A CASA acts as the “eyes and ears” of the judge and thereby helps the judge make decisions that will enable each child to be successful. CASAs are also the “voice” of the child, speaking up for the child’s needs, emotional, physical and educational, to ensure that they are met. In essence, the CASA serves two clients...the child and the judge. Statistics show that when the CASA's recommendations are followed, children are much less likely to re-enter the system.
VFC is in its second year of a ten-year vision to "Serve Every Child" who needs a CASA. VFC wants to educate our community about the realities of foster care in order to generate awareness and volunteer interest. As one of the newest members to the San Diego Regional Chamber, VFC requests that if you have a company newsletter, a community affairs department, a volunteer program, or an opportunity for them to make a presentation to your organization, please contact James Higgins at (858) 569-2096 x253 or by e-mail at jamesh@voices4children.com. Or visit VFC on the Web at www.speakupnow.org.
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