Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare

This is a stirring account of a worsening American social crisis--the disproportionate representation of black children in the U.S. foster care system and its effects on black communities and the country as a whole. Tying the origins and impact of this disparity to racial injustice, Dorothy Roberts contends that child-welfare policy reflects a political choice to address startling rates of black child poverty by punishing parents instead of tackling poverty's societal roots. Using conversations with mothers battling the Chicago child-welfare system for custody of their children, along with national data, Roberts levels a powerful indictment of racial disparities in foster care and tells a moving story of the women and children who earn our respect in their fight to keep their families intact. Find this on Amazon!

If you have read this book, please let your supervisor know and you will be credited with 4 of your 12 required hours of Continuing Education!

This month’s case is for a CASA who is willing to take a remote second case.

Lindsay is living in Simi Valley far away from everyone she knows. She is 15 and her courthouse is Indio. Lindsay was in dependency back in 2014, and then her maternal grandmother took legal guardianship of her. Now, she has rescinded that guardianship. Lindsay has a tendency of AWOLing from her placement daily and then returning. She can be verbally aggressive and struggles with following instructions at times, but she can be appropriate and friendly with others. Her mother and father are both whereabouts unknown. Lindsay was effectively abandoned and is living through the trauma that comes with that. 

If you are interested in learning more about this case or considering taking another, please contact Sharon Morris.

Congratulations to our first CASA of the Month of 2024, Kim W! CASA Kim has been a consistent presence for Shay*, her assigned teen youth. For nearly two years, they have developed a strong bond over cooking and sharing meals. They have made sushi, crêpes, lo mein, and many other dishes. Knowing her youth loves to cook, CASA Kim has gone the extra mile to take Shay to a local community college with a culinary arts program and help her see her potential to incorporate cooking into her future goals.

Click here to learn more about how CASA Kim's dedication to growing her youth's interests and goals for the future.

The Starfish Giving Circle

Voices for Children proudly presents the Starfish Giving Circle, a monthly giving program, where supporters like yourself contribute financially on a consistent, scheduled basis. As CASAs, you recognize the significant impact financial contributions can have on children who are facing unimaginable circumstances. By joining the Starfish Giving Circle, you become an integral part of their journey toward a brighter future. Learn more here. 

Volunteers Needed

For the second year, VFC is partnering with The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City for a day of fundraising fun on Easter Sunday, March 31st. Both the brunch and dinner will include a live auction, which is sure to raise a lot of funds for VFC. This is where you come in. We are looking for CASAs who might be interested in helping solicit auction items and/or packaging the items into beautiful Easter baskets. If you are interested in helping or have contacts with businesses that may be willing to donate auction items, please email Brianna at BriannaM@speakupnow.org ASAP. 

Fabulous Funder

For the fourth year, Voices for Children was awarded a grant from BIGHORN Cares, which funds specific projects for nonprofits that demonstrate a need and make a real difference in the quality of life for people in the Coachella Valley. BIGHORN Golf Club Charities, the parent organization of BIGHORN Cares, and its members have gifted over $400 million in funding to support wellness, education, elderly, and enrichment services to the public. The grantees were celebrated at the awards event held at The Vault in BIGHORN Golf Club. We are so grateful for this partnership!

Please keep in mind that you must attend three Small Groups each year as part of your Continuing Education requirement!

Quarterly Book Club: Another Place at the Table

Join Marsha Carey for a discussion about the book Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison. We will discuss this startling and uplifting narrative of one woman’s thirteen-year experience as a foster parent. This book is centered on three children, who, when they come together in the home, nearly destroy it. It is the frank first-person story of a woman whose compassionate best intentions for a child are sometimes all that stands between violence and redemption. Find this book on Amazon or at many used book websites for just $5! Make sure to send your RSVP to MarshaC@speakupnow.org to let her know you plan to attend.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024; 11:00am-12:30pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 821 6790 1588
• Passcode: 205400

Small Group: Open Topic & New Staff Member Introduction

Please join Nicole Boettger for an open-topic small group, and a chance to meet BOTH of our new Advocacy Supervisors! We will have in-person or Zoom options available for you to join. If you are in the Temecula area and can swing by in person, we would love to see you! We will have snacks and coffee/tea available too! If you cannot make it in person, we also have a zoom option available. 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024; 12:30pm-2:00pm

1 Ridge Gate Dr., Suite 120, Temecula, CA 92590

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 833 1954 4156
• Passcode: 110357

Small Group: Case Team Communication Tips

Do you ever experience difficulty getting in touch with your kiddo's SSP, caregivers, or school professionals? Join Angeles Lopez and other CASAs to discuss tips for more successful communication across your child's case team. Come prepared with any questions and be ready for advice from some seasoned advocates. RSVP to AngelesL@speakupnow.org to save your spot.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024; 1:30pm-3:00pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 872 3446 3324
• Passcode: 974126

Scheduled CE Workshops

Learning Rights Law Center: Educational Advocacy for CASAs

Tuesday, February 13, 2024; 8:30am-10:00am

Event presented by Voices for Children

Please join Nicole Boettger and the Learning Rights Law Center to discuss educational laws for foster youth and ways that CASAS can make an impact in the school setting. The Learning Rights Law Center strives to ensure that all children receive a meaningful and equitable public education that empowers them to grow into happy, productive, and independent adults. We look forward to seeing you then!

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 885 2829 6966
• Passcode: 200716

Online Safety: How Well Do You Know Your Child?

Wednesday, February 21, 2024; 1:30pm-5:00pm

Event presented by Children's Fund Inc.

During this presentation, licensed private investigator Lynda J. Bergh Herring will discuss how to help your case child stay safe on the internet. Regarding online interactions, she will ask, "How Well Do You Know Your Child?" especially as it relates to their activity online. Do you know what apps they are using, who they are communicating with and where, how many people they follow, and how many "friends" they have? Are you able to recognize when your child is using risky behaviors and making dangerous or poor decisions that might end up being harmful to the child and/or their family? Register here to save your spot!



10th Annual Foster and Homeless Youth Services Summit

Friday, March 15, 2024; 8:30am-3:00pm

RCOE Conference Center: 4280 Brockton Ave., Riverside, CA 92501

Event presented by Riverside County Office of Education

The 10^th Annual Dual County Summit is just around the corner! RCOE is excited to open registration for the amazing event, Launching Youth to Success. They have limited space to 280 attendees so REGISTER EARLY! Contact Sharon Morris at SharonM@speakupnow.org if you plan to attend. If you have any additional questions, please email RCOE FYSCP or call (951) 826-4700. 

"Volunteers are love in motion."

~Unknown

Voices for Children | 951-472-9301 | www.speakupnow.org