Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness, and Love

In a stark and wholehearted true story that shares how two individuals on separate paths found each other, Alexis and Justin Black merge their course into one full of hope and purpose. And hand-in-hand, with a desire to help others, they learned to reject the abusive patterns of their past, thereby intentionally breaking the cycle of generational violence and unhealthy behaviors. Written in an engaging novelistic style, the authors put forward a thoughtful exchange of ideas and personal experiences illustrating how anybody, no matter their backgrounds, can have a life of self-empowerment and joy. Find this in several formats 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.

Rebecca is 13 years old and lives in Brawley in Imperial County. Her courthouse is in Riverside. Rebecca really wants a CASA. She would benefit from an additional support person as she is often looking for both positive and negative attention. She was removed from her mother and grandmother's care as there was no food in the home, and then the grandmother kicked the mother out of the home. The home was found to be dirty and the child was smelly. Rebecca is at risk for being sexually exploited.   

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

CASA of the Year

Discover how one individual's dedication and compassion has made a significant impact on the lives of children in foster care. Meet Peggy Huetten, the Voices for Children inaugural Riverside County 2023 CASA of the Year. Through her tireless advocacy and unwavering support, CASA Peggy has become a consistent presence in the lives of these vulnerable children, ensuring their needs are met in court, school, and medical settings. Her journey from a multicultural upbringing in Brooklyn to a fulfilling career working with disadvantaged populations has equipped her with the skills and empathy needed to make a difference. Click here to read more about CASA Peggy's inspiring story. Together, we can transform the lives of children in foster care and create brighter futures for them.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Ways to Give  

Employer Matches

Many employers offer generous matching gift programs that can double or even triple the impact of donations to Voices for Children by matching their employees’ donations. Some companies even match volunteer hours and in-kind donations, and others offer grant opportunities to organizations that their employees volunteer with. The New Year is a great time to check with your HR representative to see if your employer offers any such program. For a list of large corporations that offer matching gifts, click here. For more information, email BriannaM@speakupnow.org.

26th Annual Concert Series

Save the date, 3/2/2024! For the second consecutive year, Voices for Children was chosen to participate in the Concert Series at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert. On Saturday, March 2nd, come enjoy the musical stylings of Always Tina (a tribute to Tina Turner) while sipping wine (or a nonalcoholic beverage) under the beautiful desert sky. Ticket sale proceeds will benefit VFC! We are beyond grateful to Orr Builders, who graciously offered to sponsor us again this year.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Fabulous Funder

As you know, we greatly value opportunities to share our program with the community because frankly, if people don’t know about us, they can’t help us! Last month, we were invited to speak to parishioners at The Refinery Church in Murrieta during both of its Sunday sermons. Not only were we able to raise awareness about VFC and our need for additional volunteers, we were also gifted a generous donation to support our work. The church was more than happy to make the donation through our matching partner, Focusing Philanthropy, bringing in a total of $750! We are so grateful.

Do you know of a faith-based organization that would be willing to help us raise awareness and/or funds? Contact Brianna, if so.

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

Small Group: CASA Goals for the New Year

We had an incredibly successful year in 2023 and we want to keep that momentum going! Join Alysa Deane to create some goals for your CASA role as we dive into 2024. Come with questions, suggestions, and ideas to discuss with other CASAs and supervisors. RSVP to AlysaD@speakupnow.org to let her know you're coming.

Friday, January 12, 2024; 8:00am-9:30am

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 874 7231 5344
• Passcode: 835693

Small Group: Open Topic

Join Paloma Quiroz and other CASAs at our Palm Desert Office to discuss anything and everything about your current case! How did your kiddo spend their VFC Target gift card? What are your plans for your next outing? How is the new school semester going to look? Come prepared for a lively conversation! RSVP to PalomaQ@speakupnow.org to save your spot.

Thursday, January 25, 2024; 4:30pm-6:00pm

Palm Desert Office: RAP Foundation: 41-550 Eclectic St., Palm Desert, CA 92211

Upcoming Book Club: Another Place at the Table

Next month, 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

Scheduled CE Workshops

Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community

Wednesday, January 10, 2024; 12:00pm-1:30pm

Event presented by California CASA

AFSP’s Talk Saves Lives has long been one of the country’s leading suicide prevention education programs, covering the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight this leading cause of death. The newly updated module of this essential program, Talk Saves Lives™: Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community gives participants essential and lifesaving understanding of topics including:

• Suicide risk and its unique considerations in LGBTQ communities
• Recognizing suicide risk factors and warning signs for LGBTQ people
• Protective factors that can help lower the suicide rate
• How to seek and offer support for yourself or others
• Crisis resources and services for the LGBTQ community

Register here and let your supervisor know once you've completed the training.



Guardian Scholars Program

Event presented by Voices for Children

Wednesday, January 24, 2024; 1:00pm-2:30pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 849 5996 4103
• Passcode: 646028

We are excited to extend an invitation to you for a special Zoom meeting to learn more about the Guardian Scholars Program at Riverside City College (RCC). The Guardian Scholars Program is dedicated to supporting and empowering current and former foster youth in their pursuit of higher education. Email MarshaC@speakupnow.org to RSVP.

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future."

~John F. Kennedy

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