Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace

In this stranger-than-fiction series that turns expectation on its head, we explore the question of whether Natalia Barnett is an exploited Ukrainian child with dwarfism or a dangerous adult masquerading as a child. Find this on Amazon or HBO Max!

If you have watched this series, 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 four siblings who are in need of a Spanish speaking CASA

A referral came in May 2022, that four children between the ages of 2 and 5 were running around an apartment complex unsupervised, and two of the children were naked. The children would go up to strangers to say they were hungry and ask for food. When officers went to the home, the parents were asleep in a room while there was food and trash everywhere. The two eldest children are struggling in school and are getting frustrated, so it comes out in negative behaviors because they do not understand. The children are placed in Adelanto and their caregiver is Spanish speaking.

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

Youth who are living in foster care and approaching the age of 18 have some life-altering decisions to make. Will they go to school? Will they get a job? Where will they live? And how are they going to pay the bills? This is when Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are in a great position to talk with their assigned youth, hear their thoughts, help them through the decision-making process, and make them aware of available resources. CASA Josh has done precisely this for his case youth, Dillon, who is turning 18 this year. Click here to learn more about CASA Josh and his consistent advocacy and presence in Dillon's life. 

Target Circle Community Giving

Attention Target shoppers: We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to VFC! Starting April 1 through June 30, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how Target’s donation will be divvied up. Help us make the most of this incredible opportunity. Every vote counts to help us receive a portion of the available Target funds. Don’t forget, as you earn more votes, you can keep voting multiple times during the campaign!



Find out more about Target Circle at www.target.com/circle or contact Philanthropy Manager Brianna Miller with any questions.

Focusing Philanthropy's Matching-gift Campaign

For the sixth year, VFC is partnering with Focusing Philanthropy, a renowned Southern California-based foundation, for a matching-gift challenge. Focusing Philanthropy will give an additional $1 for every $2 that VFC raises, up to $200,000! That’s a total of $300,000, enough to serve 150 children! Gifts must be $500 or greater to qualify for the match.

Click HERE to make your secure online gift. If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to Focusing Philanthropy, and mail it to Focusing Philanthropy at 1637 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Directing your gift to Focusing Philanthropy allows them to confirm that gifts meet their criteria for a match and provide appropriate documentation for the IRS. Focusing Philanthropy does not charge any administrative fees, so the entire gift benefits VFC.

Fabulous Funder  

New York Life Insurance

Our neighbors and friends at New York Life in Riverside hosted an internal fundraiser to raise funds for Voices for Children. On April 22, employees presented us with a check for $3,000! In addition to their gift, their office invited Managing Director Sharon Morris to share about VFC with its employees, further engaging their support.

A huge thank-you to NY Life for investing in programs that benefit young people, particularly in educational enhancement and childhood bereavement support. 

The Roost Foundation

For the second year, The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City hosted not one, but two fundraising events to benefit VFC. The events, which took place on Easter, packed the house and generated $40,000, 100% of which was gifted to us. Similar to last year, The Roost Foundation was gracious enough to pay via our Focusing Philanthropy matching campaign, bringing the grand total to $60,000!

Events such as these are critical in helping us to not only raise funds but also increase awareness about our program and the need for additional CASAs.

Our sincere gratitude to The Roost Lounge and its foundation for choosing to support our mission.

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

Small Group: Mileage and Timesheet Refresher

Join Advocacy Supervisor, Angeles Lopez, to discuss any questions or concerns you might have about the monthly mileage and timesheet form. She will go over all the details and will be filling out a practice form with the group. Whether you're a veteran CASA or new to this form, this session is designed to make this task much more manageable! RSVP to AngelesL@speakupnow.org to let her know you plan to attend.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024; 3:00pm-4:30pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 833 3643 6329
• Passcode: 758579

Small Group: CASAs Helping CASAs @ Our New Temecula Office

Join Advocacy Supervisor, Alfred Williams, for a lively discussion where CASAs can come together and share experiences, utilize each other as resources for better advocacy, and support each other in a safe and confidential space. Plus come see our new office in Temecula and partake in some light snacks and refreshments!

Please RSVP to AlfredW@speakupnow.org so he knows you are planning to attend.

Tuesday, May 21, 2024; 4pm

Temecula Office: 1 Ridgegate, Ste. 120, Temecula, CA 92590

Book Club: Demon Copperhead 

In recognition of National Foster Care Month in May, Brianna invites you all to read and discuss the fiction novel Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, it’s the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities. Brianna loved it and looks forward to hearing your thoughts. Please come prepared with a line or moment from the story that resonated with you, especially about your work as a CASA.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024; 5:30pm-7:00pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 868 5012 2564
• Passcode: 24811

Scheduled CE Workshops

Building Safety: The Growth of Regulatory Capacities with Youth Impacted by Trafficking

Friday, May 10, 2024; 8:30am

Event presented by The National Center on Child Trafficking

Safety is a top concern for many youth who have experienced trafficking. How can we support youth in building safety through collaborative safety planning and the growth of their regulatory capacities? This NCCT webinar explores the growth of regulatory capacities and their role in building safety for youth impacted by trafficking and/or commercial sexual exploitation. It reviews unique safety considerations when working with youth who have experienced trafficking, explores the link between safety and regulation, and provides guidance for therapists serving youth with ongoing safety concerns. Register here!

Human Trafficking Information

Wednesday, May 22, 2024; 12:00pm-1:30pm

Event presented by California CASA

DEI-ve in with Cynthia: A Series Dedicated to our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Efforts presents Unconscious Bias. Through awareness, sharing, decision-making, and personal reflections, participants learn more about themselves and weigh their beliefs about others in a fun, safe, learning environment. DEI-ve in with Cynthia: A Series Dedicated to our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Efforts. Register here!

NMD's and College Resources

Thursday, May 30, 2024; 11:00am-12:30pm

Event presented by Voices for Children

Ready to dive into what community colleges can offer you as an NMD? Join us for a meeting where we'll break it all down. We've got a special guest speaker from one of the colleges in the area who's going to walk us through the awesome programs they have tailored specifically for former foster youth. Trust us, you don't want to miss out on this valuable info. Mark your calendar and come hang with us! RSVP to LatishaG@speakupnow.org to save your spot.

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 856 3424 3587
• Passcode: 118906

Opportunities for College-Bound and Transitional-Aged Youth

Financial Aid Completion Resource

John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) has compiled a Financial Aid Completion Resource guide for California foster and homeless youth to help students, and their adult supporters, apply for and maintain financial aid.  

2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form is now available for those looking to attend college between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete the FAFSA form.  

Free Virtual Self-Filing Tax Guide

John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and iFoster have partnered to create a free, virtual self-filing tax guide, providing step-by-step instructions for current and former foster youth to file their taxes and claim the $1,117 Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC). The virtual guide walks youth through common tax scenarios, such as reporting financial aid and claiming dependents. Youths using the guide should be able to file their taxes in under an hour. Young adults who have already filed their taxes and missed the FYTC can file an amendment to their existing return and still claim the credit.

High School Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for Cal Coast Cares Foundation’s High School Scholarships. This scholarship program recognizes outstanding students for their dedication to academic excellence and community leadership. Students can receive up to $2,000 towards college expenses. To qualify, students must be planning to enroll in 12 or more college units. The deadline to apply is April 15.

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

~James Matthew Barrie

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