Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

Finding Fish

Baby Boy Fisher was raised in institutions from the moment of his birth in prison to a single mother. He ultimately came to live with a foster family, where he endured near-constant verbal and physical abuse. In his mid-teens he escaped and enlisted in the navy, where he became a man of the world, raised by the family he created for himself. Find the paperback, audio format, or Kindle version 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!

Summer is almost over, much to my chagrin! I love the warm weather because we can get outside and take advantage of nature, outdoor events, and pool time. For October, I wanted to share some indoor national days you could take advantage of with your children.  Oct. 4 is National Cinnamon Roll Day – starting fall off right. Oct. 11 is National Spread Joy day – find something you can do together to spread joy to someone else’s day. Oct. 18 is National Mashed Potato Day – be sure you both get some! And, the 25 is National I care about you day – do something to show it to your youth! Whatever you do for the start of fall, have the best time.

Our highlighted case this month is one of a young lady who could really use someone telling her they care about her.

Elizabeth’s mother is not in her life, and her father is never home. Her brother was left to care for her. She has experienced a lot of neglect and abuse in her short 15 years of life. Elizabeth had been using meth, alcohol, and weed. She is diagnosed with bipolar, has cut herself, and is CSEC risk. She is at a temporary placement currently in Beaumont, until a permanent placement is found. She needs someone to show she matters. If it could be you, please contact your supervisor. 

Our annual holiday party for you and your youth aged 5 or over will be on December 6, 2025 from 12-2pm. Start checking with caregiver’s if you will be able to bring your child to the festivities in Moreno Valley!

CASA of the Month

For nearly a decade, CASA Barbara has shown up with patience, heart, and an unwavering commitment to the children she serves. Most recently, she helped three young sisters, Ana*, Alice*, and Athena*, stay together and find permanency with their family after a traumatic separation. With every visit, conversation, and act of care, CASA Barbara made a lasting impact not just on the girls but on their entire families.

Click here to read how her thoughtful advocacy helped turn uncertainty into stability.

Leverage Your Gift of $500 or More

Now through December 15, 2025

We are halfway through our 2025 2:1 matching campaign with our partner, Focusing Philanthropy. Now through December 15, Focusing Philanthropy will give an additional $1 for every $2 that VFC raises, up to $250,000! That’s a total of $375,000, enough to serve 187 children!



Gifts must be $500 or greater to qualify for the match and must be made directly to Focusing Philanthropy. Click HERE to make your secure online gift and help us reach our campaign goal of serving over 180 children. Focusing Philanthropy does not charge any administrative fees, so the entire gift benefits VFC.

Starfish Giving Circle

The Starfish Giving Circle offers you a meaningful way to make a lasting difference. By committing to a monthly donation, you ensure that children in foster care receive ongoing support throughout the year. No contribution is too small—each recurring donation strengthens our efforts to advocate for these children and empowers them to build a brighter future.

Together, we can offer these children the safety, care, and support they deserve, and watch them blossom into the best versions of themselves. Thank you for being a champion for children in need.

For further information on ways to give, please contact Brianna Miller.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at New York Life Inland Empire for their incredible generosity and community spirit!

Their team organized a staff walk-a-thon to raise funds to support Voices for Children. The funds provided through their Voices for Good Foundation will support our mission to transform the lives of children in foster care through our Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program.



Thank you for walking the walk—literally—for the children we serve! Your commitment to giving back and strengthening communities truly inspires us.

Know of other fabulous funders? Please contact Brianna Miller.. 

Small Group: Open Topic

Join us for an open-topic small group designed to share the highs and lows of your casework, connect with fellow advocates, and receive support from Advocacy Supervisor, Anthony Rojas. Whether you want to celebrate successes or talk through challenges, this group will offer encouragement and perspective.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025; 10:00am-11:30am

·   Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.

·   Meeting ID: 895 5093 8557

·   Passcode: 922618

Movie Day: Angels in the Outfield

Please join Senior Advocacy Supervisor Melanie Thomas for a movie day at our Riverside office to view Angels in the Outfield. This film depicts a young child in foster care who longs to reunite with his father and, with the help of some unlikely angels, discovers the power of hope, belief, and the importance of family. Light refreshments and popcorn will be provided! Please RSVP to Melaniet@speakupnow.org so she knows to expect you.

Saturday, October 25, 2025: 11:00am-1:30pm

11870 Pierce St., Suite 260, Riverside, CA 92505

Scheduled CE Workshops

Completing the FAFSA/CADAA: A How-To for Adult Supporters of Youth with Experience with Foster Care or Homelessness

Presented by John Burton Advocates for Youth

Wednesday, October 22, 2025; 10:00am-11:30am

Join John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) for this “how-to” webinar to assist adult supporters working with foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth to successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The webinar will review the FAFSA and CADAA, page by page, including detailed instructions on how eligible students can qualify as independent students for the purposes of maximizing financial aid. Presenters will also provide information on key steps to take after the FAFSA or CADAA is completed, such as creating a WebGrants account and claiming a CalKIDS college savings account. Register here!

Continuing Education New Course: Disparities in the Child Welfare System

Presented by CAL CASA

We've launched a new learning opportunity inspired by the feedback we’ve received from YOU! This new course offers a deep dive into the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities that influence the quality of care, attention, and the quantity of services offered to the children we serve.

Disparities in the Child Welfare System is a two-part, interactive course that explores how race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status affect the experiences of children and families in the system. Through real-world scenarios and quick knowledge checks, you'll gain practical tools to support more equitable advocacy.

Whether you're a new or seasoned CASA, this course will deepen your understanding of how bias and systemic inequities influence outcomes — and how you can help address them.

Access the course today:

👉 Part 1

👉 Part 2



Please provide your feedback on this course and any other course listed in the California CASA DEIBJ Course Catalog to Cynthia Featherson, DEI Manager. Together, we can ensure every child’s voice is heard — and every child’s rights are protected — regardless of their background.

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 to help California foster and homeless youth and their adult supporters apply for and maintain financial aid.  

2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The 2025-2026 FAFSA form is now available for those looking to attend college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete the FAFSA form. 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) has released a statewide roster of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in California to assist current and former foster youth with identifying free, one-on-one assistance filing their taxes. Many young adults aren’t required to file taxes due to earning below the filing threshold, but with the California Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC), filing can lead to substantial refunds. In 2024, 96 percent of youth who filed through a Foster Youth Tax Project VITA site received a tax refund, averaging $1,370 for single filers and $5,265 for head-of-household (parenting) filers. Eligible youth between 18 and 25 can receive up to $1,154 from the FYTC, plus money from additional credits like the state and federal earned income tax credits and child tax credits for parenting youth. For more JBAY tax filing and FYTC resources, click here.  

Advocacy Focus

October is National Learning and Development Month, a great reminder that growth and curiosity don’t end in childhood. As CASAs, this is an opportunity to nurture both your own growth and the growth of the youth you serve. You might celebrate by exploring a new training, attending a workshop, or diving into a book that expands your advocacy skills. You can also encourage your youth to explore their own learning journey, whether through school projects, hobbies, or creative outlets. Together, we can model that learning is lifelong and full of possibilities!

We are grateful for the many community partners who help us support children and families. From providing essential resources to offering unique opportunities for our youth, these partnerships strengthen our mission and expand the circle of care around those we serve. To see the full list of our valued partners, click here!

If there is an organization you would like to see as a Fostering Partnership, please reach out to Kathi Urmanita at KathiU@speakupnow.org with your request.

Quick Reference Links

Fun Without Faces Photos

Our marketing team would love to share your youth's activities on our social media platforms. To submit your stories, please email photos with a description to your advocacy supervisor using the subject “Fun Without Faces.” Possible images include visits, celebrations, artwork they made, or photos taken by their caregiver. 



CASA Outreach Team

Do you love being a CASA Volunteer? Are you looking for more ways to help encourage others to become a CASA too? Join the Outreach Team - as a member of the Outreach Team, you get to help share your experience of being a CASA to those who maybe unsure of being a CASA or have never heard of the CASA Program. We have a ton of fun at booths (LDS Community Service Fair, Mariachi Night, Arts & Music Festival, presentations, and following up with inquiries. No skills are required, you get to choose what you help with, and you get to decide if an event is too far!

If you would like to learn more about the CASA Outreach team, please reach out to Kathi Urmanita, CASA Recruitment and Outreach Manager at KathiU@speakupnow.org or speak with your Supervisor directly.

We would like to send a special thank you for CASAs who have helped out at events this past month: Allison Knecht, Cynthia Avery, Sylvia Bermudez, Frank Diaz, Yazbeth Dimas Flores, Jodi Duffle, Jeanette Estrada, Olivia Garcia, Jannita Gonzales, Carrie Jaramillo, Nancy Olsen, Julia Peacock, Ginger Rendon, Deborah Roberts, Esthefania Rodriguez, Holly Simmons, and Diana Thomsen. Thank you for sharing your experiences and recommending others to become a CASA!

Refer a Friend

Thank you to everyone who shares endlessly regarding your work as a CASA Volunteer! We love it when you share your passion for your youth because it naturally inspires others to help! If you know anyone who would be a good CASA or anyone who shares that they would like to learn more about becoming a CASA, please invite them to an Information Session to learn more at https://www.speakupnow.org/volunteer/volunteer-information-session/. When they RSVP for Riverside County and put you as their referral, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift! It could be your youth’s favorite food place or something for yourself! Refer more than one person to have your name added multiple times in the drawing!



Second Saturday

Every second Saturday of the month, we encourage our volunteers, staff, board members, and other supporters to showcase their VFC apparel. Join us by wearing yours on Saturday, October 11 to help spread awareness about Voices for Children.

"As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way."

~Mary Anne Radmacher

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