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A Message From Our CEO, Amy Sugimoto
Greetings Friends & Supporters,
Summer is here, and we have some exciting news! We have two fantastic free events coming up for volunteers to connect with their youth and create meaningful, lasting experiences together. These events are a wonderful opportunity to inspire, empower, and make a real difference in the lives of the young people we serve. Our beloved Bite Nite is also back for our amazing community of supporters and volunteers. Read on to find out how you can get involved!
She Built — Empowering the Next Generation of Women in Construction
She Built is a hands-on, empowering event designed specifically for girls aged 10 and up who are curious about the construction industry and everything it has to offer. Led by the knowledgeable and passionate team at Meritage Homes, participants will have the chance to explore a variety of exciting homebuilding stations, each guided by inspiring women who work in the building trades every single day.
From framing to finishing touches, girls will discover that every role on a construction site is well within their reach — whether they dream of becoming an architect, engineer, electrician, plumber, or project manager. This is a wonderful opportunity to spark curiosity, build confidence, and show the next generation of women that the construction industry is a place where they truly belong. Come ready to learn, build, and be inspired! Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early. Click HERE to secure your spot.
Escapology — Team Building Through Adventure
On August 4th, Escapology is hosting a free event at their brand-new location in the Fountains in Roseville, and we would love for you to join us! Volunteers and their youth will tackle the thrills of an escape room together, working side by side to solve puzzles, think critically, and beat the clock. It's a fun, fast-paced, and deeply engaging way to strengthen bonds, sharpen communication skills, and create lasting memories that both volunteers and youth will cherish for years to come. Spots are filling up fast, so don't wait — click HERE to sign up and secure your place today!
Bite Nite — Our Second Annual Signature Fundraiser
Mark your calendars — Bite Nite is back and bigger and better than ever! Join us on Friday, September 25th at the Rocklin Events Center for an unforgettable evening celebrating great food, great company, and an incredibly worthy cause. Sample mouthwatering bites from 20 outstanding restaurants, wineries, and specialty cocktail bars, all under one roof and all in support of our incredible community.
This year's dazzling Palm Royale theme brings the glamour and grandeur of the 1960s to life with bold colors, eye-catching décor, and plenty of personality to spare. Enjoy a silent auction, live auction, exciting raffle drawings, and a DJ keeping the energy high all night long — all while directly supporting CASA of Placer, Yuba & Sutter's vital programs for foster youth, at-risk teens, and families across our community.
Early bird tickets are on sale now and are going fast, so don't miss your chance to grab yours at a discounted price! Click HERE to purchase your tickets today. Every single ticket sold helps us continue our mission of advocating for children who need it most, so your support truly makes a difference.
I sincerely hope to see you at one or more of these incredible events. As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. Together, we are making a real and lasting difference in the lives of children and families in our community.
With gratitude,
Amy
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Bite Nite: Step Into Palm Royale
Have you gotten your tickets yet? Our Second Annual Bite Nite is coming Friday, September 25, transporting you to the sun-drenched glamour of the 1960s Palm Royale — all in support of foster youth, at-risk teens, and families in need across our community.
Your all-inclusive ticket covers exquisite bites from twenty of the region's finest restaurants, vintages from renowned wineries, and a classic cocktail from our Old-Fashioned Bar. Bid on exclusive live and silent auction items, enter the raffle, and dance under the stars to classic hits from a live DJ.
Early-bird pricing won't last — grab your tickets today!
📅 September 25, 2026 | 5:00 – 10:00 PM
📍 Rocklin Event Center | 2650 Sunset Blvd, Rocklin
🎟️ Click HERE to purchase at the early bird rate
We still need volunteers! Grab your friends, family, and colleagues and support youth in foster care by signing up HERE.
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What Placer County Pays When Prevention Fails
What does child abuse and neglect cost a community? In Placer County, there's now a number: $156 million.
That's the lifetime economic impact of the 316 verified cases of abuse and neglect, plus two fatalities, recorded in the county in 2025, according to a new report from Safe & Sound.
The biggest cost isn't foster care or hospital bills. It's more than $82 million in lost lifetime productivity, as survivors face lower educational attainment, higher medical needs, and greater involvement with the justice system.
But the report's real argument is about prevention. Child abuse is preventable, and a system built around intervention after the fact costs far more, in dollars and in human terms, than one built around keeping families strong in the first place.
Read the full report HERE
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Volunteer Spotlight
Honoring CASA Corrina Labonte
This month we're delighted to shine the spotlight on Corrina Labonte, a dedicated CASA volunteer who has served two teenage girls, ages 15 and 16. From advocating for them in the school system to accompanying them to court hearings and CFT meetings, Corrina has been a steady presence in her youths' lives, and she makes sure there's plenty of fun in the mix, too, with trips to the movies, dinners out, shopping, and community events.
What inspired Corrina to become a CASA? She first heard about the program through a radio commercial, and the mission struck a personal chord. Though she was never in foster care herself, Corrina wasn't raised by her parents, who struggled with substance use and involvement in crime. "I grew up with many similar feelings that foster youth often have," she shares, "and I wanted to show them they matter and are more than how they may feel in the midst of adult problems."
That empathy shows in how she describes her impact: being "a supportive listening ear and a voice for my CASA kiddos in situations where they have felt unseen and unheard."
One of her most memorable moments came over dinner, when the roles reversed, and her youth became the teacher — sharing history facts Corrina didn't know and even the creative lore behind a project she'd built. It's a perfect example of what happens when a young person feels truly seen: they open up and share their world.
Getting to know Corrina: Outside of her CASA volunteer work, she enjoys acrylic painting and photography. At the top of her bucket list? A trip to Greece. And here's a fun fact — she once owned her own bakery, The Sugarless Sweet Spot!
Thank you, Corrina, for showing the youth you serve that they matter. Your care and advocacy are making a lasting difference.
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Why Consistent Advocacy Matters Right Now
California's foster care system is under real strain, and the pressure is hitting close to home.
A new CalMatters report lays out a crisis that has been building quietly for two years. Since 2024, more than two dozen nonprofits that recruit, train, and support foster parents have closed across 13 counties. These groups, known as foster family agencies, are the ones counties lean on to place children quickly and safely, especially kids with the highest needs. Roughly 300 of them operate statewide, serving about 6,500 of California's 45,000 foster children.
The cause is an insurance shortfall. After a key carrier stopped covering these agencies, premiums climbed 200 to 400 percent, with many agencies reporting increases of more than $350,000 a year. When an agency can't absorb that and shuts down, a child's placement can be disrupted overnight, which can mean a new county, a new school, and the loss of the people who knew them.
The story hits home here. It features Sarah and Michael Prince, a Placer County couple who have fostered through a local agency since 2016. They have taken in 13 foster children and adopted four of them. Their agency, Koinonia Family Services, has watched its own insurance costs jump 242 percent, forcing it to pull back its licenses in three cities.
This is exactly the kind of instability a CASA volunteer is built to counter. When placements shift, and the adults around a child keep changing, a Court Appointed Special Advocate is often the one steady, trained presence who stays, follows the case, and speaks up for that child in court and in school. The system around our kids is stretched thin. The work of showing up consistently has never mattered more.
Read the full article →
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She Built: Where Girls Discover Their Power to Create, Build, and Inspire
Join us for She Built, an empowering and interactive event designed for girls aged 10 and up who are curious about the construction industry. Led by the experts at Meritage Homes, this one-of-a-kind experience gives girls the opportunity to get hands-on at a variety of homebuilding stations, each guided by inspiring women who work in the building trades every day.
From framing to finishing touches, participants will discover that every role on a construction site is within their reach. Whether you dream of becoming an architect, engineer, electrician, or project manager, She Built is here to show you that the construction industry has a place for you. Come ready to learn, build, and be inspired!
Learn more about the She Built Foundation HERE.
August 5, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
The Farmhouse: 4303 Tribute Ln, Lincoln
Register HERE
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Roseville
1️⃣ October 2026
Dates: Saturdays, October 3 & 10
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Graduation: October 14, 8 AM – 1 PM
2️⃣January 2027
Dates: Saturdays, January 9 & 23
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Graduation: January 27, 8 AM – 1 PM
3️⃣ March 2027
Dates: Thursdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Graduation: March 31, 8 AM – 1 PM
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Yuba City
1️⃣ September 2026
Dates: Saturdays, September 19 & 26
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Graduation: October 1, 8 AM – 1 PM
2️⃣ October/November 2026
Dates: Saturdays, October 24 & November 7
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Graduation: November. 12, 8 AM – 1 PM
3️⃣ January 2027
Dates: Saturdays, January 16 & 30
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Graduation: February 4, 8 AM – 1 PM
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Continuing Education
1️⃣ Understanding Juvenile Justice: A Community Panel
How does the juvenile justice system really work — and how does it impact youth in our community? Find out on Tuesday, August 25 at an insightful panel discussion featuring voices from local probation, Wraparound, a CASA volunteer experienced in juvenile justice cases, and potentially a youth currently navigating the system themselves.
Guided by a curated set of questions, the conversation will offer valuable perspectives from both professionals and those with lived experience, deepening our understanding of the system and the young people it affects.
This event is hosted by CASA of Placer's BE BOLD Program, dedicated to mentoring youth impacted by commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC) and/or involved in the juvenile justice system — helping young people make healthier, safer choices.
August 25, 5 PM – 6:30 PM
Roseville Office: 1430 Blue Oaks Blvd, Suite 260
Register HERE
2️⃣ Know the Rights: A Foster Youth Bill of Rights Refresher
Please join us for a presentation led by Natalie Cornejo and Stephanie Williams from the Office of Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO).
This training is designed for CASA volunteers and staff. This session will provide a refresher on the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, including what constitutes a rights violation, areas where nuance applies (such as the Prudent Parent Standard), and the process for reporting concerns.
This is a great opportunity to strengthen our understanding of youth rights and ensure we are equipped to advocate effectively and respond appropriately when concerns arise.
August 29, 5:30 PM – 7 PM
Yuba City Office: 1634 Poole Blvd, Suite 200
Register HERE
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Bring CASA Programs to Your Community
Want to learn more about Be Bold, our mentorship program for youth at risk of human trafficking, or how CASA of Placer, Yuba & Sutter supports foster youth and families in your area?
We can come to your organization, business, or group.
Contact us to request a presentation, and we'll work with you to find a time that works.
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Interested in what it takes to be a CASA volunteer? Join us for Coffee with a CASA — where current volunteers share the real moments, challenges, and joys of standing up for youth in foster care.
Yuba City Office: Friday, August 7, at 12:30 PM
1634 Poole Blvd Ste 200, Yuba City
Click HERE to RSVP
Roseville Office: Tuesday, August 25, at 10:00 AM
1430 Blue Oaks Blvd, Ste 260, Roseville
Click HERE to RSVP
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Wear Your Why: The CASA Gear Shop
Looking for a way to show your support for foster youth, at-risk teens, and families in crisis? The CASA Gear Shop has you covered.
Shop the CASA Gear Shop
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Help Is Available: Community Assistance Programs
Families facing financial strain, food insecurity, or other challenges can find help through local assistance programs. This resource lists trusted community partners offering food, medical and dental care, utilities, housing, and family support services — with eligibility information and direct links to get you connected quickly.
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Volunteer Resource: Free & Low-Cost Activities
Looking for budget-friendly ways in Placer County to connect with your CASA youth or family in May?
Click HERE for some simple ideas.
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State funding cuts have created a waitlist for CASA services, and we need your help to change that. Monthly giving is one of the most powerful ways to ensure foster youth and at-risk children get the support they need, when they need it.
Read More →
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What We Do
Every program is built on one belief: connection changes lives.
We offer programs to advocate for children in crisis, strengthen families, and create lasting change — including CASA advocacy, Be Bold mentorship, Family Services, K9s 4 Kids therapy dogs, the CASA Store, and Extracurricular Activity Grants.
Read More →
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The People Behind the Mission
Our team is united by a shared commitment to advocacy, connection, and empowerment.
Amy Sugimoto – Chief Executive Officer
Tina Rivera – Senior Operations Director
Erin Anthony – Director of Marketing & Volunteer Recruitment
Taylor Baierlein – Youth Services Director
Katja Pollmann – Community Engagement Director
Julia Boal – Community Engagement Manager
Dana LoSchiavo – Volunteer Engagement Manager
Ariel Neff – CASA Program Manager
Selena Owen – Family Services Program Manager
Stacy Sewell – Training Manager
April Williams – CASA Program Operations Manager
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Flor Castellanos – CASA Case Manager
Hannah Clyde – Family Services Program Supervisor
Preston Doyle – Be Bold Case Manager
Aaron Fernandez – Office Administrator
Rhonda Logar – CASA Case Manager
Faith Lyles – CASA Program Supervisor
Heather Manley – CASA Case Manager
Tanya Mark – Family Services Case Manager
De Anna Martin – Family Services Case Manager
Cynthia Matthews – Be Bold Case Manager
Faye Mayer – CASA Case Manager
Ashleigh Monanino – CASA Case Manager
Vickie Nichols – Be Bold Case Manager
Lauren Muhoberac – Be Bold Case Manager
Katie Rineer – CASA Case Manager
Julie Stark – Executive Assistant
Kara Wilson – Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
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