Local & Community
Voices for Children Seeks Community Volunteers to Support Foster Youth in Riverside County
Voices for Children Seeks Volunteers to Support Foster Youth in Riverside County
Riverside County, CA – Voices for Children, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, is calling on community members in Riverside County to volunteer and help uplift children in the foster care system. The program trains volunteers to provide crucial support to these youth, acting as advocates, mentors, and a steady source of support during difficult times.
The CASA program is designed to be the voice for children in the foster care system, many of whom face trauma, abuse, and neglect. The goal is to provide children with a reliable and consistent presence—someone who is there for them when everything else in their lives feels uncertain. By having a CASA volunteer, children receive more than just legal representation; they gain a mentor, a confidant, and someone who supports them through court hearings and personal challenges.
"The CASA volunteer was so much more than just a court-appointed special advocate," said one former foster youth. "He was a mentor, a support system, and someone who was always there for me. He would even let me beat him in basketball. To me, he was everything."
The CASA program doesn’t just positively impact foster youth; it also changes the lives of the volunteers. The emotional rewards are significant, as volunteers witness firsthand the positive changes they help bring to a child's life. "It’s gratifying to see the kid really enjoy and look forward to the visits," shared one CASA volunteer.
In fact, research shows that foster children who have a CASA volunteer are more likely to succeed academically and personally. Less than 3% of foster youth pursue higher education, and only about 50% graduate from high school. However, these numbers improve dramatically for those involved with CASA. Volunteers help ensure that the child's needs are heard by the courts, and provide valuable information that allows professionals to make better decisions for the child’s future.
The Growing Need for CASA Volunteers
Currently, Riverside County is home to over 6,000 foster children, but Voices for Children only has 300 active volunteers. With such a large gap, the program is always looking for more people to step up and make a difference. Volunteers are needed to ensure that every foster child has a consistent, positive adult presence in their life—someone who can advocate for them and help navigate the complexities of the foster care system.
For many children, a CASA volunteer is the first consistent adult they can rely on. By becoming a CASA, volunteers are helping to shape the future of these youth, supporting the next generation of leaders, teachers, and scientists.
It’s also worth noting that 25% of the 6,000 foster children in Riverside County come from the Coachella Valley. Volunteers are especially needed in this region to support the growing number of children in need of stable, caring advocates.
If you’re interested in becoming a CASA volunteer and making a lasting impact on a child’s life, visit the NBC Palm Springs website for more information and to find a link to apply. Volunteers play a vital role in shaping the future of foster youth in Riverside County—become a CASA today and help make a difference in a child's life.
For NBC Palm Springs, I’m Brett Rosen.
By: NBC Palm Springs
February 6, 2025
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