Note from the President and CEO | |
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To our CASAs,
Summer is right around the corner! Warm weather and no school can be a recipe for lots of fun and happy memories. For the children we serve, the summer months can also be periods of transition, isolation, and uncertainty. CASAs play a unique role in providing stability and support when children might not have the structure and predictability the school year provides. Need ideas for outings in your community or resources for summer activities? Brainstorm with your Advocacy Supervisor. They will have lots of ideas to share with you.
With appreciation, always,
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Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS
President & CEO
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Caught: The Lives of Juvenile Justice Podcast
This nine-part podcast lets you hear from youth the moment they collided with law and order, and how it changed them forever. Though all children make mistakes, follow the stories to see how each child's zip code, race, and additional factors have caused those mistakes to make a deeper impact. Stream now on Apple or Spotify!
If you have listened to this podcast at any point after July 1, 2022, please alert your supervisor to be credited with 4.5 of your 12 required hours of Continuing Education!
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Featured Case of the Month | |
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This case is currently remote, but Brandon may end up moving back to Riverside County.
Brandon's mother lives in San Diego and his father is incarcerated. In July 2021, a referral came in as the mother and father were both using heroin and meth. There was also domestic violence between the parents and the children were scared of the father. Brandon is active, likes to play with toys, watch tv, swim, play video games, and play flag football. He has a bug book and likes going in the backyard to look for insects. He is currently placed with his maternal aunt and uncle. Brandon disclosed that there was extensive incest with his older brother. He is now having escalating behaviors because he is scared and he is continuously touching himself. Every time Brandon discloses more and more what happened to him, his behaviors get worse. He also wants nothing to do with his maternal family.
If you are interested in learning more about this case, or considering taking another, please contact Sharon Morris.
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CASA of the Month
Congratulations to our CASA of the Month, Sue Nelson! With a career spanning over 38 years as a registered nurse in outpatient surgery, CASA Sue has dedicated her life to caring for others. After retiring, she embarked on a new journey as a CASA in February 2019, CASA Sue is now making a profound impact on her assigned youth’s life. Read more about CASA Sue’s incredible advocacy here.
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New Dates: Urbane Café Grand Opening
To celebrate the grand opening of its new Moreno Valley location, Urbane Café will be donating 75% of its proceeds on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 17, to Voices for Children! Urbane Café will even match what is raised, up to $3,000. Come enjoy a delicious gourmet sandwiches or fresh, healthy salad while supporting a great cause. Simply use the promo code ‘VFC’. Here is the flyer to share with all your friends.
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Fabulous Funders: FirstBank
FirstBank truly upholds its tagline 'banking for good' by fostering kindness amongst its staff and supporting the local community. Voices for Children was so grateful to have been chosen as the benefiting charity of their internal "60 Acts of Goodness" campaign. For every kind act displayed and reported by a FirstBank employee, VFC received a small gift, totaling $1,500. Thank you, FirstBank for spreading kindness and for supporting our mission!
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BOOST Collaborative
The BOOST Collaborative is an organization committed to creating opportunities for change in educational and social services agencies serving youth in and out-of-school time. Each year, they hold a conference for over 2,500 global educators. This year, proceeds of the Tour de Boost charity walk and scavenger hunt went to Voices for Children. As you can see, participants had a great time while raising $1,350 for VFC! BOOST even leveraged its gift by paying via our matching partner, Focusing Philanthropy, bringing the grand total to over $2,000. Thank you, BOOST Collaborative, for all you do to better the lives and education of children.
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ROOST Foundation
As you may recall, the Roost Lounge and its foundation hosted two events in April to benefit Voices for Children. The day’s festivities generated almost $23,000! They too, agreed to pay through Focusing Philanthropy, resulting in a $34,000 gift. We are beyond grateful to the Roost Foundation, the Roost Lounge, CASA Roger Riel, the CASAs who attended, and all of the community partners who made each of these events an absolute success.
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Each month will be hosting Small Group sessions both in person and virtually.
Please feel free to attend the format with which you're most comfortable. Please also keep in mind that you must attend three Small Groups each year as part of your Continuing Education requirement!
Small Group: Visitation Ideas with Our New Advocacy Supervisor
Join Nicole Boettger and Angeles Lopez, via Zoom OR in person at our Indio office, to discuss outing ideas for your case child. Nicole and Angeles will access our city-by-city guide, pull up resources, and talk about museums we have partnered with throughout the county. RSVP to NicoleB@speakupnow.org to let her know you'll be attending.
Thursday, June 15, 2023; 9:30am-11:00am
RAP Foundation: 41-550 Eclectic St., Palm Desert, CA 92211
Small Group: CASAs Helping CASAs
Join 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. Please RSVP to AlfredW@speakupnow.org so he knows you are planning to attend.
Thursday, June 22, 2023; 3:00pm-4:30pm
Upcoming Book Club: Lost Boy
Next month, Melanie Thomas will be hosting a Small Group to discuss the novel, Lost Boy by W. W. Welde. Before he was helped by a volunteer special advocate and a new case worker, before he was taken in by a couple in witness protection with a price on their heads, conveniently supplied by a Miami Drug Lord who wanted them dead, before he spent two nights in jail, charged with murder, and before his foster father was shot and almost killed by an assassin, James Pope was a 12-year-old orphan living a mundane life in a run-down, Los Angeles-area group home. Join us to discuss this sharp, provocative, dangerous, critical, and important novel about the foster care system. In addition to receiving credit for the Small Group, you will also receive continuing education credit for reading the book! Make sure to send your RSVP to MelanieT@speakupnow.org to save your spot.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023; 12:00pm-1:30pm
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Scheduled CE Workshops
Invisible Injuries of Trauma: Deepening our Understanding of the Challenges Faced by Trauma-Affected Youth and How We Can Better Help Them
Wednesday, June 7, 2023; 12:00pm-1:30pm
Event presented by California CASA
In this webinar, attendees will learn how to recognize the 'invisible injuries' of exposure to prenatal and postnatal trauma that are often misdiagnosed and responded to as simply behavior problems. These invisible injuries to the structure and function of a developing brain include processing problems, executive functioning problems, and hyper/hypo-aroused nervous systems. Attendees will learn how these invisible injuries contribute to a child’s or teen's challenges to successfully navigate life, and how to advocate for accurate screenings, assessments, diagnoses, and interventions that can often mitigate or resolve the underlying contributors that then promote and allow the natural evolution of social, emotional, and cognitive maturation. Click here to register!
Riverside County Office of Education: CalKIDS
Event presented by Voices for Children
Wednesday, June 14, 2023; 5:30pm-7:00pm
Please join Alysa Deane and Cherrie Cunningham, Program Manager from Riverside County Office of Education, to learn more about CalKIDS accounts for students and foster youth, and how your case child may qualify for $1,000 towards college and trade schools! RSVP to AlysaD@speakupnow.org to let her know you plan to attend.
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What We're Reading
Each month we'll highlight a staff member's new favorite novel, movie, or podcast.
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Our awesome Outreach Coordinator, Kathi Shaner, is watching the movie, The Ride. After a violent, racially-charged incident lands John in juvenile detention, he is finally placed with unlikely foster parents, Eldridge and Marianna, an interracial couple. Eldridge makes it his mission to overcome the challenges of John's white-supremacist upbringing, slowly beginning to forge a relationship through his foster son's fascination with extreme sports and BMX biking. Rooted by this newfound passion, the family builds a bond of mutual respect, love and redemption. Watch this touching tale on Amazon Prime!
After you have finished watching, please contact your Advocacy Supervisor to receive continuing education credit and discuss your thoughts on the movie!
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Advocacy Focus
June is National PTSD Awareness Month! Men, women, and children can experience PTSD as a result of trauma in their lives. Events due to accidents, disasters, and abuse are just a few of the causes of PSTD. This is a great opportunity to encourage your case child to be open with their case team, especially their counselors and therapists. Remind your kiddo that there is nothing wrong with seeking help and help minimize the stigma associated with mental health. Have a "self-care" themed outing, take time to raise awareness by focusing on activities to improve self-esteem, and build confidence through meaningful conversation! Reach out to your Advocacy Supervisor for any additional ideas on how to appropriately navigate this topic with your case child.
Juneteenth Community Celebration
Saturday, June 10, 2023; 11:00am-2:00pm
Old Town Temecula: 41000 Main St., Temecula, CA 92590
Admission: Free!
This a community event in the heart of downtown Temecula. Bring your case child to celebrate with food, entertainment, and education. The organizer anticipates that it will be hot, so don't forget your hats and sunscreen!
Freedom Day: Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17, 2023; 1:00pm-6:00pm
- Fairmount Park (2601 Fairmount Blvd. Riverside, 92501)
- Mt San Jacinto College (28237 La Piedra Rd Menifee, CA 92584)
Admission: Free!
At these events, there are live musical performances, spoken word poetry, and other forms of artistic expression celebrating the African American experience. There also will be educational workshops, panel discussions, and other programming that explore the history and significance of Juneteenth and its continued relevance today.
City of Menifee Independence Celebration
Saturday, June 24, 2023; 4:00am-9:30pm
Wheatfield Park (30627 Menifee Rd. Menifee, CA 92584)
Admission: Free!
Bring your case child to this fun event! There will be live performances, food and craft vendors, kid zones, a parade, and firework! Please see the website for details! You might also run into some of our VFC staff at this event as we will be participating in the parade!
Monument Night Adventures
Saturday, June 24, 2023: 8:45pm & 9:15pm
Art Smith Trailhead (CA-74 Palm Desert, CA 922609)
Admission: Encouraged $5 Donation
Friends of the Desert Mountains is hosting a short walk along the Art Smith Trail basin looking for the many nocturnal creatures that inhabit the desert using black lights! If your case child is interested in animals, bugs, and other critters, this could be an exciting event for them! We know this is a late night, but would still a great recommendation to make to your kiddo's caregiver. RSVP is required and there is an appreciated/encouraged $5.00 donation. Visit the website for more details!
Park After Dark
Menifee is putting on movies at different parks throughout the city during the summer weekends! Visit the website for specific details regarding movies/locations and to learn about a fun summer outing for you and your youth.
Culture in Our Community
Voices for Children is proud to launch Culture In Our Community, brought to you by Voices for Children’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness, and Action (IDEAA) Council. We invite CASAs to use this online guide to find places to visit, upcoming events, local restaurants, and other resources to help connect youth in foster care with their culture or background. We encourage you to explore this resource and use it in your upcoming outings!
iFoster Back to School Resources
Click here to access iFoster's very first newsletter for resources including free laptops for college, free K-12 tutoring services, discounted school supplies, and more!
Youth Opportunity Center (YOC)
From innovation center classes to youth sports leagues to summer school tutoring, the YOC has it all! Check out this Riverside Events Catalog for some free and low-cost activities taking place from now through Spring 2023. This facility offers a combination of virtual and in-person classes and events to explore with your case child!
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Submit Your Mileage and Case Hours
Please submit this form no later than June 7 to your Advocacy Supervisor. Remember to include time spent driving to and from visits, attending meetings, and other CASA-related efforts.
Even if you did not drive last month, please submit the form with an estimation of hours spent calling, researching, and writing. This tally is a helpful way for us to quantify the advocacy investment each of you contributes to your case. Your child matters and the hours you spend on their case help to illustrate that reality.
Upcoming VFC Office Closures
VFC staff will be in the office at a minimum of one time per week. If you would like to meet in person, please contact your Advocacy Supervisor to coordinate a date and time!
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Monday, June 19, 2023 (Juneteenth)
For after-hours case emergencies, contact our 24-hour VFC hotline at 1-858-336-0609.
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, June 10, to help spread awareness about Voices for Children.
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"Children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate."
~Unknown
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