Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

California's Forgotten Children

California’s Forgotten Children is a feature documentary that follows a diverse group of resilient survivors who have overcome commercial sexual exploitation as children and are changing the world by ensuring no child is forgotten. This film gives viewers the tools to combat this epidemic and empowers survivors on their path to freedom. Watch now on YouTube Movies!

If you have watched this documentary, please let your supervisor know and you will be credited with 1.5 of your 12 required hours of Continuing Education!

This month’s case is for a CASA who is willing to take a second case remotely.

Maribel is 16 years old and lives in Victorville, CA. Her Court is in Riverside. Maribel has multiple behavioral concerns. She was removed due to medical neglect and is in the reunification process with her father. Her father kept her sheltered, including home schooling, and Maribel will not do anything without his consent. There are many difficulties with this case and Maribel needs a strong advocate. She has been in the same placement since September 2021. 

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

CASA of the Month

Congratulations to our Riverside County CASA of the Month, Frank D.! When CASA Frank was assigned to two brothers living in separate homes across different counties, he could see that it was vital that they stay connected. He has been instrumental in keeping the brothers’ relationship alive during an uncertain time in their childhood. To learn more about how CASA Frank has worked hard to ensure the brothers come together to talk, laugh, and bond, click here. 

On top of being an extraordinary CASA, Frank is also a member of the Voices for Children Outreach Team in Riverside County. He is a true champion of our work and always shares ways for Voices for Children to be more visible in the community.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the internationally-recognized day to do good, is approaching. Help us kick off the giving season by inviting friends and family to donate to VFC in honor of your work as a CASA, on or around November 28th. A generous donor has agreed to match Giving Tuesday donations up to $25,000! 



You can also help by spreading awareness to your family, friends, and social media networks (#VoicesForChildren), possibly by creating your own Giving Tuesday fundraiser. After days of consumption both around the dinner table and in the stores, there’s no better time to give back and celebrate generosity. #GivingTuesday. 

Gifts of $500 or more can be matched through our Focusing Philanthropy campaign.

See below or contact Brianna Miller for details about this option.

Dutch Bros Give Back Day

We are once partnering with our friends at Dutch Bros for a give back day. On Friday, December 1st, grab your favorite drink at the La Quinta or Indio location and help Voices for Children! Dutch Bros Coffee will donate $1 from every drink sold that day to VFC and support our mission to provide every child in foster care with the transformative advocacy of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer!

Focusing Philanthropy's Gift Matching Campaign

For the fifth year, VFC is partnering with Focusing Philanthropy, a renowned Southern California-based foundation, for a gift-matching 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.

If you or someone you know is interested in making a generous, tax-deductible gift of $500 or more, please follow the above instructions or contact Brianna at BriannaM@speakupnow.org for more information.

Fabulous Funder

Walmart

For the first year, Voices for Children was awarded a local community grant from Walmart / Sam’s Club. The $500 grant came from the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Coachella. We want to express our

sincere gratitude to Walmart for all you do to give back to and “spark good” within your local communities. We are grateful for your partnership!

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

Small Group: Open Topic & Donuts!

Come one! Come All! Join Marsha Carey for a fun filled open topic in person at the Riverside office. We will talk about cases, support each other, and enjoy some quality time visiting. We'll sweeten the deal with some donuts as well!  

RSVP to marshac@speakupnow.org so we can make sure to have enough for everyone!

Tuesday, November 7, 2023; 10:00am-11:30am

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

(We are located on the second floor of the Kaiser building).

Small Group: Working with Sibling Sets

The CASA role for one case kiddo can be challenging at times, but we know it balances out with rewards and benefits. A sibling set doubles down on all of those experiences! So how do we navigate those ups and downs? Join Tiffany Strenn to brainstorm ideas, discuss strategies with other CASAs, and talk about any personal experiences you've had with a sibling set. This is a great topic for CASAs who are new to multiple children on one case, so come prepared with any and all questions to get yourself prepared. RSVP to TiffanyS@speakupnow.org to let her know you're coming.

Thursday, November 16, 2023; 9:00am-10:30am

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 827 7184 7554
• Passcode: 999019

Scheduled CE Workshops

New Laws and Budget Allocations: 2023 Legislative Session Review

Wednesday, November 15, 2023; 10:00am-12:00pm

Event presented by The Alliance for Children's Rights

Join us for an informative webinar featuring child welfare advocates who will provide a summary of the major child welfare budget allocations and bills that were signed into law. Panelists will share information about how these funding resources and laws will impact the recruitment and retention of foster caregivers, the services and supports available to families and youth in the child welfare system, and more. Register here to save your spot!

Real Word Speakers Panel

Thursday, November 16, 2023; 6:00pm-7:30pm

Event presented by Voices for Children

The Real Word panel is comprised of youth and young adults who currently live or have lived in foster care after experiencing abuse, abandonment, or neglect by their parents or caregivers. During this special edition, Brittany will explore the idea of cultivating belonging and how that relates to our traditions, customs, and identities. During these presentations, Real Word panelists are open and forthright about their experiences in foster care, such as what it’s like to move from home to home, how it feels to be separated from siblings, and how they coped in the face of adversity with the support of their CASA.

Click here to register. 

Riverside Project Heart: Hands-On CPR Education

Event presented by Voices for Children & Riverside Project Heart

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

Friday, November 17, 2023; 11:00am-1:00pm

Join Riverside Project Heart Foundation Program Coordinator, Joe Anzora and VFC staff for a hands-on CPR class in person! Participants will learn how to identify a sudden cardiac arrest and what intervention to perform. However, as this is a hand-only class participants will not receive a certification. Space is limited so reserve your spot ASAP! Email MelanieT@speakupnow.org to RSVP.

"The intelligent way to be selfish is to work for the welfare of others."

~The Dalai Lama

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