Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS

President & CEO

Gardens of the Night

An 8-year-old girl is taken from her home and convinced that her family does not want her anymore. After enduring years of horror, she and her fellow victim are dumped by their capturers. Now, 17 years old and no one to turn to except each other, they do their best to survive life on the streets, until one day she finally accepts the help of a shelter counselor to find her way home. However, what she truly finds is the love of her life and that you can never go back. "Gardens of the Night", is a haunting, gritty and topical story which delves deep into the world of child abduction and where it often leads... for the "lucky ones". The writer/director, Damian Harris bases his story on the kids, counselors, cops and pimps he met during two years of research. Watch now on Amazon Prime or YouTube Movies!

If you have watched this movie please let your supervisor know and you will be credited with 2 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.

Kendra is 14 years old and lives in Watsonville, CA. Her Court is in Indio. Kendra's s younger sister is going home to her father, but Kendra is not. She self harms and AWOLS from her placement and drinks alcohol. A Selection/Implementation hearing is being set to determine a long term plan. Mother is whereabouts unknown. Kendra is overweight, but she is neat and organized and loves art. She often struggles with perception of self. She makes friends easily and is well liked; her teachers like her, too. She personally asked for a CASA.

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 CASA of the Month, Barbara L.! A CASA is the one consistent person who takes the time to advocate for, mentor, and prioritize the interests and safety of the child. Barbara L. has done all this and more for the past five years as the CASA for her case youth, Olga. To read more about how CASA Barbara is a guiding light for Olga, click here. 

Five Year Anniversaries

Pamela Comings has served a total of three case children, all of which she eventually went on to serve as non minor dependents. Over the last five years, she has held educational rights for all of her case children, helped them to complete high school, and advocated in delinquency court for her dual status youth. Pamela’s willingness to learn has helped her gain confidence in her role as a CASA and successfully build close relationships with each of her case children. Pamela’s kind heart and immense passion to serve foster youth has allowed her to change the lives of many. Congratulations, Pamela!

Susan Goodsell has served two dependent youth during her reign as a CASA, one in person and one remote. Susan is dedicated to her role and goes out of her way to make her case children feel accepted and heard. Her Court reports are outstanding and timely, and you can sense her passion for advocacy in every word she writes. Susan is also the Executive Director for a global business networking organization and has partnered with us to recruit more CASAs and spread the word about our mission. We are lucky to have her in our corner. Congratulations, Susan!

Wine & Dine Around the World

Join us on Thursday, October 12^th, at Wine & Dine Around the World, a wine-tasting event featuring hundreds of wines from multiple countries, paired with regional hors d'oeuvres. The annual event held at the Palm Springs Air Museum supports several Coachella Valley nonprofits, including Voices for Children! To purchase tickets benefiting VFC, please use this personalized link.

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

Mechanic's Bank

Mechanics Bank has awarded over $22,000 in grant monies to VFC’s Riverside County program, since 2018. Their support has made it possible for us to serve 11 children with a CASA. In addition to their financial support, they have conducted a continuing education workshop on financial literacy for CASAs serving transitional aged youth. Our sincere gratitude to Mechanics Bank for their partnership and continued support of our mission.

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

Small Group: CASAs Helping CASAs-Recommendations and Your Case Child

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. This small group will focus on understanding the importance of including our youth in their case planning, whether educational or case-specific, finding common ground, engaging in open communication, and respecting our case child’s wishes. Please RSVP to AlfredW@speakupnow.org so he knows you are planning to attend.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023; 3:30pm-5:00pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 824 5123 9595
• Passcode: 599012

Small Group: Working with Group Homes vs. Foster Homes

Join Paloma Quiroz to discuss the differences between case children being placed in group homes and foster homes. Learn how to navigate communication between facility staff members and single-family caregivers, ask questions about the requirements for each placement, and talk with other CASAs about techniques that work the best! RSVP to PalomaQ@speakupnow.org to save your spot.

Thursday, October 19, 2023; 4:00pm-5:30pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 886 2844 4278
• Passcode: 957307



Book Club: The Grown-Ups Guide to Teenage Humans

Join Sharon Morris to discuss the novel, The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans by Josh Shipp. Harvard's Center on the Developing Child found that every child who succeeds in the face of adversity has had at least one committed relationship with a supportive adult. But Josh Shipp didn't need Harvard to understand that. Once an at-risk foster child, he was facing a bleak future that was likely to include prison or homelessness--until he met the grown-up who changed his life. Enter Rodney, the foster parent who refused to quit on Shipp and finally got him to believe in himself. Find this book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble! Make sure to send your RSVP to SharonM@speakupnow.org to save your spot.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023; 5:30pm-7:00pm

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 865 1703 4542
• Passcode: 849310

Scheduled CE Workshops

Trauma-Informed Advocacy: Learn Strategies and Techniques That Help Heal the Effects of Trauma

Wednesday, October 4, 2023; 12:00pm-2:00pm

Event presented by California CASA

This workshop will share the experience of a CASA/Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) program using Trust-Based Relational Intervention to train its staff, volunteers, families, placements, and community at large, including schools, judges, attorneys, child welfare professionals, and law enforcement. Participants will learn about the impact of trauma on the brains and bodies of children and how that impacts their behaviors. Participants will learn strategies to empower children and their families, which results in a decrease in negative behaviors. We will discuss the importance of CASA/GAL volunteers, the child welfare system, and the community as a whole, understanding and recognizing childhood trauma and the positive impact that it can have on children and families. Register here to save your spot!

Court Report Writing 2.0

Event presented by Voices for Children

Wednesday, October 18, 2023; 9:00am-10:30am

• Click this Zoom link and enter the details below.
• Meeting ID: 825 2099 9399
• Passcode: 072842

Join Nicole Boettger for tips and tricks to might the most efficient Court reports! Come for a lively discussion on the best way to answer questions from your templates and include vital information for our judges and attorneys. RSVP to NicoleB@speakupnow.org to let her know you plan to attend.

Barrier Breaker: Removing Child Support Barriers to Reunification

Event presented by Alliance for Children's Rights

Wednesday, October 18, 2023; 10:00am-12:00pm

Recent changes in law remove a key barrier to reunification by clarifying the circumstances in which child welfare agencies should refer parents for repayment of foster care costs. In practice, this will increase the likelihood that child welfare agencies will decline to seek repayment from parents, disrupting the well-established negative impacts of this practice. Learn more about the impact of child support collections and new policy to promote the broader goals of family reunification and family well-being. Click here to register and make sure to let your supervisor once you have attended!

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

~Arthur Ashe

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