Research has proven the benefits of a positive, reliable adult male figure in children’s lives, especially boys but only a small fraction of the boys who desperately need these role models in Riverside County have them. Voices for Children has put out an urgent call for compassionate and empathetic men in Riverside County to step up and become volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).
In Riverside County, about 49% of the 5,900 children in foster care annually are boys, but only 17% of CASA advocates are male. Currently, 55 boys in Riverside County are waiting for an advocate to be there for them, and more are entering foster care daily. There is a particularly urgent need for men, especially men of color and those who are bilingual in Spanish and English. Those in more rural areas across the county are also encouraged to consider becoming a CASA, as children in foster care often must wait longer for a CASA advocate to speak up for their needs.
Voices for Children trains volunteer CASAs to support youth in foster care as they navigate an often confusing and frightening time in their lives, advocating for their needs to the court. Often, these children have suffered major abuse and trauma and do not have a reliable male figure or positive male role model in their lives. They need good experiences with men who will keep them safe, and CASAs provide that. CASA volunteers do not require any particular professional background, only a willingness to be trained and show up for their case child.
Unlike social workers, who often have dozens of children in their caseloads, CASAs are focused on only one or two children at a time. This allows them to build trusting relationships and effectively work with social workers, caregivers, attorneys, and other professionals to ensure that a judge has all the information needed to make well-informed decisions for a child in foster care. Most importantly, they advocate for the child’s best interests and ensure their voices are heard.
Although CASA volunteers are trained and ready to advocate for any child, boys fare better with a consistent, positive male influence. According to research by Kyle Pruett, M.D., and Warren Farrell, Ph.D., children in foster care are more likely to thrive academically, abstain from using drugs, display self-control, and relate well with others when they have a reliable and supportive male presence in their lives.
CASA Bob F.*, a resident of Riverside County, has been an advocate and a champion for his case child since becoming a CASA in 2021. Realizing there were so many kids who, at no fault of their own, had traumatic experiences and lacked someone to talk to, confide in, or even trust, he decided to become a CASA.
“Today, the number of male CASA volunteers is disproportionately low, and it’s essential to provide young boys in foster care the opportunity to lean on and learn from stable male role models. I encourage men to take action by offering a few hours a month to make a difference for boys living in foster care in our local community. The little time spent as a CASA may be all it takes to have a life-changing effect,” said CASA Bob.
The Life-Changing Impact
Anthony O.*, a young man who had a Voices for Children CASA as a child, spent a third of his life in foster care and now advocates for other foster youth. Anthony was supported by his CASA, Daniel, for over a year. Anthony found a safe, permanent home with his great-grandmother through CASA Daniel’s advocacy. He recently graduated from UCLA and is currently working with the LA Galaxy soccer club, continuing to pursue his dream career in sports communication. He is grateful to CASA Daniel for helping him gain self-confidence and know that a college diploma was achievable.
Anthony shared, “Having a male role model like my CASA Daniel was so important for me, as I never truly had a man to look up to who succeeded in a career, supported his family, and was open with his emotions and sharing them.”
As a CASA, men can provide individualized advocacy that has an immediate and sustainable impact on a child’s life.
Watch the transformative impact of CASA Daniel on Anthony’s life here.
“We need men in Riverside County to speak up for boys in foster care now,” said Jessica Muñoz, ESQ., MFS, President & CEO at Voices for Children. “Volunteering as a CASA is a concrete, actionable way to make a difference in the lives of children in your community. If you are looking for a way to give back, here is how you can step up now. Whether you are advocating in court, talking to a child’s teacher, or doing simple things like teaching a child to ride a bike or cheering them on from the bleachers at sports games, your influence has a huge potential payoff for future generations.”
For more information, visit speakupnow.org.
*Last names are withheld to protect privacy.
Founded in 1980, Voices for Children (VFC) transforms the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties by providing them with trained, volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care in court, school, and the community to ensure their needs are met. VFC believes every child deserves a safe and permanent home and strives to provide a CASA volunteer to every child in the foster care system who needs one. Last year, VFC CASAs and staff provided direct advocacy to nearly 2,300 youth in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties as well as case monitoring services to hundreds of other children in foster care who might need an advocate in the future. For more information, visit speakupnow.org.
