RIVERSIDE COUNTY FY2019-2020 IMPACT REPORT

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ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating five years of serviceEach year, approximately 4,000 children spend time in Riverside County foster care. As the designated CASA program for Riverside County, CASA volunteers trained and supported by Voices for Children are authorized by the court to investigate the circumstances of a child who has been abused or neglected and make best interest recommendations to the Juvenile Court.

A CASA spends time with the child, learns about their needs, and communicates with the other adults on the child’s case, including caregivers, social workers, and attorneys. In addition, they have the opportunity to provide information that the court might not otherwise have. During its fifth year of service in the region, Voices for Children provided CASAs to 434 children.

One of our core values reads, “We set high standards for ourselves and constantly strive to improve.” With that ambition comes growth and change, but none like the upheaval experienced in spring 2020. For a program like ours — one which, at its core, is centered on human relationships — the changes brought on by COVID-19 have been particularly challenging. Yet through it all, our advocacy on behalf of children in foster care has not wavered and our Riverside County program continues to grow.

We are immensely grateful to our CASA volunteers for their commitment to children amidst changing policies, safety protocols, and court hearing procedures.

RECRUITMENT & TRAINING

During FY2019-2020, more than 800 individuals inquired about volunteering as a CASA. Those interested in becoming a CASA begin by attending an Information Session. After completing an application, being interviewed by our staff, and undergoing comprehensive background checks, approved trainees enroll in Advocate University – a 35-hour training program developed by Voices for Children to prepare CASAs for their important role. In spring 2020, each part of this process was transitioned to or enhanced for a virtual format, allowing Voices for Children to continue providing advocates to children who need the support of a caring adult, perhaps more than ever.

In total, 125 new CASA volunteers graduated from Advocate University.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

This spring marked Voices for Children’s five-year anniversary of service in Riverside County. Since

launching in 2015, the program has grown to a team of eleven staff who recruit, train, and support CASAs from three field offices in Riverside, Murrieta, and Palm Desert.

To celebrate this milestone, Voices for Children partnered with the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, and the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce to host gatherings in each region. Along with local elected officials and community leaders, the team recognized CASAs and thanked them for their outstanding service.

RECOGNITION

In January 2020, Voices for Children was honored to receive the Desert United Nonprofit Recognition Award in recognition of our service to children in the greater Palm Springs area. Selected by community vote, the award was presented at the Desert United Luncheon. In February, CASA Crystal Swain received the UNITY Collaborative’s Community Service Award for her dedicated service since 2015.

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CASA Ronnie and ‘Amy’ This spring, students of all ages had to adapt to distance learning, online tutoring, and receiving academic help from caregivers. Younger children in their formative years often need extra support outside a traditional classroom setting. Luckily, 7-year-old foster youth “Amy” has had the support of her Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, Ronnie. CASA Ronnie was paired with Amy in April 2018. The stress of COVID-19 has proved to be difficult for Amy, and CASA Ronnie has remained especially mindful of her needs during this time.

Like many parents, Amy’s resource parents struggled to find the time to provide extra attention for her schooling. CASA Ronnie offered her support and began to video call frequently with the first grader so they could practice reading to each other. In addition, she purchased a workbook for the young girl and offered rewards when pages were finished. Amy became extremely motivated by this extra care and attention, and even her

social worker took notice of her new positive attitude towards learning.

Late last year, CASA Ronnie learned that one of Amy’s teachers at school was interested in having Amy placed with her. Due to some existing placement complications, the opportunity did not go through at the time. However, when Amy’s current resource parents gave notice that the stress of COVID-19 and distance learning, among other issues, led them to the decision that they could no longer care for Amy, CASA Ronnie remembered the teacher. Ronnie immediately got in contact with Amy’s social worker, and the new placement with her school teacher was approved.

Amy and her new foster mother are both excited, and CASA Ronnie looks forward to the opportunity for Amy to continue developing her love of learning and receiving the educational support she needs.

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BY THE NUMBERS

The impactful resultsOver the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, Voices for Children’s Riverside County program:

• Advocated on behalf of 434 children

• Had 326 community members who spent more than

20,000 hours volunteering as CASAs

• Recruited, trained, and graduated 125 new CASA volunteers

• Assigned 216 new children to CASAs

• Saw 41 children become adopted or receive permanent

guardians and 43 become reunified with their families

• CASAs held educational rights, and thus were responsible for

education decisions, for 54 children

• Submitted 352 court reports prepared by CASAs

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OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERSWe are deeply grateful for the volunteers who carry out our mission every day. The following individuals served our children during FY2019-2020 and have been a part of Voices for Children for three or more years.

5+ YEARS

DiAnn HamptonLynn HarrisCathy PerringDeborah RobertsMelanie RoyerJames C. Steere Crystal SwainKristin Torres

3+ YEARS

Tina AllenPushpa AnanthanarayanRhonda AndrusJessica Baldwin BooklandAndrew BoucherTheresa BrennanBarbara CardYvonne CervantesDeborah CohenIvy CokerPauline DaerrJulie DawsonKristina DruheElizabeth ErnstMelanie FitzgeraldCheryl FriesenRobert Geibert

Andrea GreerBarbara LeflerRhonda LoudenDonna LucasShelley MitchellGaynor MoloneyStacey MorseGina NewtonCarmen OrtizJose PadillaJohn PageJeanine PescumaCatherine PetersonIrene PhamCarolyn PonderNanette PratiniCarol QuanceBarbara RagsdaleChristine RasmussenVicki ReynoldsWendy RicheyDiana SeebTamara SlagillCurene StoltzSamantha Tajalli TehraniSusan TaylorJasmine ValdezDiane ValenzuelaSara Wolpert

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OUR STELLAR SUPPORTERS

ANNUAL GIVING HIGHLIGHTS

Our work would not be possible without the generosity and support of many individuals, corporations, and foundations. We are grateful to these donors who made financial gifts of $100 or more through June 30, 2020.

$100,000+

AnonymousCalifornia Governor’s Office of Emergency ServicesRiverside County Transportation Commission

$50,000+

Jocelyn Bauer/The Bauer FoundationCounty of Riverside EDA CDBG Program (HUD)Judicial Council of CaliforniaThe Annenberg Foundation

$25,000+

AnonymousH.N. and Frances C. Berger FoundationCity of Moreno Valley CDBG (HUD)

$15,000+

AnonymousDesert Healthcare DistrictFirst Foundation AdvisorsIn-N-Out Burger FoundationU.S. Bank Foundation

$10,000+

Bank of America Charitable FoundationInland Empire Community FoundationIrene W. and Guy L. Anderson Children’s FoundationNational CASA/GAL AssociationRiverside County District Attorney’s OfficeSan Manuel Band of Mission Indians

$5,000+

David BialisCity of Riverside CDBG (HUD)City of Temecula CDBG (HUD)Desert Community FoundationCheryl FriesenInland Southern California United WayMechanics Bank

Pacific Western BankDorian and Bill SailerSempra Energy FoundationThe Champions Volunteer FoundationThe Roripaugh Family FoundationThe Office of Supervisor Chuck Washington, Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 3, Community Improvement Designation (CID) Fund

$1,000+

Anonymous (2)City of IndioLiz JonesJane JonkhoffNancy LindsayPacific Premier BankParty City of San DiegoPechanga Resort and CasinoProfessional Pest ManagementProvident Savings Bank Charitable FoundationSarah R. SimondsSoboba Band of Luiseño IndiansJames SteereKatie and Dan SullivanThe Office of Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 5, Community Improvement Designation (CID) FundThe Office of Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 2, Community Improvement Designation (CID) FundTracy PierikWalmart Foundation

$500+

Joyce Ann AdamsAnonymousKatherine and Gregory CarverClarissa De JesusElaine FivelandSusan GoodsellYxstian Gutierrez, Ed.D.Cathy and John KinserJessica and Rafael MuñozShawn PattonJennifer and John Richard

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OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

‘FOSTERING CULTURE’ PARTNERS

March Field Air MuseumPalm Springs Air MuseumPalm Springs Art MuseumRiverside Art Museum

COLLABORATING AGENCIES

Assistance League of Temecula ValleyCalifornia School of the Deaf – RiversideCounty of Riverside, Department of Public Social Services

County of Riverside, Probation Department and Southwest Juvenile HallE. Hale Curran Elementary SchoolGreater Riverside Chamber of CommerceHearts and Hands - Assistance League of RiversideMurrieta/Wildomar Chamber of CommerceOne Simple WishPalm Desert Area Chamber of CommerceRegional Access Project FoundationRiverside County Office of EducationSuperior Court of California, Riverside County – Juvenile DivisionTribalSTAR

Erma ShanklinPatricia and Michael D. St. ClairSt. Clair Enterprises, Inc.Dana Torrey

$250+

3-R PlumbingRhonda and Randy AndrusBear Creek Ladies Luncheon GroupGeorge BernsteinBNI Riverside and San Bernardino CountiesJohn BourbonCalifornia Pizza KitchenDirect Technical Event ProductionCarmen and Jerry HerreraSharon M. Lawrence and Darin BolesLauren E. McGinleyJane MillsMonte Vista Apartment HomesCitlalli RojasRWL Restaurant Group Inc. dba Kitchen 86Lulu Shein

$100+

Sandra and Charlton AllenKarin and Joseph AndersonPamela BeckMary H. Bradbury

Cynthia BrossmanBarbara CardRobney Cooper Current ElectricPauline DaerrGarrett W. DorinMargie and Michael GarrisonConsuello and Jeffrey GibaThomas R. HartLarry HeyertPatty M. JenabSarah KattusElizabeth KienitzTracey KloehnBarbara Leadholm AbramsBarbara LeflerMartha McGowanNanette PratiniRoadrunner Exterminating, Inc.Carol SamsDiana SchneiderSharon and Leopold SeeligDennis SheehanNancy StilesSabrina TolbertsonKristin TorresEmanuel Treeson and Cybele MaySylvia WachtlerRoberta WesleyKatherine O. Wider

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