Voices for Children
Voices for Children has operated the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program in San Diego
County since 1982. The program recruits and trains CASAs to advocate for youth during the foster care
process and helps the Court make appropriate orders.
The dependency court system processes more than 6,000 cases per year. Social workers typically handle
more than 50 cases at a time. The system’s volume can depersonalize the process and youth can fall
through the cracks.
CASAs on the other hand work with a maximum of three youth at a time and get to know them
personally as unpaid volunteers. CASAs spend several hours a week one on one taking the youth to
dinner, playing catch in the park, or doing homework with them. CASAs have access to all court and
medical recommendations, attend parent teacher conferences, and sometimes are given the right
to make academic decisions for the youth. CASAs serve not only as a mentor to foster youth but as a
trusted advisor to judges making Court orders.
Voices for Children has a five year goal to triple the number of youth served. As of July 31, 2011, 817
CASAs serve 1,138 youth. There were 332 foster youth on the waiting list to receive a CASA.
The Price Family Charitable Fund gives an annual grant to the program.