Program Description: Voices for Children’s (VFC) Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)Program for Teen Girls and Young Women, ages 13–21 ensures that youth in foster care receive critical physical and mental health services, protection from sex trafficking, and ongoing individualized advocacy.

Results: The grant supports the salaries of the Director of Recruitment, the Training Coordinator and two Senior Advocacy Supervisors, who recruit, train & guide CASAs. With this grant, VFC surpassed all measurable goals:

• CASA Recruitment & Training: Recruited 33 prospective volunteers and successfully trained and screened 119 new CASA volunteers by October 31, 2024.
• Youth Served: By January 30, 2025, VFC assigned CASA volunteers to at least 123 youth in the service area, including 19 previously unserved.

Program & Community Role: As the sole agency authorized by the San Diego County Juvenile Courtto provide CASA services, through its Case Liaison Program, VFC staff attend every juvenile dependency hearing held in San Diego County, assessing advocacy needs for youth entering foster care or monitoring those already in foster care.

It also has a strong presence in RISE (Resiliency is Strength and Empowerment) Court, which serves youth at risk for or recovering from commercial sexual exploitation. Since June 2024, their CASAs have supported 10 RISE Court-involved youth. It also partners with the County’s Child and Family Well-Being Agency and dozens of local nonprofits.

Plans for Sustainability: VFC is deeply committed to sustaining and expanding the CASA Program for Teen Girls and Young Women. Its diverse funding model includes:

• Individual philanthropy (25%)
• Foundation/corporate grants (17%)
• Government support (23%)
• Fundraising events (29%)