The Voice, Fall 2018 by Voices for Children

FALL 2018

Volume No. 30 | Issue 1

in this issue:

Sabrina Goosby State Foster Marks 30 Years Care Reforms at Voices for Trickle Down Children

Community Leaders Join VFC Board & Advisory Council

MESSAGE FROM THE

“The QUESTION is not whether we can afford to INVEST in every child. It is whether we can afford NOT TO.”

PRESIDENT & CEO Dear Friends, After just nine short months at Voices for Children, I am in awe of this organization and the community that supports us. From the staff and Board who eagerly strive to improve our service to the judges with whom we share the needs of our youth to the CASAs who dedicate themselves to transforming lives, I find myself surrounded by the most compassionate group of individuals Southern California has to offer.

— MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

In the pages of this newsletter, you will find some truly incredible milestones. What a year it has been! Very few organizations can boast of a staff with as much loyal commitment as Voices for Children. We are so grateful to Sabrina Goosby, our vice president of programs, for her service over the last 30 years with Voices for Children, and we hope for many more to come. Having seen both the best times and the most challenging times in our history, her perspective is invaluable. Please be sure to read about her many contributions on page 3.

OUR MISSION

Voices for Children transforms the lives of abused, abandoned, or neglected children by providing them with trained volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). OUR VISION

Voices for Children believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent home and, to that end, will provide a trained CASA volunteer to every abused, abandoned, or neglected child who needs one, and advocate to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.

As I continue to learn about the complexity of the child welfare system, I have been honored to join foster care advocates and stakeholders from across San Diego County on a working group dedicated to improving service to our region’s youth. You can learn more about our goals on page 8, but don’t miss the update on statewide foster care reforms on pages 4 - 5. Whether facing fluctuating numbers of children in foster care or new pieces of legislation that dramatically effect their lives, our team is expertly navigating the changing landscape of the Juvenile Court system with the help of many valuable partners. In Riverside County, we were proud to achieve an important milestone — reaching our goal of providing a CASA to 350 children during Fiscal Year 2017-2018. We could not have accomplished this ambitious vision without incredible support from individuals, organizations, and foundations across the county, some of whom are recognized on page 6. As we close out this year and its accomplishments, we look ahead to 2019 with even bigger aspirations. We invite you to become a part of the Voices for Children family this holiday season. Become a CASA. Participate in #GivingTuesday. Make a special holiday donation. We depend on your generosity to achieve our vision of providing an advocate to every child who needs one this year.

Gratefully,

John Valencia President & CEO Voices for Children

www.speakupnow.org

CASA Appreciation Picnic On Saturday, August 4, we spent an incredible day celebrating our San Diego County CASAs at Liberty Station. VFC staff and CASA volunteers enjoyed the sunshine, along with some delicious tacos! It was just one small way to thank our volunteers for their incredible commitment to our kids, to get to know them better, and to give CASAs the opportunity to meet one another. We are honored to support and work alongside our CASAs to give children in foster care a chance at a brighter future. We are thankful to all who made this day possible, and we can’t wait to start planning for our next gathering!

SABRINA GOOSBY MARKS 30 YEARS AT VFC Sabrina Goosby, our vice president of programs, marked her 30th year with Voices for Children in June 2018. Sabrina, our fifth employee, began her tenure as receptionist and has since filled many roles, including director of volunteers and vice president of training and Sabrina Goosby (center) with Real recruitment. During that time, Word members and their CASAs VFC has grown from serving approximately 150 children in foster care to serving nearly 2,900 children in both juvenile dependency (foster care) and juvenile justice (delinquency). Sabrina is especially proud to have created the Real Word panel, in which foster youth find their voices and build confidence by sharing their experiences in foster care.

The Real Word is a critical and inspirational piece of our outreach efforts. “My proudest moments at VFC include watching the Real Word panelists receive standing ovations at the National CASA conference and VFC events, watching my Real Word kids go off to college and watching them graduate, and knowing that Suamhirs [a long-time panelist] was appointed to the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking by President Obama. I know this would not have happened if he hadn’t found his voice on the Real Word.” In addition to overseeing the Real Word, Sabrina manages our children’s activities and volunteer recruitment and training efforts. “Each day I am at VFC, a child’s life is being saved by the selfless act of one person caring for another,” Sabrina says. “There is absolutely nothing more beautiful than that.” VOICES FOR CHILDREN

STATE FOSTER CARE REFORMS TRICKLE DOWN

New legislation affirms value of CASA role

Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) is a California state initiative aimed at improving outcomes for children in the foster care system. Through a variety of system changes, CCR seeks to provide increased continuity for children, ensure the child and family’s voices are heard, and, ultimately, boost the likelihood of a child finding a permanent home with a family. While state-level foster care reforms have been ongoing for more than a decade, recent developments have created sweeping changes to the way in which both public institutions and private organizations provide service to youth in foster care. In 2015, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) produced a report analyzing past policy changes with input from foster youth, foster families,

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care providers, policy makers, and other stakeholders. Many of the recommendations from that report were implemented through AB 403, including updating the assessment process for foster care placements; establishing core services and supports for foster youth, their families, and foster homes; prioritizing family placements over institutional settings; and transitioning group homes to a new type of facility called Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP). A phased implementation process began in January 2017. According to attorney, child welfare law specialist, and special counsel to Voices for Children’s President & CEO, Carolyn Levenberg, “While there are several different aspects of the legislation, the overall goal is to

maximize the resources allocated to child welfare as effectively as possible to serve foster youth.” At the heart of CCR is the goal of prioritizing family placements over group homes or other institutional settings. On both the federal and state level, child welfare system reforms going back at least a decade have favored family settings, pointing to research that shows children have better outcomes for permanency and education and a lower risk of involvement with juvenile justice.1 With the implementation of CCR, all family or family-like settings that serve as placements for children in foster care, including relative placements, are now considered “Resource Families.” All foster families, including those already fostering a child or youth, are now

required to go through a Resource Family Approval (RFA) process. This requirement has caused tremendous challenges across the state since the beginning of 2017, including a bottleneck in approvals and delays in providing financial support to families who already have children in their care. Levenberg explained, “It is anticipated that more children who cannot safely remain with their parents will at least remain with family. This approach is supported by research in the area which suggests that this is more beneficial for children.” Under the new category of STRTP, group homes and institutional facilities have a much narrower role, focusing on providing emergency care on a temporary basis or meeting specific needs with specialized care, such as for youth who have been the victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). In addition, they must now meet specific conditions for mental health services, accreditation, and staff training. Perhaps most important for Voices for Children and its CASA volunteers, CCR

requires that “Child and Family Teams” meet on a regular basis. These teams, which are made up of a child’s support network, discuss placement decisions, case planning, and other care needs. The purpose of CFTs bears a striking resemblance to Voices for Children’s own foundational task of providing a voice to children in foster care. According to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS),¹ “CFTs are built to listen to and prioritize the ‘youth voice.’” As such, CASAs are a vital contributor to their case child’s CFT. As CCR began to take effect, CASAs were often included as members of a child’s CFT and had the opportunity to advocate in this new, centralized forum. However, this was not implemented universally as AB 403 did not specifically name CASAs as members of CFTs. In 2017, a group of advocates from CASA programs across California began working with Senator Jim Beall of California’s 15th Senate District on SB 925, which requires that the CFT shall include “the child or youth’s Court Appointed Special Advocate, if one has been appointed, unless the child or youth objects.” The bill was signed by Governor Brown in July 2018.

Of the new legislation, San Diego County Juvenile Court Presiding Judge, the Honorable Kimberlee Lagotta, shared, “This legislation validates the critical role of a CASA in the life of a foster child. As a judge, the recommendations CASAs provide are extremely valuable to my decisions, and I am thrilled to see the same value placed on their contributions to Child and Family Teams.” While the legislative landscape is changing for the child welfare system, Voices for Children knows that our CASAs’ inspiring commitment to the best interests of children in San Diego and Riverside Counties remains steadfast. We look forward to continued collaboration with our courts, social services agencies, and community partners to improve the lives of children in foster care and to help them find safe, permanent homes.

www.cdss.ca.gov

“This legislation validates the critical role of a CASA in the life of a foster child. As a judge, the recommendations CASAs provide are extremely valuable to my decisions, and I am thrilled to see the same value placed on their contributions to Child and Family Teams.” -THE HONORABLE KIMBERLEE LAGOTTA

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Program Reaches Milestone Voices for Children’s Riverside County CASA Program achieved a major milestone this summer. Thanks to support from the community, our many dedicated returning CASAs, and the addition of 117 new CASAs throughout the year, we were able to exceed our goal of serving 350 children in Riverside County during Fiscal Year 2017-2018, which ended in June. Thank you to all of the volunteers, funders, community partners, and friends who made CASA advocacy possible for a record number of children in our region.

CASA RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE For the second year in a row, one of our Riverside County CASAs received a Child and Family Advocate Award from the HOPE Collaborative, the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council for Riverside County. CASA Deborah Roberts has been assigned to the same young man for nearly three CASA Deborah Roberts, center, at HOPE years. Her presence has provided a Collaborative Awards Ceremony consistency he has likely never known, given that he has been in more than 20 placements. For most of the last year, he has been placed 100 miles from Deborah’s home. Even so, she visits him faithfully twice a month. Deborah holds his educational rights, advocates to ensure his academic needs are met, and recently helped him edit his first résumé. Deborah’s commitment to the children in our community is unmistakable. In addition to her volunteer service as a CASA, Deborah is a teacher for the Corona Unified School District.

VFC DAY AT THE ONTARIO REIGN Join us for a fun-filled afternoon at the hockey rink. January 6, 2019, is “Voices for Children Day” at the Ontario Reign. Take in an action-packed game against the San Diego Gulls while enjoying the good company of Voices for Children volunteers and supporters. The Reign will highlight the work of Voices for Children and our inspiring CASA volunteers throughout the game. A portion of the tickets purchased through Voices for Children will benefit our Riverside County CASA program. We hope to see you there!

Ontario Reign vs. San Diego Gulls Sunday, January 6, 2019 | 3:00 PM Citizens Business Bank Arena For ticket information and sales, please contact Jennifer Richard, Director of Philanthropy – Riverside County, at jenniferr@speakupnow.org or call 951-472-9301.

Deborah’s extraordinary dedication reminds us to be grateful for each and every CASA who shares their heart with children in foster care.

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT Thanks to a generous grant of $50,000 from the Annenberg Foundation, Voices for Children has been able to achieve historic service rates, reaching more children across Riverside County. Through its support, the Annenberg Foundation recognized that the CASA model is a powerful tool to provide children with a caring, consistent advocate as they navigate the overwhelming and overburdened child welfare system. This investment improves the lives of children who have been abused and neglected by making it possible for them to have the individualized and holistic advocacy of a CASA volunteer. We are honored and humbled to partner with the Annenberg Foundation to speak up for these vulnerable children and to help them find safe, permanent homes.

www.speakupnow.org

Fun Without Faces

We often receive photos from our CASAs of their case children enjoying fun activities and sharing special memories. Due to confidentiality, we are unable to reveal our foster children’s faces or names. In fall 2014, two CASA volunteers created the idea behind “Fun Without Faces” — photos taken of case children from behind or over the shoulder. Now, we are able to share these wonderful photos with the larger VFC community. Clockwise, from top left: CASA Jen and her case child learned about different animals at the San Diego Zoo; sisters bond during a visit to Legoland with their CASA, Juliana; siblings spent a day at the USS Midway Museum with their CASA, Martha; CASA Tim and his case teen went golfing on a sunny day

Partners for a Brighter Future for Children in Foster Care Voices for Children is able to provide life-changing advocacy to children in foster care thanks to the compassion and generosity of many individuals and organizations, including foundations, corporations, and government agencies. VFC is incredibly grateful to the following organizations for their recent gifts in support of the CASA program: the Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation, Focusing Philanthropy, Qualcomm, the Seth Sprague Charitable & Educational Foundation, Nordstrom, the De Falco Family Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, and Generosity Sunday. This outpouring of support is helping to make life better for thousands of abused and neglected children. Voices for Children also thanks the Rose Foundation for their tremendous contribution to the Infants and Toddlers Program, through which VFC provides CASA advocacy for abused and neglected children ages zero to five—a critical developmental stage of life. Finally, VFC is grateful to the San Diego County Board of

Supervisors for their generous support through the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program and to the City of San Diego for supporting the CASA program through its Community Projects, Programs and Services fund. In Riverside County, foster boys and girls are experiencing happier childhoods and more positive outcomes thanks to recent gifts from the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the S.L. Gimbel Foundation, Pechanga Resort & Casino, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Pacific Western Bank, Rabobank, and Bank of America. In addition, VFC is honored to be the recipient of Community Development Block Grants from the County of Riverside, the City of Moreno Valley, the City of Riverside, and the City of Temecula. This incredible support and commitment to VFC’s mission to transform the lives of foster children makes our important work possible, and we are so thankful.

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

Celebrating with Party City

BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER CHILDREN’S ASSISTANCE FUND Help to make the holiday season brighter for a foster child

From September 1 through October 15, Voices for Children teamed up with select Party City locations to support our volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. We are grateful to franchise owners Becca and Jason Craig for championing this campaign and to the employees at stores in Carmel Mountain, Clairemont, Mission Valley, Point Loma, and Temecula who shared the opportunity with each customer. Thanks to the support of the community, we were able to raise nearly $16,000 over the course of just six weeks! Not only will we be able to assign a CASA volunteer to more children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties, but hundreds of Party City customers learned about the advocacy provided by Voices for Children.

We are preparing for our annual Holiday Parties, where our foster youth and their CASAs create special memories. Our favorite part of the Holiday Parties is watching our kiddos pick out a new book and gift to keep as their own. Please consider a gift of $25, $50, or more to support our Children’s Assistance Fund to provide a foster child with a special gift this holiday season. Visit www.speakupnow.org and click the blue “Donate” button to make a secure, online donation.

GIVING TUESDAY Be a part of the global generosity movement on November 27

Support Voices for Children through your business this holiday! For more information on retail campaigns and other corporate giving opportunities, contact Dorinda Miller, Director of Development, at (858) 598-2216 or email dorindam@speakupnow.org.

This Giving Tuesday, foster the generosity of the season by helping children who need a voice. We hope you will consider a gift to Voices for Children to provide a child in foster care with the caring advocacy of a CASA. Follow us on social media to watch our Giving Tuesday campaign progress!

COMMUNITY PARTNERS REVIEW CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM Following recent lawsuits over the mishandling of sexual abuse allegations within the San Diego County child welfare system, Supervisors Greg Cox and Ron Roberts called for the formation of a Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council (CAPCC) Working Group to complete an assessment and report on the state of the county’s foster care system. The working group began meeting on August 22 and is composed of various stakeholders, including Voices for Children (VFC). VFC’s President & CEO, John Valencia, serves on the group representing our organization, along with San Diego County Juvenile Court Presiding Judge, the Honorable Kimberlee Lagotta, and representatives from several other agencies. The working group is expected to provide a full report to the CAPCC by November 2018 and a list of recommendations for improving the programs and services that support children in foster care to the Board of Supervisors by December 2018.

www.speakupnow.org

WELCOME NEW LEADERSHIP We are pleased to announce one new member to our Board and one new member to our Community Ambassadors Council for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. In addition, Bill Sailer was elected Chair of the Board, and his Executive Committee for FY2018-2019 includes David Bialis, AnneElise Goetz, George Lai, Dick Pfister, Jill Skrezyna, Ted Tchang, and Lise Wilson. PATTY COHEN joined the Voices for Children Board of Directors in July. Ms. Cohen is a real estate licensee with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. In 1987, she launched Cohen Latino Communications which served a multitude of different industries. Throughout her career, Ms. Cohen has worked with a number of Fortune 500 companies. After 14 years in advertising, Ms. Cohen sold her business and joined her father in managing their restaurants in Baja California North, overseeing a multimillion dollar operation with more than 400 employees. In 2002, she began her career in residential real estate. Ms. Cohen is a top producing realtor, earning many awards for performance and client service. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Golding’s Business Advisory Council, and the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies. Ms. Cohen is also a founding member of the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. ROBIN WERNER joined the Voices for Children Community Ambassadors Council in July. Ms. Werner has been a community leader in San Diego for more than 30 years. A graduate of Harvard Law School and Cornell University (Economics), she practiced law for many years before pursuing her passion for teaching. She is currently the CFO of a corporate development consulting business. Ms. Werner has worked with numerous non-profits and been commended for her unique ability to streamline processes within organizations to ensure their efficient use of resources. She has extensive experience in fundraising, strategic planning, grant application procedures, and creating and implementing community programs. Ms. Werner is a long-time supporter of Voices for Children. She has sponsored numerous VFC events benefiting our CASA program, has served on the board of Makua, and has been an active member of the Development Committee of the Voices for Children Board.

IN MEMORIAM Donald E. Willis (February 22, 1944 – July 6, 2018) served as a member of the Board of Directors for Voices for Children since 2016. He was a long-time supporter and champion of CASA programs, having also served on the Board of CASA/GAL of Miami County. Don most recently served as President of Eagles Ventures LLC and had over 30 years of experience leading Fortune 500 companies in corporate strategy. Don was also a veteran and served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. He was an active community member in both California and Ohio, and a passionate supporter of foster children. Don is survived by his loving family.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FY2016–2017 William B. Sailer, Esq., Chair AnneElise Goetz, Esq., Vice Chair Lise N. Wilson, Esq., Secretary Ted Tchang, Treasurer Jill Skrezyna, Past Chair Mary Benirschke David Bialis Annette Bradbury Patty Cohen Nancy Banning Doyle Ann Parode Dynes, Esq. Gina Ellis Lisette Farrell P. Randolph Finch, Jr., Esq. Jennifer Greenfield The Hon. Susan D. Huguenor (Ret) Erbin Keith, Esq. Richard Kintz, Esq. George Lai Kristen Livingston Andrea Payne Moser Jennifer O’Connell Dick Pfister, CAIA® Katie Sullivan Haeyoung Kong Tang, Ph.D. Dale E. Yahnke, CFA, CFP® John Valencia, President & CEO

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS COUNCIL Lauree Sahba, Chair Kathryn F. Ashworth, Esq. Stephanie Bergsma Rochelle Bold David Bruce Holly Bruce Vicky Carlson Mindy Fletcher Mark Gleiberman Dwight Hare Patricia Hughes Craig A. Irving Dave Jackson Jimmy Janacek Yolanda Janacek Richard Kelley David Marino Patsy Marino Marina Marrelli Susan McClellan Claire Reiss Sheryl Scarano Cecil H. Steppe Robin Werner Pamela S. Wygod David Zeiger Alex Zikakis Lany Zikakis

To make a memorial gift in honor of Don, please visit: www.speakupnow.org/donwillis VOICES FOR CHILDREN

STARRY STARRY NIGHT 2018 On Saturday, September 29, 2018, Voices for Children held its 16th annual Starry Starry Night gala at Del Dios Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe. More than 400 supporters gathered for a wonderful evening under the stars. Chaired by Becca and Jason Craig, Cambra and Randy Finch, and Zoe and Eric Kleinbub, the signature event raised $1.5 million in support of foster children through our Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. With the net proceeds, Voices for Children will be able to provide a CASA volunteer to hundreds of abused, abandoned, or neglected children in San Diego County.

Save the Date! Saturday, September 28, 2019

MANY THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

GEORGE LAI SILVER SPONSORS

Clockwise from top left: Gala co-chairs Becca and Jason Craig (left), Cambra and VFC Board Member Randy Finch (center), Zoe and Eric Kleinbub (right); Dorian Sailer and VFC Board Chair Bill Sailer; Danielle and Brian Miller (left) with Annie Lawless Jacobs and Jeff Jacobs (right); Angel and Frederick Kleinbub; VFC Board Member Lisette Farrell (left) with Maureen Weber (right); Sheila and Brad Jacobs; VFC Board Member AnneElise Goetz

Photos: Angie Ollman; Melissa Jacobs

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Events WINE WOMEN & SHOES On May 12, 2018, Voices for Children held its 7th annual Wine Women & Shoes event, co-chaired by Patricia Brutten and Marina Marrelli. The beautiful afternoon at the Del Mar Plaza featured a fashion marketplace, “Wall of Wine,” live auction, and fashion show styled by Kristi Brooks. The “Best in Shoe” competition, judged by Catherine Garcia of NBC 7 San Diego, awarded Best Overall Shoe to Jenny Maloney. The event raised more than $340,000, with proceeds benefiting VFC’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in San Diego County, which provides one-on-one advocacy to foster youth.

Counter-clockwise from top (l-r): VFC Board Chair & Event Co-chair Bill Sailer, VFC Board Member & Event Co-chair Dale Yahnke, Event Co-chair Rolf Benirschke, VFC President & CEO John Valencia; VFC Board Member Katie Sullivan (center left) foursome; Presenting Sponsor Dowling & Yahnke foursome Photos: Lowell Tindell

FOSTERING HOPE GOLF CLASSIC On April 8 and 9, 2018, Voices for Children held its 26th annual Fostering Hope Golf Classic, presented by Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Management. The two-day event, co-chaired by Dale Yahnke, Bill Sailer, and Rolf Benirschke, kicked off on Sunday evening with a cocktail party at the clubhouse of a beautiful private golf course in La Jolla. Guests and supporters of Voices for Children gathered for cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and an exciting live auction. Players returned on Monday morning for an 18-hole tournament, with the first place trophy going to Rolf Benirschke, Russell Boring, Mike Brown, and Roy Burchill. In total, the event raised $240,000 in support of VFC’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to provide one-on-one advocacy to San Diego County foster children.

This year’s fashion marketplace partners were Cedros Soles, CoCo Rose, Jill Courtemanche Millinery, Loghman Jewelers, Lorna Jane, LOVEthirteen, Made in Earth, Nicole Frank, Nihsima Jewelry, Seam Reap, and Sheri Liebert Designs. The Honorary Committee led by co-chairs Patricia Brutten and Marina Marrelli was made up of Kathryn Ashworth, Janet Barstow, Sue Bieker, Rochelle Bold, Annette Bradbury, Ellise Coit, Gina Ellis, Lisette Farrell, Jennifer Greenfield, Melissa Keith, Julie Tafel Klaus, Jennifer O’Connell, Sheryl Scarano, Jill Skrezyna, Katie Sullivan, Haeyoung Kong Tang, Donna Walker, Robin Werner, Lise Wilson, and Amy and Jim Wood. Event sponsors included First American Title, California Bank & Trust, KPBS, L+L Printers, Giving Back Magazine, Modern Luxury, Ranch & Coast, Barbusa & Nonna.

Mark Your Calendar! Spring 2019 Del Mar Plaza

Additional sponsors included Katie and Dan Sullivan, AlphaCore Capital, MG Properties Group, Qualcomm Incorporated, KPBS, L+L Printers, Ann Parode Dynes and Dr. Robert Dynes, Debby and Hal Jacobs, the Scarano Family Foundation, Cresa San Diego, Merrill Lynch, David Bialis, the Ellis Family Foundation, G.A.G. Charitable Foundation, and Amy and Jim Wood.

Save the Date!

Monday, April 1, 2019 The Santaluz Club

Counter-clockwise from top (l-r): Event Co-chairs Patricia Brutten and Marina Marrelli; VFC Board Member Lisette Farrell (left) and guests; Fashion show at the Del Mar Plaza Photos: Monica Hoover VOICES FOR CHILDREN

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PA I D SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 2759

2851 Meadow Lark Drive San Diego, CA 92123

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! INFORMATION SESSIONS Learn more about the CASA program and what it takes to become an advocate

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Friday, November 30 | 12:00-1:30 PM

Tuesday, December 11 | 6:00-7:30 PM Temecula

Thursday, December 6 | 6:00-7:30 PM

Wednesday, December 12 | 6:00-7:30 PM Riverside

Saturday, December 15 | 10:00-11:30 AM

Tuesday, January 8 | 6:00-7:15 PM Temecula

Wednesday, December 19 | 6:00-7:30 PM

Wednesday, January 9 | 11:00-12:30 PM Palm Desert

Friday, January 4 | 12:00-1:30 PM

Thursday, January 10 | 6:00-7:30 PM Riverside

Saturday, January 12 | 10:00-11:30 AM

Tuesday, February 5 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Palm Desert

Thursday, January 24 | 12:00-1:30 PM

Wednesday, February 6 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM Riverside

Wednesday, February 6 | 6:00-7:30 PM

Tuesday, February 12 | 6:00 – 7:15 PM Temecula

Saturday, February 23 | 10:00-11:30 AM

REAL WORD SPEAKERS PANEL Current and former foster youth share their stories and answer your questions

Check out all our events and happenings on our website: WWW.SPEAKUPNOW.ORG/EVENT-CALENDAR/

Visit www.speakupnow.org for upcoming dates and locations.

Voices for Children Named Tribal STAR Partner On September 21, 2018, Voices for Children staff attended Tribal STAR’s 15th anniversary celebration, honoring the training and assistance program that focuses on building collaborations to improve outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native children in child welfare. The group’s trainings have been a valuable resource for Voices for Children’s advocacy team as we seek to learn the most effective ways to support tribal rural youth in San Diego County foster care, and their communities. Voices for Children was honored to be named a Tribal STAR Partner and acknowledged for our collaboration at the celebration. Pictured (left to right): Voices for Children Director of Advocacy, Andrea Oliver, and Case Liaison, Diana Rangel

Voices for Children is active on social media! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and hear what people are saying about VFC and foster care issues.