Don't waste your time. There are many organizations out there who will love and value you and your time. I started to volunteer with this organization, and it was the most insulting experience I have ever came across. I did close to all of the work and assignments told aside of 2, we as a group of trainees were told that we would get a follow up email individually on anything lingering. As I waited for Jaimes follow up email she gaslighted me instead and made it seem as if I was not interested and then questioning my ability to follow through. I went through weeks of training giving 3 hours twice weekly, reached out to 3 people to use as for a reference, went to dmv for my printout, did 2 over an hour interviews, paid money out of my own pocket to drive to pacific beach to get my fingerprints scan, and sent emails in a timely manner to communicate. With all that said. Jamie continued to question my interest in the program. I reachedout to her direct supervior to give feed back and her Supervisor Jenna who was also condescending to me when it came to me voicing my concern about my interaction with Jamie. If she's been so supportive to others and followed up with others and did not gaslight others it makes me feel that it has to do with my race! There is no reason why she should not have shown me support or gratitude For my time and all I have done. I was one of the only Hispanics in my group and I was the only one they were treating poorly for no reason. Even more so to think that if the bigger picture is to help a child and that was something they were truly concerned for they would be going above and beyond to make that happen instead they both treated me like I was less than. My advice is to volunteer your precious time with and organization and people who value and support you. Good luck out there to all of you amazing people who do volunteer work... read more

I am a CASA volunteer for this organization. They are a great organization, supporting children in foster care.

If you love children and want to have a hands-on volunteer experience, then this organization is for you. Voices for Children is one of the best non-profit organizations I have come across. Their mission is not the only reason they are AMAZING. They're an organization that is professional, very organized, and provide great resources to volunteers. Plus, everyone I have met at Voices for Children are sweet hearts! I'm a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and I took part in the training session in July, which was comprehensive (Family law, education, Child Psych, etc.) & very informative. It took about a month for my case to be assigned to me, due to waiting for paper work to go through. I've been working on my case for about 4 months now and it has been great. I like that I can directly help foster children and make a difference in their lives because every child deserves someone to support them and look out for their best interests. Just an overview of stuff you should know: They want volunteers who can commit at least 1 year. Training was about a month long with 2-3 meetings a week, but you should check for current info. Once you are assigned a case, then you must commit to seeing your case child(ren) at least once a month. I had to pay $11 for Thumbprint & Background Check. Another $50 for Training costs for printed materials and such. You also need a valid California drivers license & proof of insurance, since you will have to drive to go see your case child. Voices for Children is for those who want to volunteer in San Diego, but I know that there are plenty of other cities that have the same exact organization that provide CASAs to foster children. Google it to find one in your area or if you are Greek, ask a Kappa Alpha Theta! I'm not a Theta, but my Theta friend let me know that the National CASA is their national philanthropy. read more

A great place to volunteer! I have read all of the reviews here and it appears there is some confusion about the goal of a CASA. CASA's advocate and become a voice for the child in a confusing legal system. We provide information that is crucial to the court and in some cases we help the child in the reunification process. We are NOT foster care providers. In the time I have worked with the child I have been assigned, we have built up a great friendship and it's a true honor to be able to help give a child's need a voice. These folks run an organized and professional non-profit that really benefits children in a tangible way. Whether you are verifying to see if all of the child's doctor's visits are up to date or chatting about what happened at school this week over french fries, you always know you have made a difference in a very immediate way. As an ex-teacher and foster parent, I have worked with a variety of both state run and private organizations that deal with at-risk youth and in my experience you rarely find a more passionate and dedicated staff. Kudos to you all in everything you do. I intend on continuing my volunteer work with this organization and truly belive in the work they do here. read more

Okay, so I might be biased since my sister works with this organization - but they're a wonderful group. They train people to work as CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for kids in cases of abuse and neglect, among other things. They're a really wonderful bunch of people (not to repeat myself) and I think it's great to see organizations giving a voice to those who are so often overlooked. read more

I went to an info session on how to become a CASA volunteer (court appointed special advocate for foster kids). It's a fantastic program. CASAs are assigned a child that they take out for visits, make drs appointments for, etc. It's not going to work for me personally right now but if you have free time and want to work closely with kids (especially if you want to be a social worker or you're a retired teacher) they have really intense training. read more

Incredible organization. If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity - look no further - Voices for Children is the right choice. I've been a volunteer for three years and it is the best experience of my life. I'm called a CASA, a Court Appointed Special Advocate, but that is just a fancy title that means I get to be the voice of a child in the courtroom, in the classroom and in their community. I've been been on two cases and have built strong bonds with both of the children I have helped. Foster youth need your help and I promise - it's the best decision you'll ever make! The leadership of the organization is top-notch. All of the staff are super helpful and are constantly helping me to make the best decisions for the foster kids. Go to a Real Word panel. It will change your life! read more

Hi! I'm sorry I accidentally deleted someone's comment question - the training orientation was a few hours at most.

So I was sitting in the Starbucks this weekend discussing Voices for Children with some people I know. An engaged couple was interested in the program and since I have been a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for foster children for about 4 years, they were asking questions. I told them that is one of the most valuable things that you can do. Children, through no fault of their own, end up in the system and need someone to be on their side. You only spend about 10 hours a month volunteering but the rewards are so great - for both you and the children. You can choose the age group, the gender and the number of children you want to advocate for. The training is thorough and extremely helpful. The support by the organization is tremendous so that a supervisor is always there to help. And since the couple was getting married soon, they had questions about the cost. It is truly minimal, in order to allow anyone who wants to, to participate. I cannot praise this organization enough. I have grown and am forever changed for the better for having been a part of this program and I can say, I know they children I work with are too! I work with a silbling pair, boy and girl, and have seen them grow and florish, like nothing I ever expected. I was tellling the couple that in the four years since I have started volunteering with the children, they have had three social workers, numerous attorneys, countless teachers and counselors, and multiple homes and schools. The ONLY thing that has been the same and consistent in their lives in the past four years since I started with them, is ME. It is so important to have one thing the kids can rely on. And they know you are a volunteer, that you are there for free, not because you are paid like everyone else but because you care. That makes a world of difference to them! Just then, a lady from the next table walked up and said she was sorry to interupt but it was true. She was a foster mom for a number of years and the CASA is the only thing stable in the kids lives. She highly recommended the program because she saw how successful it was with the children that she worked with. I said, well a foster mom is a huge committment, much more than I was doing. And she stated that it was really the CASA's that were there for the kids that mattered, that it was a special relationship that did not exist anywhere else. So if you are even thinking about it, go to an orientation and check it out. You can find out more information there without being obligated. It might seem scary but you get tons of support and training to help. And you can't even imagine how much you will be helping someone else and enriching your life at the same time. Thank God for Voices for Children! read more

I am currently a "CASA in training", due to graduate October 4th. I cannot wait to get my first child. I have never participated in such a thorough training program. VOICES does a wonderful job preparing its volunteers for the big and important job they have ahead of themselves. It is comprehensive, educational, and eyeopening. I could not be a bigger advocate. It is probably the most involved volunteer job you will ever take on, so attend the informational meeting and ask lots of questions before you commit. The last things these children need is someone walking out of their lives just as soon as they entered. read more

I have a CASA worker and she helps in the process and works on behalf of the child. As a foster mother, she helps me with taking my foster child to all kinds of things. My future adopted child has bonded with her CASA worker, and quiet honestly has been the support that is needed for every child that's in the system. Thanks to all those wonderful people who take the time to help an innocent child. read more

It is an absolutely amazing experience to be a CASA for Voices for Children. The time spent is not too overwhelming and most of it is done on the telephone. This is a great group who really assists with training and support. Its a great opportunity to work with these folks. read more

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that you can really sink your teeth into, becoming a CASA with Voices For Children is it. After graduating from the incredibly thorough training program you will be assigned a case by a Juvenile Dependency Judge and you will begin to advocate for a foster child's life who has been a victim of circumstance. These kids have been neglected, abused or abandoned and have done nothing wrong. Your efforts as a CASA will make an immediate difference in the classroom, in their foster home setting, but most importantly you are likely to become the first consistent presence and adult role model in their lives. And the reward of this volunteer experience not only benefits the child, but will benefit you as a CASA as well. The gratification of walking into the life of a complete stranger and seeing the immediate impact is the most gratifying experience I have ever felt, as my friends and family can attest to. And the real need is to get a "few good men" involved. To date only 15% of my fellow CASAs are men, yet over 50% of the kids in the system are boys. I can speak first hand on the impact that I have had with my 4 case young teenage boys that I have had the pleasure to work and would hope that other qualified men in our community could come forward and make their presence felt as well. Please consider becoming a CASA today and impact the lives of foster children in San Diego. read more

Voices for Children is an incredible organization that has been the most rewarding, life-changing, and eye opening experience I've ever had. I've been a volunteer for almost 5 years now and if you want to see how your volunteer time impacts a life and have hands on experience, then this is it. To be a CASA, you simply have to care and believe in them. The system is broken and these kids have trauma because of bad decisions by parents. They just want to be exposed to normal life experiences. Go to the movies, ride bikes in the park, help them with their homework, and go out to eat. Yes, going out to eat is a fun thing for them because most just get what the facility/group home gives them. I hold educational rights, so I get make decisions to ensure he has the best learning experience. The best quality of VFC that allows you to truly make an impact is the fact you go to court every 6 months and speak to the judge for 5 mins and the judge 99% orders whatever you ask for. You are assigned to a supervisor you can call/email for support on handling any situation that arises. Fantastic organization and highly recommend it. Join VFC! read more