Research has proven the benefits of a positive, reliable adult male figure in boys’ lives — but in Riverside County, only a small fraction of the boys who need these role models have them. To this end, Voices for Children is urgently calling for compassionate and empathetic men in Riverside County to step up and become volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).

Voices for Children trains volunteer CASAs to support youth in foster care as these children navigate an often confusing and frightening time in their lives, advocating for their needs to the court. Often, these children have suffered major abuse and trauma and do not have a reliable male figure or positive male role model in their lives. They need good experiences with men who will keep them safe, and CASAs provide that. CASA volunteers do not require any particular professional background, only a willingness to be trained and to show up for their case child.

In Riverside County, about 49 percent of the 5,900 children in foster care annually are boys, but only 17 percent of CASA advocates are male. Currently, 55 boys in Riverside County are waiting for an advocate to be there for them, and more are entering foster care daily. There is a particularly urgent need for men, especially men of color and those who are bilingual in Spanish and English. Those who are located in more rural areas across the county are also encouraged to consider becoming a CASA, as children in foster care in these areas often must wait longer for a CASA advocate to speak up for their needs. This video explains the transformative role one CASA, Daniel, played in the life of Anthony O., a former youth in foster care.

“We need men in Riverside County to speak up for boys in foster care now,” said President and CEO of Voices for Children Jessica Muñoz, Esq., MFS. “Volunteering as a CASA is a concrete, actionable way to make a difference in the lives of children in your community. If you are looking for a way to give back, here is how you can step up now. Whether you are advocating in court, talking to a child’s teacher, or doing simple things like teaching a child to ride a bike or cheering them on from the bleachers at sports games, your influence has a huge potential payoff for future generations.”

If you are able to give of your time, we encourage you to consider becoming a CASA. This small act of giving can have a life-changing effect on a young boy in need.

To learn more about becoming a CASA in Riverside County, visit www.speakupnow.org.