When Dana Torrey was planning for retirement, he knew he wanted to devote some of his new free time to community service.
He had previously spent time with children in foster care while living in Massachusetts. So after relocating to the Coachella Valley full-time about five years ago, he decided to sign up to become a “CASA”—Court Appointed Special Advocate—for children in the Riverside County foster-care system.
“I thought, ‘I’m not going play tennis every day; I want to do something meaningful,’” he said.
CASAs, which are part of a nationwide series of programs, spend at least one day a month with their assigned charge. That might include going out to lunch, to a museum or to a sporting event. But the role is more than simply providing companionship; the CASA communicates with legal, health and education professionals about the child’s case, and advocates for them to make sure their needs are being met—be they educational, physical or emotional.
Often, Torrey finds, it is the companionship that is most valued by kids—some of whom are in the middle of a traumatic or destabilizing time.
“It’s something they can hold on to,” he said.
In Riverside and San Diego counties, the CASA programs are operated by a nonprofit called Voices for Children (VFC). Jessica Muñoz, the president and chief executive officer, told the Independent that about 25% of the children helped in Riverside County are based in the Coachella Valley.
As is the case in many nonprofit and community-service programs, the need outstrips the resources. As many as 4,000 children in Riverside County will spend time in foster care each year, according to VFC. While a social worker may have a caseload with dozens of families, each CASA is typically only working with one child at a time.
“We get new referrals for more children who would benefit from having a CASA every week, sometimes daily,” Muñoz said. “The children who are coming into care and who are being referred to us would benefit from having a volunteer. But our ability to serve children really specifically depends on community volunteers being willing to share their time.”
Last fiscal year, some 695 Riverside County children received CASA services via 414 volunteers.
Here’s how the program works: When a child is in foster care, the court can assign a CASA to help ensure the child has another trusted adult in their life. The volunteer meets with the child, often called their “case youth,” at least once a month, but often twice. The CASA is required to report on the children’s progress and needs, to help inform the judges who are charged with making decisions for their futures; the CASAs don’t represent the kids in court, but may provide information to lawyers.
All volunteers undergo screenings and training, including criminal and driving background checks, and have a supervisor to whom they report. The role requires a minimum commitment of 12 months, with an average service of 10 hours per month.
Some CASAs have helped secure court approval for caregivers to enroll the children in after-school activities, or have located resources to enable the kids to join sports and arts programs. Others have been the first to learn about bullying at school and helped intervene. In another instance, a CASA helped a child receive an Individualized Education Program assessment after observing signs of learning disabilities—and then attended subsequent meetings with school staff.
“I’m not trying to be on their level. Someone might think they’re too old to volunteer, but (the kids) need the grandparent-type figures. They relate to young people just as much as old people.”
Dana Torrey, volunteer court appointed special advocate
In addition to being an advocate, some CASAs also serve as mentors or friends. At least half of the children in foster care are part of a sibling set, and CASAs can help bridge the communication gap.
Torrey has worked with three children in Southern California. One, who was living with his grandmother, aged out of the program. He also served as a CASA for an 8-year-old who was able to be reunited with his mother, and now he’s meeting with a 14-year-old who is in a residential-care facility.
While CASAs can enjoy the warm and fulfilling parts of community service, the work comes with definite challenges. Teens, Torrey said, are not necessarily in his comfort zone, and he has to drive more than an hour to meet his particular case youth. But volunteering isn’t always supposed to be easy—especially when the goal is to truly make a difference.
Torrey said the youth he works with is happy to have experiences of his own, separate from the others in his care facility. “He gets about as excited as a 14-year-old will get,” even if it’s just to go to lunch, Torrey said.
Torrey doesn’t try to be “cool or hip”—nor are the kids expecting him to do so. Rather, it’s more about simply listening and showing up. He said many kids have lost grandparents and are looking for more older people in their lives.
“I’m not trying to be on their level,” he said. “Someone might think they’re too old to volunteer, but (the kids) need the grandparent-type figures. They relate to young people just as much as old people.”
For Muñoz, who was an attorney in child services before her time at VFC, the benefits of connection go both ways. After a few months developing a rapport with their CASA, children report feeling important and valued, while volunteers enjoy getting to know and support a child or teen.
“For both people, human connection is really important,” Muñoz said. “This is such a powerful way to leverage human connection, for the well-being and the best interests of the child—but to create connection for the volunteer as well.”
For more information on becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, visit speakupnow.org/volunteer.
