Planting seeds of hope
As May brings longer days and new growth, it also marks National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the importance of a strong foster care ecosystem. A time to ensure we have adequate training and support for those who play a crucial role in a child’s life while they are waiting for a safe and permanent home.
A positive relationship between a CASA volunteer and the foster parents can help with stability, coordination and validation of recommendations regarding the best interests of the child.
Just like seeds planted in the spring, hope grows with care, consistency, and support. Let’s be strong together so children can thrive.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Join us for our first community education event: an evening with Gaelin Elmore
Voices for CASA Children is launching a new community education initiative, and we want you there for our very first event! These education events are designed for everyone who cares about children in foster care: CASA volunteers, donors, community partners, and neighbors.
Our pilot event features Gaelin Elmore, a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and former NFL player. Gaelin spent his childhood moving through more than 20 foster placements, and today he uses his story to help communities understand belonging, trauma-informed care, and the child welfare system. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what belonging means for kids in care, and practical insight you can carry into your own life and work.
Event details
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Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
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Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM
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Location: Zoom
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Cost: Free!
Seats are limited. Please register early and help us spread the word!
My CASA journey
Planting, building, becoming
The best conversations often happen when sitting down to build or grow something. This month youth are planting seeds to watch root vegetables grow or painting flower bins hoping for marigolds later this summer. Projects such as this mean taking care of something and checking in on its progress as the weeks go by.
For those who prefer flowers without the dirt, VOICES LEGO® challenge will offer botanicals and other kits to provide another opportunity to connect and build together. May means the start of our LEGO® challenge where youth from 5 to 17 try their hand at a new creation and proudly display their craft.
It’s about finding common ground and watching them grow through shared projects into the summer.
Want to make a difference in your community?
If this story speaks to you come join us at our next information session, and learn what it really means to become a CASA Volunteer.
Positive outcomes
Where stories shift: a morning with CASA volunteers
All children carry a story still unfolding. This April, we gathered to honor the CASA of Maricopa County volunteers who help shape those stories with commitment, presence, and advocacy at the VOICES Illuminating Their Story event.
Keynote speaker and CASA Volunteer Joan Ulsher, author of Misplaced Childhood, shared how one consistent, caring adult can change the course of a child’s life. The CASA volunteers were inspired by her path.
Volunteers also had time to connect over a meaningful breakfast prepared by students from the EVIT Culinary Arts Program, a reminder that this work is powered by community.
Our community showed up in a big way. With support from MG Properties, Consillium Consulting, and generous local businesses, the morning was filled with gratitude, celebration, and a raffle that reflected the heart of the Valley.
To all CASA volunteers, thank you for showing up again and again. Because of you, children have a voice, someone to count on, and hope for what’s ahead.
And to our community, thank you for making this work possible. If you’re ready to take the next step, join us at an upcoming Information Session. A child is waiting for someone like you.
Community voice
You’ve helped us grow
We are deeply grateful to every donor who has contributed this year — and we are thrilled to share that the qualifying tax credit amount has increased for 2026, meaning your generosity can go even further!
For 2026, the maximum QFCO credit donation is:
- $632 (single, married filing separate, or head of household)
- $1,262 (married filing joint)
TAX CREDIT BENEFITS
VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2026 tax filing year! QFCO #10010
#BeTheirVoice
In focus
Families, community supports, and the power of a voice for every child
Across Arizona, Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are local community hubs that help families connect to support, programs, and services that strengthen children’s well-being. From parenting workshops and playgroups to referrals for health, housing, and food resources, FRCs offer families a welcoming place to build stability and support healthy growth. Find and support FRCs near you!
While FRCs help families access essential resources, children involved in the child welfare system often need one-on-one advocacy to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met. That’s where CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers make a real difference. CASA volunteers are trained community members appointed by judges to stand alongside children in foster care, gathering information, monitoring well-being, and advocating for the child’s best interests.
Your support matters. Whether you’re connecting a family to local FRC services – or considering becoming a CASA volunteer – you’re helping ensure that children and families in our community have access to support, stability, and a stronger future.
Education
Walking the journey together
The foster care system is complex and multi-layered. A single case may involve DCS caseworkers, attorneys, judges, behavioral health providers, therapists, and more, each playing a distinct role in decision-making and care. Children may also experience a wide range of living situations—there are more than 20 types of out-of-home placement options, including foster homes, kinship placements, and group homes. The system can feel overwhelming, like navigating a maze with no clear direction.
According to Foster Love, in 2023 more than 391,000 children in the United States—including 10,540 in Arizona—experienced foster care. Each child’s case is unique, shaped by different circumstances, needs, and goals. As a result, even a “positive outcome” can look very different from one child to another.
Research helps us understand what supports children most effectively. Dr. Bruce Perry, a leading expert in childhood trauma, identifies one of the strongest predictors of a child’s success after trauma is in the power of relationships. These relationships help build connection, a sense of belonging, and resilience.
CASA volunteers play a key role within this system. They provide critical protective factors that promote stability and safety. They bridge gaps by sharing information and facilitating communication among professionals involved in the case.
By combining the power of relationships with informed advocacy, CASA volunteers help foster resiliency, hope, and lasting change in children’s lives.