Tag: Community Voice

February often centers on big gestures and fleeting moments of love. For children living in foster care, love looks different. It is not defined by a single day or gift, but by the adults who continue to show up when life feels uncertain.

Youth experience constant change. New homes, new schools, new routines. What grounds them is consistency. Someone who listens, advocates, and stays present through the hard days as well as the hopeful ones. That steady connection builds trust, safety, and a sense of belonging.

This month, we are reflecting on how love lives in consistency. In the CASA volunteers who show up again and again. In small acts of kindness that remind children they are seen. In simple moments like sharing a story, reading a book, or standing beside a child in court. These are the quiet ways love takes root and changes lives.

My CASA Journey – A steady voice, a consistent presence.

A CASA volunteer can be a stable, steady voice for a child who learned early that adults and life can be very unpredictable. Choosing an activity or place to go AND showing up to take them is a simple act that builds trust. You might not be familiar with Minecraft or hip hop but through these conversations the gift is that you really listen. Your steady voice reminds a teen that – yes – even when tough things happen, you and your belief in them will still be there next week.

In the midst of this ordinary, opportunities to create joy will appear through new experiences that lift and sustains. VOICES and our community partners support CASA volunteers by providing experiences for their youth.

Said one CASA after attending Ballet Arizona’s Nutcracker:

“They had never seen ballet or a live professional theater performance and they loved it. Winter break from school was an especially difficult time for them in the past. Thank you for helping them create joyous memories at this time of year.”

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.

Information Session

Positive Outcomes – Turn your Arizona Tax Credit into consistent support for children.

Love shows up again and again. It stays. For the youth the have been removed from their homes and the family they know, that kind of consistency can change everything.

When you use the QFCO tax credit, you help ensure a CASA volunteer shows up consistently, listens carefully, and stands up for a child’s best interests in court, school, and life-changing decisions. Your support also helps provide Hope Bags, essential items, and ongoing resources so volunteers can remain a steady presence during uncertain times.

Through the Arizona Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization (QFCO) tax credit, you can redirect a portion of your state taxes to Voices for CASA Children and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit when you file your tax return.

For the 2025 tax year, Arizona taxpayers can claim up to $618 as a single filer or $1,234 as a joint filer. The deadline for tax year 2025 is April 15, 2026.

Love is not just a feeling. It is action, consistency, and commitment. This tax season, you can choose to make your tax dollars an expression of love for children in our community who need it most.

Learn more about the QFCO tax credit.

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 & 2026 tax filing year! QFCO #10010

#BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

In Focus – The VOICES Board of Directors — Leaning In & Lifting Up

Filled with heart, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to our mission, the VOICES Board of Directors enters 2026 with deep gratitude and a continued sense of urgency. We have an opportunity to leverage VOICES’ strong foundation and accelerate growth that translates into impact experienced at the most personal level, one volunteer and one child at a time.

Our Board reflects the many facets of our community. Members include tenured business leaders, young professionals, retirees, and CASA volunteers—each contributing a distinct and invaluable perspective to VOICES’ strategic direction. Together, they steward long-term sustainability while championing bold ideas that move our mission forward.

We are grateful to all Board members, past and present, and proudly welcome our 2026 Officers: Trista Guzman, President; Jenna Devlin, Vice President; Taylor Rihl, Treasurer; and Debra Heller, Secretary. United in purpose, the VOICES Board consistently stands alongside advocates and the youth being serve—yesterday, today, and to the future.

Board Member Bios

Community Voice – Partner to celebrate CASA volunteers.

In mid-April, 2026, VOICES will be hosting a special event to honor the incredible CASA of Maricopa County volunteers who walk alongside children living in foster care every single day. These dedicated advocates show up in courtrooms, school meetings, and medical appointments. They listen, they advocate, and they ensure that every child’s voice is heard and their needs are met.

We’d love the business community’s partnership in making this celebration even more meaningful. This CASA volunteer appreciation event is an opportunity to say thank you to the advocates who give so generously of their time and hearts. Your generosity demonstrates that our business community stands beside those who serve youth. Sponsorship opportunities range from $5,000 to $20,000 with visibility benefits including recognition in our newsletter, social media, event program, and our “By Their Side” podcast. Additionally, underwriting opportunities at various levels allow you to support specific event elements and our mission.

We’d love the business community’s partnership in making this celebration meaningful. This CASA volunteer appreciation event, is an opportunity to say thank you to the advocates who give so generously of their time and hearts. Your generosity demonstrates that our business community’s stand beside those who serve youth. Sponsorship opportunities range from $5,000 to $20,000, with visibility benefits including recognition in our newsletter, social media, event program, and our “By Their Side” podcast. Additionally, underwriting opportunities at various levels allow you to support specific event elements and our mission.

Whether you’re looking to make a significant impact as a Presenting Sponsor or support the event through underwriting, there’s a way for your organization to be part of this celebration.

Ready to partner with us?

Download Sponsorship PDF

For questions or to customize a sponsorship package, contact Patti Almirez-Taglianetti at patti.almirez-taglianetti@voicesforcasachildren.org.

Education – Why Connection Heals: The Science Behind the Heart

Research in developmental neuroscience shows that consistent, supportive relationships play a critical role in healing childhood trauma. Trauma disrupts the brain’s stress response system, often keeping children in chronic hyperarousal. This impairs learning, emotional regulation, and the ability to form secure relationships.

The good news is that the developing brain remains highly plastic throughout childhood and adolescence, creating a window for repair. When a young person experiences consistent, predictable care from a trusted adult, their nervous system receives repeated signals of safety. Over time, stress hormone activation decreases, and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation) can develop more fully.

These changes are cumulative and measurable. Repeated experiences of calm presence and emotional attunement strengthen neural pathways associated with regulation and secure attachment while reducing reliance on survival-based responses.

From this perspective, connection is not simply supportive; it is biologically necessary. For CASA volunteers, consistent presence and calm engagement function as evidence-based interventions that contribute to healthier brain development and improved outcomes for youth in foster care.

To learn more about this topic, check out our podcast episode, Neuroscience, Trauma, and the Path to Resilience featuring Rick Griffin!

Listen Here (Published June 5, 2025)

January is a season of new beginnings. It’s a time when we reflect, set fresh goals, and consider how we want to show up in the year ahead. For many, that includes finding meaningful ways to connect, give back, or simply learn more about the needs in our community.

This month, we’re honoring new starts, for our community, for the children we serve, and for the people who choose to walk alongside them. Becoming a CASA volunteer is one of many ways individuals support children and families living in foster care, offering consistency, advocacy, and hope during times of change.

As you look ahead to the year to come, we invite you to explore what a new beginning might look like for you, and how your time, voice, or support could help create stability and opportunity for a child in our community. Thank you CASA volunteers for the continued support you give to these youth.

In The Spotlight – New year, new initiatives, fresh starts

Big news to start the new year! Thunderbirds Charities has awarded VOICES a $75,000 grant to transform how our community understands and talks about CASA volunteers. They support children and family non profit organizations through out the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, and we are so grateful to have their support in amplifying our awareness throughout the community.

This grant will allow us to partner with a digital advertising expert to bring fresh, compelling content to more people across Arizona. We’ll expand our reach on Google, social media platforms, and emerging channels—making “CASA volunteer” a role everyone recognizes and understands.

Why this matters: More awareness means more volunteers. More volunteers means more children will have someone who shows up and stays. Children with a CASA do better in school, experience more stability, and are less likely to re-enter foster care.

Want to be part of this momentum? Share our stories when you see them. Tell a friend what a CASA volunteer does. Help us make “CASA volunteer” the answer everyone knows.

Together, we’re building a community where every child in foster care has someone in their corner.

“Thunderbirds Charities is proud to support VOICES as they mobilize community members to become CASA volunteers. This investment strengthens the pipeline of trained advocates so more youth living in foster care have a dedicated CASA focused on their best interests when it matters most.”

Thank you to Thunderbirds Charities for investing in Arizona’s children and believing in the power of community awareness.

Learn about Thunderbirds Charities

My CASA Journey – You got this

The start of a new year invites fresh beginnings and a renewed commitment to showing up. For CASA volunteers, showing up is not about grand resolutions. It is about consistency, care, and meeting a child exactly where they are.

Sometimes that looks like knowing their Starbucks order by heart or helping them begin the year with extra school supplies. Sometimes it is laughing through a messy STEM experiment or planning an experience around what brings them joy, from a hip hop dance performance to a January birthday trip to Enchanted Island, cotton candy included.

It can mean cheering on a sports-loving teen at a Valley Suns basketball game or having thoughtful conversations with a 17-year-old about work, education, and financial guidance through AFFCF’s Keys to Success program.

These moments may feel small, but in a season defined by change, they create stability.

This is what CASA volunteers do. They take the time to learn what matters to a child and they show up in ways that build trust, connection, and hope. As a new year begins, this steady presence is often the most meaningful new beginning of all.

That is the impact of showing up.

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.

Information Session

Education – The importance of a clean slate

It’s easy to hold onto past behavior. As humans, we are wired to remember what did not work. Our brains look for patterns to protect us. So when we find ourselves in a familiar moment, it makes sense to brace ourselves. Thoughts like, “This always happens” or “Here we go again” can come up without us even noticing.

But when we hold onto a child’s past behavior, it changes how we show up. Our tone shifts. Our patience shortens. Children can feel that, often before anything is said. When a child senses judgment or disappointment, their nervous system can move into defense mode. In that state, learning and cooperation become much harder.

For some children, this is even more complex. Stress, trauma, and neurodevelopmental differences can affect how the brain understands cause and effect. For example, children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) may not be able to connect past consequences with present behavior in a reliable way. Expecting a child to do something their brain is not yet capable of is a recipe for frustration, not growth.

Letting a child start fresh does not remove responsibility. It makes change possible. And for children, that message matters. You are more than your hardest moments, your story is still unfolding.

In Focus – Invest in families

It is crucial that society continuously review, adjust, and strengthen every level of community—whether a municipality, a system, or an individual family—to better support children and youth.

Several important steps have recently been announced to bring greater focus, parity and support for caregivers and youth themselves.

In Arizona, Governor Hobbs issued a press release announcing that the Department of Child Safety (DCS) will increase support for licensed foster care placements by implementing a 50% increase in the daily reimbursement rate for licensed foster families. This increase applies to families caring for children ages six and older, including licensed kinship foster families. The adjustment equates to an average increase of approximately $1,000 to $1,700 per child per month, depending on the level of care required, and becomes effective December 1, 2025.

This investment has the potential to significantly aid in recruiting and retaining much-needed foster placements while continuing efforts to reduce reliance on congregate care. DCS has projected a statewide shortfall of more than 1,000 licensed foster placements for this age group in 2026.

Additionally, this change may encourage more kinship caregivers to become licensed foster placements, allowing them to access additional benefits and financial support.

Governor’s Press Release

On the national front, First Lady Melania Trump announced her signature initiative, Fostering the Future for American Children and Families. This program calls for a collaborative approach among federal agencies, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. Its goals include modernizing the U.S. child welfare system and creating more stable pathways for youth transitioning from foster care into adulthood. These young people need meaningful access to education, employment opportunities, and both short and long-term financial stability.

Presidential Executive Order

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 & 2026 tax filing year! QFCO #10010.

#BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

This year has been filled with amazing opportunities that have encouraged VOICES to dream even bigger for the future. Together, we sustain, elevate and accept nothing less than hope that results in more CASA volunteers and more youth served by a child advocate.

We are deeply grateful and cherish every supporter, those that have been with us for years and those just joining our mission. You are making this happen!

Cherish your holiday season… cherish your community… and cherish the opportunities that lie ahead for your own journey.

In The Spotlight – Cherish the child

Cherish the child who bravely looks up and toward the future.

Cherish the child who lets memories flow and chooses trust and new experiences.

Each day children walk in their own shoes — carrying the fullness of their young lives. They demonstrate courage in ways both small and profound. While champions like CASA volunteers help clear the path and create safe spaces, only the child can actually take that step forward. In those steps, we witness purity and resilience.

During the holiday season, we are especially mindful of how to bring love, comfort, and joy into their hearts. These moments of celebration are more than traditions — they help build a foundation of hope and positivity.

Let us work toward a world where a child’s courage is recognized in the moment. Let our encouragement be constant. Let us lead by example, following in their remarkable footsteps.

May we be inspired by each child — and in turn, inspire others.

Cherish the Child, every day.

My CASA Journey – Cherish the CASA Volunteer

When you ask Google for the definition of Cherish, three statements pop up:

• protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
• keep (a hope or ambition) in one’s mind.
• hold (something) dear.

Cherish is the perfect definition of a CASA volunteer’s journey with a child. This holiday season as they help build gingerbread houses or bead colorful bracelets they hold a child near and dear. They are keeping hope alive as they watch a teen’s eyes light up at Zoolights or shop for that specific pair of jeans. As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on all the moments where a caring adult chose to say yes to becoming a CASA volunteer and helped a child feel cherished. One volunteer, one child, and one day at a time.

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.

Information Session

Positive Outcomes – Cherish the magic

Thank you for the wonderful gifts contributed so far—we’re truly grateful. There is still more impact to be made, and your support can make a difference. Shop now or help spread the word by sharing our holiday gift list.

Every single gift reminds these children that they are seen, valued, and supported by a caring community.

Shop Now

Your action today helps ensure no child is left without the joy and comfort they deserve.

Shop our Amazon List make a difference now.

In Focus – Tax Credit

As we move through the holiday season, many of us are celebrating with loved ones and creating memories. For children experiencing foster care, this time can highlight the absence of familiar faces, routines, and a sense of stability. CASA volunteers bring consistency, compassion, and hope during a season that can otherwise feel uncertain.

If you are able, now is the time to share the holiday spirit. Your tax credit or gift today helps ensure each child feels seen, supported, and cared for during this meaningful time of year.

QFCO Thresholds:

$626 if single
$1,251 if married filing jointly

Don’t wait. Your gift today helps us ensure youth experience joy this season and have the support of a trained and dedicated CASA volunteer.

Donate

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 tax filing year! QFCO #10010

#BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

Community Voice – Together for Children, Together for Families, This Holiday Season and Beyond

The holidays remind us how deeply we all long to belong. For children living in foster care, this season can intensify the need for connection, stability, and familiar traditions. CASA volunteers play a vital role by helping children stay close to siblings, preserve meaningful routines, and feel that they truly matter. Kinship caregivers—grandparents, relatives, and close family friends—also shine brightly during this time of year.

Across Arizona, community partners strengthen this circle of support year-round. Following is a highlight on three organizations making a meaningful impact:

• Arizona Children’s Association – Through their Kinship Navigation Program, Arizona Children’s Association helps relatives and kin caregivers access vital resources—from legal guidance and support groups to benefit applications and advocacy.
• Child Crisis Arizona – Child Crisis Arizona offers parenting classes, emergency support, pool fence safety, and practical help like clothing and school supplies. They also create community through support groups and family events.
• Duet | Partners in Health & Aging – Duet extends services to grandparents raising grandchildren, offering support groups, legal workshops, and respite opportunities tailored to their unique challenges.

How you can help?

• Become a CASA Volunteer. Join one of our information sessions to learn what it takes to become a volunteer.
• Donate. Your gift helps us find, equip, and support CASA volunteers.
• Share with your circle. Word of mouth is one of the largest ways we find volunteers. By sharing with your network, you enable others to step up for our community.
• Volunteer, donate, and share.

Donate

Become A CASA

Education – Cherish the gift of being present

During the holidays, we often focus on what we can give: toys, treats, traditions, and experiences. But for many children living in foster care who are carrying trauma in their bodies and histories, the most meaningful gift is something far simpler: a regulated, attentive, emotionally present adult.

Presence is more than being in the same room. It is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. Neuroscience shows that a child’s nervous system reflects the state of the adult they are with. When we offer steadiness, patience, and genuine attention, the child’s body registers safety. Safety opens the door to connection, trust, and learning.

Here are three evidence-based practices you can use with any child this season:

Use rhythm to support regulation.

Bilateral, rhythmic movement helps calm the nervous system. Walking side by side, tossing a ball back and forth, or tapping hands and feet to a steady beat can help a child settle without needing to talk about their feelings first. These simple activities engage both sides of the brain and lower stress.

Regulate your own breathing and tone.

Children scan the adults around them for cues. Slow breathing and a soft, predictable tone of voice communicate safety more strongly than words alone. How you show up physically matters as much as what you say.

Offer choices that are real and doable.

Even small decisions like choosing a marker color or picking between two activities can restore a child’s sense of control. Trauma often takes away a child’s ability to make choices, so offering appropriate ones is a powerful act of healing.

These skills do not require special materials or perfect circumstances. They can fit into a car ride, a holiday visit, a short phone call, or a few minutes before bedtime. They also create the kind of moments children remember long after the season ends.

Learn More

 

This season, we’re reminded of the power of coming together. We gather with advocates like David Ambroz — who graciously shares his life experiences — to spread awareness and inspire others to take action. We gather gifts to ensure every child experiences the joy of the holidays. As the need for food and essentials grows, we gather and share resources so that no child in our community goes without care or nourishment.

When we gather together for good it creates hope that reaches far beyond the season.

In The Spotlight – An Evening with David Ambroz

VOICES recently hosted a live recording of the By Their Side podcast featuring bestselling author and national child welfare advocate, David Ambroz, whose memoir A Place Called Home chronicles his journey from homelessness and foster care to national advocacy.

During the podcast, he speaks about “occasional angels” who changed his life. Teachers, social workers, and community members who simply showed up when it mattered most.

“You can’t fix every problem,” he said, “but you can stand next to someone in theirs. That’s where change begins.”

David also celebrated the CASA volunteer community, calling them “Dumbledore’s Army,” a nationwide force quietly fighting for children every day. CASA volunteers don’t wait for perfect conditions.

“They show up, again and again, for kids who need someone in their corner.”

We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined this inspiring evening. The full episode is available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen Here

Positive Outcomes – Gathering Gifts

Help a CASA Volunteer bring a little holiday magic to a child by shopping our Annual Holiday Gift Drive. You help create moments of joy, comfort, and connection for youth who deserve to feel cared for and seen.

Shop the list now through December 12th.

A special thank you to everyone who has donated already, you have kicked the drive off in an amazing way. If you’d like to drop off gifts in person, reach out to austin.truitt@voicesforcasachildren.org.

Shop Now

Education – Hidden Cost of Hunger

The recent government shutdown and risk to SNAP benefits reminded us how fragile food security can be for many families. For children, that uncertainty reaches far beyond the dinner table. Research shows that children who experience food insecurity are more likely to struggle with concentration, emotional regulation, and physical development. Chronic hunger can change the way a child’s brain develops, influencing everything from memory to mood.

In the child welfare system, we see this impact firsthand. Many children enter foster care already carrying the effects of poverty, from hoarding behaviors to anxiety around meals.

Understanding the invisible effects of hunger helps us respond with compassion and awareness. When we see beyond behavior and focus on the root causes (fear, scarcity, survival) we can help meet children where they are and remind them that their needs will be met, every time.

Learn about food insecurity

If you or someone you know could use food resources, local help is available:

Double Up Arizona – Provides extra food credits for SNAP users with no separate application required.

Just Ask Mia – A simple chatbot that connects families to nearby food pantries and meal sites (text “Family/Familia” to 877-558-2261).

211 Arizona – Call or visit the website for statewide food, shelter, and financial assistance listings.

FindHelp.org – Explore additional local food and community support resources online.

Community Voice – Investing in Community

Fewer than 2% of Arizonans use the Qualified Foster Care Organization Tax Credit — will you be one of them?*

Less than 2% of Arizonans take advantage of this opportunity, yet these donations have a real and lasting impact on local nonprofits like Voices for CASA Children. Instead of sending your tax dollars to the state, you can direct them to support child advocacy and children living in foster care — and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit in return.

For the 2025 tax season, you can give up to $618 if filing single or $1,234 if married filing jointly, and receive that full amount back as an Arizona Tax Credit. This credit can also be claimed in addition to other credits, like the QCO or school tax credits.

Donate your tax credit

Voices for CASA Children is a Qualified Foster Care Charitable Organization (QFCO) certified by the Arizona Department of Revenue.
QFCO Code: 10010

*In 2022, 41,472 contributions were made to Qualifying Foster Care Organizations out of an estimated 5,000,000 tax returns. (Arizona Department of Revenue, November 2024)(Common Sense Institute Arizona, November 2023)

In Focus – DCS- MARC Unit

Holiday gatherings are joyful and exciting. However, for youth living in foster care or group homes it can be a time of heightened emotion and even more uncertainty. Youth may decide it is easier to just leave. Perpetrators will also leverage this time of increased vulnerability to entice young people toward substance use or trafficking.

ARS 8-810 establishes specific tasks that must occur when a child runs away, is abducted, or otherwise goes missing from the care of DCS. These are executed by the MARC (Missing and Runaway Children) unit.

Over 80% of children are returned within the first day. Over 70% are missing from a group home setting. Teens make up the majority.

MARC is required to contact certain key parties in the child’s life, including the CASA volunteer, within 24 hours. The CASA volunteer will most likely know the most about the child’s friends, social media and where they might have gone. Another reason CASA volunteers are so crucial and we need more of them.

Learn more about MARC

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.

Information Session

My CASA Journey – Cheering together

Cheering on the home team is a core memory for many of us — and thanks to our amazing community partners, youth living in foster care are getting to share in that joy too. This year, CASA youth and volunteers cheered on the Phoenix Mercury through the Finals, enjoyed a Phoenix Suns game, and will soon experience the Valley Suns in action.

One CASA shared, “It was a tough day for my teen, but the game was the perfect distraction. It was so nice to see her happy and cheering again.”

These special experiences are made possible through the generosity of the Valley Suns Community Ticket Program, Phoenix Mercury’s Community Ticket Program, and Tickets4Kids. Together, our community is creating memories these youth will always remember.

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 tax filing year. QFCO #10010

#BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

As the season of giving and gratitude begins, we’re reminded that even the smallest gestures can make a big impact. From moments of joy to opportunities for connection, every act of kindness helps create brighter days for children living in foster care.

May this season remind us that every child deserves the warmth of belonging, the comfort of safety, and the joy found in life’s simplest treats.

My CASA Journey – It’s a Treat!

For many, fall means selecting that perfect pumpkin to carve, decorating freshly baked cookies, or simply enjoying the cooler weather. VOICES helps CASA volunteers keep these exciting seasonal traditions alive for youth living in foster care by supplying tickets to visit local pumpkin farms, gift cards to purchase pumpkins, as well as cookies, decorating materials, and more!

These are exciting experiences you can feel by the surprised squeal when petting a goat or dipping fingers into frosting. Even the skeptical teens smile as one CASA noted:

“…we did have fun shopping for a pumpkin and haunted house cookie decorating kit at Fry’s! And we got black nail polish too!”

It’s the treat of a shared experience that lasts longer than the season.

In The Spotlight – Give Joy this Holiday Season

The holiday season is almost here, and Voices for CASA Children is excited to kick off our Annual Holiday Gift Drive to bring joy to children who are not home for the holiday. For many of these kids, the holidays can stir-up feelings of longing and separation, but a simple gift can remind them that they are seen, cared for, and not alone. Each gift makes a real difference.

Join us in making the holidays brighter and more joyful for these children in your community! Shop our Amazon Wishlist from November 3 to December 12.

If you’d like to drop off gifts in person, please contact austin.truitt@voicesforcasachildren.org to coordinate.

Shop Our Toy Drive

Positive Outcomes – Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars, Inspiring the Future!

VOICES proudly applauds the mission and impact the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has made here in Maricopa County. Honoring the philanthropic heart of its founder, the Trust supports women, children and families in ways that enrich individuals and the community.

The Trust sought to make an even greater impact through support for individuals seeking higher education. In 2001, the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program was launched. The program is open to former foster youth, individuals living with disabilities, and adults with dependents, who are seeking their first degree through Arizona State University or Maricopa County Community College. If selected, individuals receive a full scholarship plus living expenses. Additionally, awardees are connected to a dedicated Nina Scholars team that provides mentorship and support for each individual student’s academic journey, turning barriers into a springboard for success!

Over 400 Nina Scholars have earned college degrees and 85% are working in their chosen field.

This life-changing opportunity opens December 1, 2025. Please help spread the word. Their future awaits!

Learn More.

In Focus – Give Back, Get Back.

We all believe that every child living in foster care deserves a strong advocate and a voice that’s heard. That’s why we need you by our side.

As an Arizona taxpayer, you have the power to help make a life-changing difference for a child at no additional cost to you. Through the Arizona Qualified Foster Care Tax Credit, every eligible dollar you give is returned to you on your state taxes.

Important note: You can contribute the full QFCO amount to Voices for CASA Children in addition to your QCO, school and other tax credit donations.

QFCO Thresholds:
$626 if single
$1,251 if married filing jointly

Don’t wait. Your gift today helps us ensure youth experience joy this season and have the support of a trained and dedicated CASA volunteer.

Learn more about Tax Credit.

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 tax filing year! QFCO #10010, #BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

Education – Behind the Mask

Many children learn to wear invisible masks. When early experiences include fear, neglect, or instability, showing emotion can feel risky. To stay safe, kids may hide what they feel. They may act calm, quiet, or even defiant on the surface while managing big emotions underneath.

Research shows that chronic stress can alter how the brain processes and regulates emotion. When the brain’s fear center (the amygdala) is frequently activated, the areas responsible for managing emotion (the prefrontal cortex) can become less effective. This makes it difficult for children to recognize, understand, and share their feelings in healthy ways. Emotional suppression isn’t defiance, it’s protection.

CASA volunteers play a vital role in helping children feel seen and safe. By showing up consistently, listening without judgment, and speaking up for their needs. Advocates offer the kind of stable, trusting relationship that teaches the brain it’s safe to express emotion and still be cared for. Over time, that steady presence helps the mask come off – revealing not resistance, but resilience.

Learn about Helping kids cope.

(This was the Voices of Hope, October 2025 newsletter. Subscribe to receive more.)

At VOICES, we believe ‘kinship’ extends beyond traditional families and encompasses the broader power of connection. Our community shows us this every day. Corporate partners invest in our mission so CASA volunteers can walk alongside these youth and stay connected. Each relationship reminds us that ‘kinship’ can be what we make it.

Let’s honor kinship in all forms throughout our community; neighbors, businesses and volunteers who create their own circle of belonging

In The Spotlight – Our Corporate Community

As summer comes to a close, the VOICES community came together in a powerful way to ensure that children started the school year with confidence, joy, and the tools they need to succeed! As a community, we ensured that these youth entered the school year with backpacks, supplies, and the confidence to thrive in the classroom.

VOICES is especially grateful to Deloitte, DEPCOM, and M.G. Properties for their incredible support, along with all of the donors and volunteers who made this possible. Because of you, CASA volunteers were able to deliver encouragement and hope to the children they serve through these backpacks!

Thanks to this community for showing up in a big way!

My CASA Journey – Sometimes Family Finds You

The average time for youth living in foster care can vary, but for some youth it may be years. During that time, the foster or group home where the child lives can change due to a variety of factors. Finding stability is challenging, but finding a connection and kinship with someone can happen with a CASA Volunteer.

Read this CASA volunteer’s story:

“I have been with the same youth since she was 11. Although the past 6 years have been rough as she struggled being a teenager in the system (19 placements and a few runaway times), she is now 17 and thinking about what she will do once she turns 18. She reflects that as her CASA, I have always been with her, even through all the difficulties. She knows that there is someone that will be waiting when she is ready. Someone who will drive distances to pick her up, visit her, and ensure she knows she is not alone. Even during the time she had run away, I was the person she would communicate with. She and I have had some very fun activities thanks to VOICES. We think back about our outing at the Phoenix Symphony in 1999 when we watched Nightmare before Christmas with the symphony. We had fun at MIM, especially during Hip Hop week. This past month, she went to her first spring training game. I am so glad I chose to be a CASA and I am grateful for the support given by VOICES. Thank you for all you do in engaging the community to support these youth!”

These experiences and support for a CASA exist because we have a community that cares – one CASA and one child (now a teen!) at a time.

Community Voice – Shop, Sip, and Support your Community

Our volunteers, donors, and corporate supporters are more than partners; they’re family. Together, we create a circle of care for youth, ensuring every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

We’re excited to welcome a new member to that family: Kendra Scott. Known for their generosity and commitment to giving back, the Kendra Scott Foundation empowers women and youth through health, education, and entrepreneurship. Their values align beautifully with ours, and this partnership is a meaningful step toward brighter futures.

Join us on Saturday, September 20th, from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Scottsdale Quarter or Chandler Fashion Center for an afternoon of sips, sweets, and shopping with purpose. 20% of every purchase will be directed to VOICES so we can continue to elevate the crucial role of Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Can’t make it in person? You can still give back! Shop online September 20–21 using code GIVEBACK-JNIKW, and your purchase will be included in this important mission for youth. Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and celebrate what makes our community strong: connection, compassion, and the power to create change together.

In Focus – Arizona DCS Citizen Review Panels – FY 2025 Annual Report

The Arizona Citizen Review Panels serve as independent, community-based oversight bodies tasked with reviewing the policies and practices of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Their mission is to foster public accountability and ensure that children’s safety and well-being remain central to DCS operations.

Included within the annual report are recommendations from the Community Advisory Committee, Aspiring Change for Older Youth and Prevention panels. VOICES is appointed to the CAC. Themes within the recommendations include youth aging out of care, Kinship support, missing/runaway youth and community collaboration.

Read the full report.

Strengthening Advocacy Through Education – Navigating Foster Care

Our newest episode of By Their Side is here!

This time, we sit down with Neil Underwood, General Manager at Autonation Toyota-Tempe, to talk about the many ways people can show up for kids living in foster care. Growing up in the system himself, Neil didn’t have a strong network of support and often had to navigate challenges on his own. Today, he gives back by being that person for others, showing that even small gestures of empathy and understanding can change the course of a young person’s life.

Here in Arizona, hundreds of young people age out of foster care every year without permanent family connections to lean on. That means far too many are left to face adulthood without the kind of stability and guidance most of us take for granted. Neil’s story is a powerful reminder that it doesn’t have to be this way- support can come from anyone willing to step in, whether you’re a volunteer, a mentor, or simply a caring neighbor. Take a moment to listen and reflect on how your role, whatever it may look like, can be part of the bigger picture of care. Together, every role truly does matter.

Listen to Neil’s Story.

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 tax filing year! QFCO #10010, #BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

(This was the Voices of Hope, September 2025 newsletter. Subscribe to receive more.)

Summer in Arizona can be long and hot, but it also means a break from school and a chance for indoor fun. In this issue, we highlight how CASA volunteers and community partners are helping youth living in foster care to find moments of connection, joy and healing, from museum visits to ice cream outings.

This season, even the smallest experiences can leave a lasting impact, all thanks to caring adults like you.

In The Spotlight – Waves of Change, VOICES welcomes new Executive Director

Change is happening at VOICES! As more communities embrace the importance of child advocacy, VOICES is ready for the waves of change to lift us into the future – with intentionality and purpose.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Bonnie Brown, a visionary leader, as the incoming Executive Director at Voices for CASA Children. Bonnie brings transformative thinking and strategic marketing experience to the organization. She will maintain continuity of the VOICES principles by leveraging her business-minded approach to achieve mission-driven outcomes; and spring us forward by keeping advocates and youth front and center.

I take great pride in knowing that under Bonnie’s proficient leadership, VOICES will continue to grow, evolve, and champion a more promising future for the children we are all committed to serving.

As I prepare to transition my role as Executive Director, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the incredible journey that began in 2011, when Voices for CASA Children was founded. It has been nothing short of extraordinary—an adventure fueled by purpose, passion, and a steadfast belief that children living in foster care deserve more than momentary support; they deserve a lasting foundation to thrive and succeed.

I am deeply grateful to each Board member, donor, volunteer, staff member and champion we’ve had along the way. I know this is a strong community that will continue their support with urgency and hope.

What began as a bold step into the unknown became a life-shaping mission. My heart remains deeply connected to the VOICES mission and the CASA Community.

Always for the children,
Robin

My CASA Journey, Just Like These

It’s an Arizona summer and for youth living in foster care, these hot summer days can seem endless without school and outside activities to distract. CASA volunteers and community partners step up with resources for summer camps and opportunities to play indoors at local museums, movie theaters and sporting events. The time spent cooling off rises to a new level when the indoor experience truly connects with the child.

Recently a CASA and youth spent time at the Heard Museum. In the CASA’s words: “She made a beeline for the fantastic exhibit of Apache artifacts. She loved it, but it was even more of a thrill for me to hear her talk about having her Sunrise ceremony, her grandma taking pictures of her in a native cradle, grandpa having silver and turquoise rings on every finger ‘just like these.’ It was a special experience for both of us, and I really thank you for your efforts in making these very high quality experiences available.”

Around every corner is an opportunity to truly connect with a child and these “cool” experiences will live with a CASA volunteer forever.

Positive Outcomes, Supporting the Youngest Children

It is essential for CASA volunteers working with young children to understand the unique needs of early childhood development. With this knowledge, volunteers are better equipped to recognize signs of developmental delays, recommend timely interventions, and advocate for critical services.

Babies and young children are deeply affected by trauma, even when they can’t express it in words. Early trauma can lead to developmental delays, difficulty forming secure attachments, behavioral difficulties, and other long term impacts. These early disruptions can have lasting effects on a child’s future.

At VOICES, we are proud to work alongside mission-aligned nonprofits who share our commitment to improving the lives of children in our community. One such partner is Southwest Human Development (SWHD)—a nonprofit organization in Arizona dedicated to early childhood development and a positive future for every child. SWHD offers more than 40 programs that support families, children, and professionals, including a Birth to Five community hotline, special support services for families with newborns, Easterseals disability services, free community training, trauma-informed resources, and more!

Have a little in your family or extended circle? Check out the following quick-read SWHD resource, Supporting Young Children’s Mental Health: Tips for Positive Interaction which highlights simple ways you can help support children as they experience big emotions.

Community Voice, SCHEELS Wave of Love

SCHEELS has been in business for over 120 years and is in 16 states. While they are still fairly new to Arizona, VOICES has already felt the generosity they bring to the community through their employee-led Giving Campaign.

SCHEELS gives their team the chance to support local nonprofits, and VOICES was honored to be one of their choices.

As part of their support, SCHEELS has also treated CASA volunteers and the youth they serve to simple joys like complimentary ferris wheel rides, ice cream cones, and refreshing summer drinks. These moments have created meaningful experiences for youth living in foster care, giving them the chance to laugh, have fun, and just be kids.

For CASA volunteers, it has been a fun and relaxed way to build trust and deepen their connection with the children they advocate for. SCHEELS is more than a sporting goods store. They are a true community partner and VOICES is grateful and proud to stand alongside them

In Focus, DCS Extended Foster Care

Youth who turn 18 and have not been placed in a permanent home, either through family reunification, guardianship or adoption, face a big decision. They can exit into the world with potentially little support or they can choose to transition into the DCS Extended Foster Care program. CASA volunteers help guide these young adults to make the choice that is in their best interest. Even though the youth may be excited to be on their own, they may not have the transportation, financial means or life skills needed to stay safe, housed and in school.

While the CASA volunteer will no longer be appointed to that youth once the dependency is dismissed, their guidance at this crucial stage can be life altering. Youth can retain support, including for therapy and medical needs, until they reach 21 years of age.

In this past session the Arizona legislature approved permanent funding for the Extended Foster Care Program.

Learn more about this and other DCS programs targeted for youth transitioning to adulthood.

Tax Credit Benefits

VOICES is a Qualified Foster Care Organization. You can receive increased tax credit benefits for your donations in the 2025 tax filing year! QFCO #10010

#BeTheirVoice

Donate Today

Strengthening Advocacy Through Education

August is National Family Fun Month—a time to celebrate joy, bonding, and the simple pleasures of being together. For many children, it’s a season filled with late-summer adventures, cherished family traditions, and the kind of unstructured, joy-filled play—splashing in a pool, running through a park, or building a blanket fort—that creates lasting memories and a deep sense of belonging.

Research shows that these positive experiences—even small, everyday ones—have a measurable impact on child development and long-term outcomes. According to the National Institute for Play, “playing literally wires the brain for the skills we use our whole lifetime—physical agility, social confidence, emotional regulation, creativity, and resilience.”

For children living in foster care, joyful everyday moments can be especially powerful. Amid the uncertainty they face, simple experiences—like a trip to the zoo, building a LEGO set, or sharing an ice cream with a caring, consistent adult—can spark healing and hope. These moments offer something even deeper: the reassurance that they are seen, valued, and BELONG.

Join us!
Every child deserves to experience the magic of being a kid. Please join us in bringing more moments of connection, laughter, and joy into the lives of children living in foster care. Here’s how you can help:

• Attend an Information Session to learn how you can be a steady, compassionate presence in a child’s life as a CASA volunteer.
• Spread the word—many CASA volunteers first heard about the opportunity through a friend, neighbor, or colleague. Your voice can inspire someone else to step up. (Check us out on social media – including Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.)
• Invite us to speak to your workplace, school, or community group. We’d love to share how CASA volunteers make a meaningful and lasting difference.

(This was the Voices of Hope, August 2025 newsletter. Subscribe to receive more.)