Tag: In The Spotlight

Consistency creates change

Every child deserves people who show up, consistently and with purpose. This month, you’ll hear directly from CASA volunteers about the moments that keep them coming back, see how our community helped children start the school year prepared and confident, and learn how continued education strengthens advocacy. Whether you’re volunteering, giving, or sharing our mission, thank you for being part of a community that continues to show up for children when it matters most.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Investing in education to better serve children

 

Thanks to the support of our donors, Voices for CASA Children sponsored our staff, CASA of Maricopa County staff, and CASA volunteers to attend the 32nd Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse AZ, where advocates and professionals from across Arizona gathered to strengthen their knowledge and commitment to prevention and education.

With more than 70 workshops and inspiring keynote speakers, attendees explored best practices, emerging research, and practical strategies to better support children and families. The conference also challenged participants to think beyond their individual roles, inspiring them to work together to improve a child welfare system that too often falls short for children and families.

VOICES Education Team, Micaela Tracy and Alexis McLane, presented a workshop titled From Frustration to Influence. The session equipped child welfare professionals with practical tools to become everyday advocates, using their unique spheres of influence to create meaningful change.

CASA of Maricopa County staff presented Keys to Successful Teamwork, highlighting the critical role of communication, shared goals, and complementary strengths in supporting children and families.

The conference sessions counted toward CASA volunteers’ annual continuing education requirements while providing fresh ideas, renewed inspiration, and valuable skills they can apply as they advocate for the best interests of the children they serve.

My CASA journey

Why they keep showing up

Ask a CASA volunteer why they first signed up, and you will usually hear something about wanting to make a difference. Ask them what keeps them coming back, and the answers become specific, personal, and deeply moving. Hear from CASA of Maricopa County volunteers.

“Every day when I show up, she runs to me shouting, ‘It’s you! You’re here!’ Even if I just saw her yesterday.” Michaesha Davis-Hinton, CASA volunteer serving since 2019

“When you start the process, they don’t trust you. And that’s normal. But as long as you keep showing up, they start to believe they do have a friend in you… they know you’re on their side.” Marcia Bhattacharya, CASA volunteer serving since 2015

No one mentions the paperwork. Instead, they talk about a child who started waving from the window when their car pulled up, a teenager who finally texted back, a quiet promise kept again and again: I will be back next week. These moments may look small from the outside. To a child who has been removed from their home, they are stability, connection, and hope.

“Once you give that child that love, the sky’s the limit.” LaDonna Weaver, CASA volunteer serving since 2024

Recently, we asked a few volunteers to answer that question on camera, in their own words. We hope you will take a few minutes to watch. Their reasons are as unique as the children they serve, but they all lead back to one thing: making sure a child’s voice is heard.

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

In focus

Ready on day one

Students served by a CASA volunteer are starting the new school year ahead. Thanks to you, the VOICES back-to-school drive was a huge success! We were able to reach our goal of 100 fully stocked backpacks with the support of corporate donations from DEPCOM and TDIndustries, while volunteers with Deloitte not only donated backpacks and school supplies, they chose to spend their annual Impact Day with VOICES, stuffing those backpacks so they were immediately ready to be picked up.

Our community also showed up. After airing on 3TV’s “Something Good” segment on Good Morning Arizona and the News at 4pm, we received six times the amount of donations we’d already taken in. Good Morning Arizona anchor Tess Raffols is thrilled their viewers took action, but she isn’t surprised.

“When we put a call out on the news for folks to help, they are always there eager to do something good!! It warms my heart to know these children have what they need to hopefully have a successful school year, thanks in part to the donations sent in by Arizona’s Family viewers! Thank you!”  Tess Rafols

Your generosity is now helping every child served by a CASA volunteer start the school year with more confidence and the essential supplies that help ensure they’re prepared and ready on day one.

Watch the segment

This month in action

July brings a mix of movement, preparation, and perspective across our work. As children get ready for a new school year, our community is stepping in to make sure they have what they need to start strong. At the same time, we are seeing advocacy in action in different forms, from a cross-country bike ride raising awareness for youth, to a story that reflects how systems and support come together around a child’s experience.

This month’s updates highlight what it looks like when people show up in different ways, through supplies, through service, and through sharing stories that help others better understand the work behind the scenes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Help children start the school year ready to learn

 

The VOICES back to school drive is underway, and we still need your help! Every year, VOICES provides backpacks filled with all of the essential school supplies, giving them the tools they need to start the school year with confidence. As the new school year approaches, we still need your help to fill backpacks for these children.

Whether you donate school supplies or simply share our drive with your inner circle, you can help make a difference. As a community, we can help ensure every child served by a CASA volunteer starts the school year prepared and ready to learn. If you’ve already supported our drive, thank you!

If you want to make a difference right away, click the link below to shop our Amazon list. Supplies will be shipped directly to the VOICES office where they will be used for this school year.

Shop our wish list

My CASA journey

Staying close when it’s hot out

Summer in Arizona means getting creative about staying cool, and connection finds a way no matter the temperature. For a CASA volunteer and their appointed youth, the season often moves indoors and slows down. An afternoon at the library, a matinee movie in a cool theater, or a quiet hour over a board game while the heat passes outside.

Through the generosity of our supporters, VOICES provides gift cards for outings like these, so the focus can stay on connection, not the activity. That is what summer really offers: a familiar face that returns when the calendar empties out, someone who has learned what makes a particular child light up.

Week after week, that return is what a child remembers. Summer slows down, but connection does not. What might change for a child who knows someone is paying attention all 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.

Information Session

In focus

The heart of our community

There are people who support a mission — and then there are people who are the mission. Victoria Strayer is the latter.

As Co-Founder, former Board President, Child Welfare Advocacy Director and most importantly, CASA volunteer, Victoria has poured her heart and unwavering commitment into every corner of Voices for CASA Children. Her care, dedication, and vision are woven into every child served, every volunteer supported, and every life changed. Victoria didn’t just help build VOICES — she helped lay the foundation upon which every child we serve stands today.

Victoria’s journey began where it matters most — as a CASA volunteer herself, sitting alongside children living in foster care and fighting for their best interests in court. That experience became the lens through which she led and the reminder that at the center of everything we do is a child who needs a champion. For Victoria, it has always been about the children. Always.

As Victoria transitions to the Board of Directors this month, we want her to know that the gratitude we feel cannot be captured in words. Thank you for co-founding something extraordinary, for leading with grace and an open heart, and for never losing sight of why this work matters.

Victoria — you are, and always will be, the heart of our community.

Community voice

Riding for those who stand by Arizona’s most vulnerable children

On an average workday, before most of us are at our desks in the morning, Andy Brinkman has already biked more than 40 miles.

That kind of commitment tells you everything you need to know about how Stableford Capital’s CEO and Founder approaches the things he cares about — and this summer, what he cares about is riding 391 miles across Iowa for the children of Maricopa County.

This July 18-25, Andy and the Stableford team will take on RAGBRAI LIII, the legendary weeklong bike ride across Iowa, in support of Voices for CASA Children. What started as a cycling challenge has grown into something much bigger — a team effort, a community effort, and a reflection of what it looks like when people use the things they love to do real good in the world.

Logging over 200 miles a week in training, Andy is all in. Early mornings, long miles, tired legs — and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The team has already raised approximately $25,000.

“I want to support the volunteers who stand by the children in our community in a meaningful way,” Andy says. “And if riding nearly 400 miles across Iowa inspires even one more person to get involved and do the same — then every mile is worth it.”

100% of donations go directly to supporting the Voices for CASA Children mission.

Support Andy’s campaign

Education

The right to stay at the same school

For a child who has been removed from their home, and is now living in foster care, a change in placement over the summer can mean a new neighborhood, a new district, and the prospect of starting over at an unfamiliar school just as classes resume.

Here is something you may not know: federal law protects against exactly that. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a child living in foster care has the right to remain in their school of origin (the school they were already attending) even if they are placed in a different foster home across town or into another district. Whether a child stays or changes schools is decided through a Best-Interest Determination, focused on what is right for that particular student. If the child stays, the law requires that transportation be arranged so they can keep attending. And if the child does move to a new school, it guarantees immediate enrollment, so a student is never turned away for missing paperwork.

The goal is stability: a familiar classroom, the same teacher, the same friends, while so much else is in flux.

That stability is not a small thing. Children living in foster care change schools far more often than their peers, and every move costs children to lose ground, both academically and in the relationships that make a place feel like theirs. Keeping a student at the same school protects friendships, routines, and progress that would otherwise be lost with each transition.

This is where a CASA volunteer turns a “legal right” into a reality. An advocate who understands these protections can ask the questions that matter when a placement changes: Can this child stay at their current school? Has transportation been arranged? Is enrollment moving forward without delay?

Protections like these are easy to lose track of in a busy system. Often it is a CASA who makes sure a child actually benefits from these rights.

Learn More about ESSA

Stronger together

As summer begins, we are reminded that meaningful change never happens alone. It takes compassionate volunteers, dedicated staff, supportive families, and a caring community all working together to create more hopeful futures for children.

This month, we celebrate the many people who strengthen our mission, from father figures and mentors to the community supporters helping launch our backpack drive and prepare children for a successful school year. Together, we continue building a community where every child feels supported, valued, and connected.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

When children see themselves in their advocates

 

Youth who need a CASA volunteer come from every background, identity, and life experience. When volunteers reflect the diversity of the youth they serve, it helps create stronger connections, deeper trust, and a greater sense of belonging for children navigating difficult circumstances.

For children, having a positive male role model can be life-changing. Research shows that boys and young men who have access to supportive male mentors demonstrate stronger emotional development, improved academic outcomes, and healthier social connections. Male CASA volunteers can provide consistency, encouragement, and mentorship during critical developmental years. Sometimes, simply having a dependable adult who shows up and listens can make all the difference.

LGBTQ+ youth also face unique challenges. Research shows LGBTQ+ youth are significantly overrepresented in child welfare systems and often experience higher rates of victimization, mental health struggles, and housing instability compared to their peers. Affirming adults who support and respect a child’s identity can help improve their emotional well-being and sense of safety. Studies have also shown that foster caregivers trained in affirming practices demonstrate improved support, advocacy, and confidence when caring for LGBTQ+ youth.

We also reflect on the importance of representation and cultural understanding in advocacy. Children of color remain disproportionately represented in foster care systems across the country, making diverse and culturally responsive volunteers more important than ever. Studies show that positive cultural identity and supportive relationships contribute to stronger emotional well-being and a greater sense of belonging for youth.

At the heart of CASA work is one simple truth: children thrive when they have caring adults advocating for them. Whether you are an ally, parent, teacher, retiree, young professional, or community member, your presence matters. Our goal is not to find “perfect” volunteers. It is to find compassionate people willing to stand beside a child and remind them they are worthy of support, dignity, and hope.

When our volunteers reflect the many experiences and identities within our community, we build a stronger support system for every child.

Because representation matters. Connection matters. And together, we are stronger.

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

Supported, valued, connected

Every child is unique and our community provides that connection through a CASA volunteer who finds ways to help them feel supported. It means valuing their interests and building connections.

This past month, a male CASA found that sports was not the only interest for his CASA youth. He saw the pure delight in his eyes when they sat down to plant flowers with the Grow Kit VOICES was able to provide with him saying “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time!”

Another CASA knew exactly the type of gift the 16 year old girl longed for and who squealed with delight upon receiving a new skateboard.

This past week a CASA and teen attended Ballet AZ’s evening performance at Desert Botanical Gardens. Her CASA noted: “it showed her how culture is for everybody, how people dress and behave at such events and thanks to you and all who provided such an outstanding experience for a child who would otherwise have no chance to experience it.”

Support, value, connections – it happens one experience at a time.

In focus

Back to school, backed by community

This summer, VOICES is helping youth across Maricopa County head back to school with confidence by providing brand new backpacks filled with age appropriate school supplies. For children living in foster care, these items are essential to them feeling confident and supported when they are sitting in class, while also helping create a sense of normalcy, dignity, and belonging during a time that should be filled with excitement.

Starting school with brand new supplies helps these youth feel prepared and included instead of worrying about standing out because they may not have the essentials they need to be ready for the school year.

The backpacks assembled through this drive will be distributed throughout Maricopa County, from Buckeye to Apache Junction, and CASA volunteers can request additional supplies throughout the school year as needs arise. Every backpack filled is a reminder to a child that their community cares about them and wants them to succeed.

Donate supplies here

 

Community voice

Celebrating family reunification in Maricopa County

June is Family Reunification Month, a tradition started by the American Bar Association to honor families who have overcome extraordinary challenges to reunite safely and successfully. Here in Maricopa County, this celebration comes to life each year in a powerful way, and Voices for CASA Children is proud to serve as a community partner for Family Reunification Day.

This special in-person event recognizes the unwavering commitment and dedication of parents and caregivers who have worked tirelessly to reunify with their children following involvement with the Department of Child Safety. Reunified families will gather for a day filled with fun, laughter, and celebration, and the event is completely free. Admission, jump socks, and lunch will all be provided.

Family Reunification Day

June 14, 2026

Sky Zone Trampoline Park Phoenix

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Please share this invitation with any reunified families you may know so they can RSVP and join the celebration. This event is about more than recognition. It is about honoring resilience and embracing a new narrative for families and children. Reunified families are part of our everyday communities as neighbors, colleagues, and friends, and they deserve to be honored not only in June, but throughout the year.

When families heal, communities grow stronger. Together, we are stronger.

RSVP here

Education

Strengthening advocacy through education

 

Every child who enters the child welfare system has experienced trauma. According to a study from 2021, 77% of these children will be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

This disorder has toxic effects on a child’s brain, body, and development. PTSD dysregulates the brain, creating a fixation on one goal: survival. A flood of stress hormones follows the dysregulated threat response and wreaks havoc within a child’s body. This can appear as hypervigilance, dissociation, stomach aches, panic attacks, and more.

As a CASA volunteer, I can not only pick up on these signs, but also elevate the concerns to the appropriate team members and request an evaluation. I can then walk alongside a child experiencing this disorder as they search for solutions. PTSD does not have a quick fix. It takes work, therapeutic interventions, and sometimes thinking outside of the box. I can connect my child’s team to unorthodox interventions like boxing therapy or animal-assisted therapy.

Beyond connecting teams to resources, I also provide a safe, supportive relationship. When a child feels safe enough to open up, speak, and ask questions, this often supports and accelerates the healing process.

In my experience, simply creating a sense of safety can be one of the most powerful things we offer a child experiencing PTSD.

Learn more

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

• Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

• Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM

• Location: Zoom

• Cost: Free!

Seats are limited. Please register early and help us spread the word!

Register Now

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.

Information Session

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

Donate Today

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.

Learn More

The one consistent adult

In April, we are reminded of a simple but profound truth: for a child navigating the foster care system, one consistent adult can change everything.

This work is only possible because of a community that believes children deserve to be seen, heard, and supported. To our volunteers, partners, and supporters, thank you for being part of that impact. Together, you help create stability, build trust, and open the door to a more hopeful futures for children across our community.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CASA Volunteer Week — Celebrating & Inspiring

 

We are proud to join communities across Arizona in honoring Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers and the life-changing impact they have on children, from birth through young adulthood. In each issue of the Voices of Hope newsletter, we highlight the dedication, compassion and skill these volunteers bring to their appointed youth and the overall child dependency team. These include case managers, therapists, educators and foster/group placements.

April 6–12, 2026, marks CASA Volunteer Week, proclaimed for the second consecutive year by Governor Katie Hobbs. This statewide initiative, led by CASA of Arizona and supported by CASA programs across the state, unites a collective voice to recognize and celebrate current and former CASA volunteers, while encouraging others to step forward, learn more, and become child advocates themselves.

In Maricopa County, the breadth and depth of support is inspiring! These communities care deeply about their own and about others. Municipalities are renewing their commitments and new cities and towns are joining this mission, reflecting the strength and unity behind our shared vision of a more hopeful future for all.

These are our neighborhoods, and together we can take pride that we not only seek to understand but we act on what is needed to protect children, strengthen families, and honor the spirit of volunteerism.

Join us in thanking CASA volunteers and the Maricopa County municipalities that are honoring CASA Volunteer week.

Positive outcomes

Big thanks in small handwritting

Sometimes, the impact of a CASA volunteer shows up in the most heartfelt places—a child’s handwritten letter.

In this note, you can feel the excitement—movies, roller skating, shopping, laughter. Simple moments, made special. Moments that became possible with a CASA volunteer walking alongside them.

To a child living in foster care, these experiences are more than just fun outings. They are bright spots filled with hope and promise. They shape critical memories of being included, of being seen, of being valued.

CASA volunteers help create these moments—but even more importantly, they create something lasting: trust, connection, and the reassuring presence of someone who shows up, again and again.

And sometimes, that impact is summed up best in a single, heartfelt “thank you”—written painstakingly in pencil, filled with childhood whimsy, and brimming with gratitude.

To our supporters: thank you for making moments like these possible. Your generosity helps open doors to experiences, connection, and care that every child deserves.

And to those who feel moved by this note—who see the joy in these simple moments and wonder if they could be part of it—consider exploring what it means to be a CASA volunteer. It starts with showing up—and can lead to changing a child’s life in the present…and future.

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

In focus

Turn your tax dollars into a steady presence for a child

As tax season winds down, there is a unique opportunity here in Arizona to make a direct difference in the lives of children living in foster care, at no extra cost to you.

Voices for CASA Children is a Qualified Foster Care Organization (QFCO #10010), which means your donation may qualify for the Arizona Qualified Foster Care Organization Tax Credit. This allows Arizona taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes.

But beyond the financial benefit, this is about something much more meaningful.

Your support helps ensure that every child has access to one consistent adult. A CASA volunteer who shows up, listens, and advocates through every change and challenge. While so much in a child’s life may feel uncertain, that steady presence can make all the difference.

Donations through the QFCO tax credit directly support the resources CASA volunteers rely on, from basic needs to meaningful experiences that help build trust and connection. These are the moments that remind children they are seen, valued, and not alone.

This tax season, you have the chance to turn what you owe into something powerful. The QFCO filing threshold is $618* (single) or $1,234* (married filling jointly). The deadline for tax year 2025 is April 15, 2026. QFCO Code #10010

If you have already donated for the 2025 tax year, thank you for your support. As a reminder for the 2026 tax year, the contribution limits will be $632 (single) and $1,262 (married filing jointly).

Donate

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

 

Community voice

A partnership rooted in purpose

We are deeply grateful for the many compassionate companies who support our mission and the advocates and children we serve. Among them, one partner holds an especially cherished place in our hearts — MG Properties, who has given not just generously, but wholeheartedly, since 2017.

Over nearly a decade, the MG Properties family has contributed almost $16,000 through monetary donations, toy drives, and thoughtful in-kind gifts. This year, they went even further — hosting their 2nd Annual Walk the Talk event at Tempe Town Lake on March 27, 2026, raising $2,000 to help us honor our CASA volunteers at this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast.

Regional Manager Lisa Cote captured it beautifully: “It is truly an honor and a pleasure to support our community and the CASA volunteers who give so selflessly to the children who need them most.”

The morning’s most tender moment came from a MG Properties team member Keomy Williams, who shared that she is a CASA of Maricopa County volunteer herself — currently advocating for her third child. At the request of both the child and the family, she continues to share a monthly meal with the very first youth she served, who has since reunified. “I just love giving back in this way,” she said — a simple statement that says everything.

To the entire MG Properties family: we see you, we treasure you, and we are so grateful you walk this journey with us.

My CASA journey

One steady presence

 

What does one steady presence look like as a CASA?

It means building gingerbread houses over the holidays because the kiddo is housebound. It’s taking them shopping for hygiene items and slipping in glitter lip gloss among the practical essentials. It’s driving 60 miles each way to their new placement and the drive becomes totally worth it when you see the relief in their eyes.

Whether it’s a baseball mitt to play catch, a graphic novel for a struggling teen reader, or building blocks for an active toddler, CASA volunteers engage. VOICES can provide this support (the toys, the retail gift cards, and assistance with fuel costs) to CASA volunteers because of a community that cares.

This April, we celebrate the CASA volunteer’s steady presence in getting to know these children, advocating for their unique needs and most importantly, seeing their potential.

 

Our why

Our why lives in the moments that often go unseen. It lives in steady presence, in listening, in showing up when it matters most. Advocacy is always in motion, carried forward by social workers, strengthened by CASA volunteers, and made possible by a community that chooses to care.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Why books matter

 

Books matter. For these CASA youth, they can offer comfort, distraction, and a sense of normalcy during a time that often feels uncertain. At Voices for CASA Children, we see firsthand how meaningful it is when a child receives a book of their own. A favorite story can help a new place feel safer. A chapter book can provide a break from stress. Sometimes, that book is what they can keep when so much else changes.

The VOICES Annual Book Drive helps place books directly into the hands of children and teens living in foster care through their CASA volunteers. These books often stay with them long after their case ends, becoming a familiar and comforting item in the future.

 

You can help make that happen. From now until March 27th, donate a new book to help give a child something they can call their own. By shopping on our Amazon list, you’ll have the ability to send brand new books straight to the VOICES main office.

 

Join our Book Drive today and help a child explore their imagination through literature!

Give A Story

MY CASA JOURNEY

The gift of a moment

With so many moving parts in foster care, one of the best things a CASA Volunteer can do is to simply be present. Someone who listens, really listens and hears what is being said and perhaps not said. It is giving a gift of the moment by taking them out of the current situation into something new.

This Spring, CASA volunteers will be running across a field laughing as they attempt to fly a kite or talking basketball as they join our March Madness bracket for prizes. They’ll bring a board game to play at the park or sit quietly and bead bracelets. It’s the gift of your time and this moment. It’s a gift knowing you’ll come back next week and next month with each visit providing stability and hope. It’s Spring in Arizona – when was the last time you flew a kite?

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

Why not you?

You’re reading this newsletter because you care about children. You believe in a better life for the next generation. You want to see the ripple effects of generational trauma that is healing and filled with hope.

You want to make a difference.

There are meaningful ways you, or someone you know, can support children and families who may be struggling today but can thrive when they are truly seen and heard.

Of course, you can become a CASA volunteer. This advocacy model works!

Serve as a Foster Care Review Board volunteer. Established in 1978, FCRB reviews the cases of children living in foster care to help ensure they are appropriately progressing toward permanency in homes that are safe and in the child’s best interest. It plays a critical oversight and advisory role in Arizona’s child welfare and juvenile court systems.

Become a licensed foster parent. A foster placement is a private home where a child lives temporarily when they cannot safely remain with their parents or other guardians. Opening your home provides safety, structure, and compassion during a very uncertain time in a child’s life. Foster families and CASA volunteers are pivotal to the well-being and long-term resilience of these children.

Explore a career in social work. The National Association of Social Workers includes information, guidance and job listings within this important field. Our workforce needs more people committed to this profession.

You are an important part of the community-level child welfare conversation. Talk and share so babies, youth and teens can have a skilled support structure today and into the future.

In Focus

Why your tax credit matters

Your gift becomes advocacy.

Your contribution becomes a connection.

Your support becomes stability.

Tax season offers something powerful: the opportunity to directly support children living in foster care through the Qualifying Foster Care Organization tax credit.

When you give to Voices for CASA Children as a QFCO, your contribution may be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar Arizona state tax credit. This means your gift is not simply a donation. It is a way to redirect tax dollars toward advocacy, stability, and support for children who need it most.

Your tax credit helps recruit, support, and equip CASA volunteers who stand beside children navigating foster care and the court system. It helps ensure that a child’s needs are seen, their voice is heard, and their story continues moving forward with consistency and care.

For many children, change is constant. Placements shift. Schools change. Uncertainty lingers. A CASA volunteer becomes a steady presence through it all. Your tax credit helps make that advocacy possible.

The QFCO filing threshold is $618* (single) or $1,234* (married filing jointly). This isn’t an extra expense. It’s an opportunity to intentionally choose how your tax dollars are invested in your community. The deadline for tax year 2025 is April 15, 2026.

Because every child deserves someone who shows up and stays.

Give my 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

Education

Why it works

 

At VOICES, our “why” is not rooted in sentiment alone. It is supported by research, reinforced by data, and reflected in outcomes for children navigating the foster care system.

Here is what that impact looks like in practice.

Permanency. Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to find a safe, permanent home and less likely to re-enter the child welfare system. They also spend less time in foster care overall.

Educational success. Studies show that children with a CASA volunteer perform better in school and experience fewer school placement changes, giving them the stability they need to focus on learning.

Access to critical services. CASA volunteers help ensure children receive the support they need, from counseling to medical care, services that can easily fall through the cracks in an overburdened system.

A steady presence. In Maricopa County, thousands of children are navigating foster care, and not all of them have an advocate yet. A single, consistent adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

Understanding this impact is more than knowing the statistics. It is the reason volunteers step forward, the reason training matters, and the reason this work continues to grow.

As foster care advocate David Ambroz reminds us through the Donate Your Small Talk campaign, simply talking about foster care helps foster care. When you share why advocacy matters, you invite others into the work.

Source: National CASA/GAL Association, Research and Effectiveness

 

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