Riverside Volunteers Bridge Summer Gap for Foster Kids

For a child in foster care, summer doesn't always mean beach trips and family vacations. Too often, it means isolation, fewer activities, and no adults checking in when school's out.

That's exactly why Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers matter so much. These unpaid community members spend their summers taking foster kids on bike rides, connecting separated siblings, and making sure no child gets forgotten.

Sharon Morris, managing director of Voices for Children in Riverside County, remembers a 5-year-old girl she advocated for years ago. "She'll tell you foster care was not a fun time for her," Morris said. "But the one thing that made it bearable was she knew that I was coming to visit her."

Unlike social workers, attorneys, or foster parents, CASA volunteers show up simply because they want to. That makes all the difference to kids who wonder if anyone truly cares about them.

Each volunteer visits their assigned child at least once a month and reports to the court every six months about what the child needs to thrive. During summer, they fill a critical gap when teachers aren't around to spot warning signs of abuse or neglect.

Many of these children have never learned basic childhood joys. "We have a lot of kids who say, 'No one's ever taught me how to ride a bike,'" Morris explained.

Volunteers also advocate for summer camps, tutoring programs, and enrichment activities, removing barriers like transportation or funding. Sometimes their role is simply making sure everyone communicates so a child doesn't miss out on something as simple as summer camp.

The Ripple Effect

Last year, Voices for Children served about 800 of Riverside County's foster children. But nearly 6,000 kids are expected to move through the system this year, leaving 150 to 200 still waiting for an advocate.

The nonprofit especially needs male volunteers and bilingual English-Spanish speakers. The commitment is manageable: a virtual information session, application, interview, and four-week online training requiring about two hours per week.

"These are kids who someone has determined desperately need an advocate in their corner," Morris said. "And the only obstacle between us helping those kids is getting more volunteers."

Because every child deserves to know what summer feels like.