The holiday season is in full swing! The hustle and bustle of shopping lists, party plans, and endless to-dos. Amidst the flurry of activity, there can be moments of magic if we slow down to embrace the simple joys.
This season, let’s be inspired by conversation and connection. Let’s strive to be present, not perfect.
We know CASA volunteers are present and bringing hope and connection to youth during the holidays, and all year round. We are deeply grateful.
We wish you a simply joyous holiday season!
In The Spotlight – Annual Gift Drive
The moment a child opens a gift and feels pure joy, when love replaces worry—that’s the magic we hope for during the holidays.
The VOICES Gift Drive goes beyond simply collecting brand new items for CASA youth. It’s about giving children a sense of normalcy and allowing them to experience the same excitement and wonder that other children feel during the holiday season.
With the support of a CASA volunteer, these children will receive thoughtful, age-appropriate gifts, helping them feel special and cherished.
The gift exchange also strengthens the bond between the child and their CASA volunteer. This connection with a stable, caring adult builds resilience and offers a sense of security through the holiday season.
None of this would be possible without the incredible support received by the community, and we are deeply grateful for it. VOICES invites you to shop the Amazon Gift List to have brand new items shipped directly to the VOICES main office. Making it easy for you to make an impact and easy for VOICES to get these items into the hands of the kids who need it most.
Your Impact – Your Why – Donating This Holiday Season
A child who has no reason to trust, finds a way to open their heart. They brighten knowing they have consistency not disappointment. This leads to honest conversation about what happened and what they need.
The CASA volunteer is that vital lifeline that can now advocate for the child’s best interest.
You help us support that lifeline so children can dare to believe in hope and can accept joy into their hearts.
Read My CASA Journey to learn more about why your impact is so important.
My CASA Journey – Making a Homecoming Dance Possible
Fall is the season for homecoming dances in high school that not only create memories but generate a sense of belonging for teens in foster care. These events have challenging costs for anyone. Especially for a young teen in kinship care who shared with his CASA volunteer how he wished he could attend the dance that was ONE week away.
In less than three days, his CASA coordinated assistance from Arizona Friends of Foster Children (AFFCF) and VOICES to obtain funding for a suit and dance ticket. His CASA shared, “These are the moments that feel good… to be able to bring some joy to your kiddo’s life!”
In Focus – Arizona QFCO Tax Credit*
Make a positive impact in your community!
Arizona tax payers have an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their communities while reducing their state tax liability. The Arizona Qualified Foster Care Charitable Organization (QFCO) tax credit program enables taxpayers to support youth living in foster care and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit against their state income tax. This is a direct reduction, not deduction. Tax credit thresholds are adjusted annually.
The maximum tax credit threshold for the 2024 tax year:
- $1,173 for married couples filing jointly
- $587 for single filers, heads of households, or married couples filing separately
These contributions help foster care charitable organizations, such as VOICES, to achieve their mission and bring hope to youth whose life circumstances have led them to be removed from their homes.
You must make your donation by the tax filing deadline – April 15, 2025, for the 2024 tax year. Provide your donation receipt to your tax preparer or use Form 352 to claim the QFCO credit on your state tax return.
Be sure to include the VOICES QFCO #10010, which is also included on your donation receipt. Additionally, you may also qualify for a federal tax deduction if you itemize your deductions.
Important Note: Arizona allows stackable tax credits. This means the QFCO tax credit can be combined with other Arizona tax credits, such as those for public schools, private school tuition organizations, and other charitable organizations (QCO).
Thank you for choosing to direct your resources toward hope!
Arizona Department of Revenue’s information on tax credits.
Strengthening Advocacy Through Education – The Complexities of the Holiday Season
For children living in foster care, the holiday season can bring joy and wonder—but it can also stir up complex emotions. Memories of past holidays, missed traditions, and uncertainty about the future may weigh heavily on their hearts. During this time, having a compassionate adult to recognize and support their emotional needs can make all the difference.
In the latest episode of the VOICES podcast, we explore how to support youth through these challenging moments.
Guest speaker Allison Maxon Davis, M.S., LMFT, highlights the crucial role advocates play in helping children stay grounded in the present. When emotions become overwhelming, children benefit greatly from a caring, authentic adult who can regulate their own emotions and create a safe space for the child to express themselves.
Listen to the Full Podcast to learn more about supporting youth with their big emotions.
Positive Outcomes – Reflecting on National Adoption Month
As we turn the page on National Adoption Month, we reflect on the incredible impact of adoption and the importance of creating safe, loving, and permanent homes for children living in foster care. For the thousands of children in need of stability, adoption offers not just a family but a foundation for a brighter future.
At Voices For CASA Children, we witness firsthand the life-changing impact adoption can have on a child. With the unwavering support of CASA volunteers, children living in foster care are given a voice in the court system and an advocate for their well-being. CASAs work alongside child welfare professionals, families, and the courts to ensure that every child has the best chance of finding a permanent, loving home.
This November marked the 25th Annual National Adoption Day celebration in Maricopa County. Since its inception in 1999, this event has finalized more than 4,500 adoptions in the county, helping children join forever families and transforming lives in the process.
This year’s celebration featured the finalization of 55 adoptions, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, and underscored the profound love and dedication adoptive families bring to the table.
The day was filled with festivities, including face painting, games, and a special visit from the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, making it a joyful and memorable occasion for families and children alike.
Although National Adoption Month has ended, we’re reminded that the journey toward permanency is a year-round collective effort. CASA volunteers, adoptive families, and community advocates play a vital role in ensuring every child feels valued and supported.
Thank you to the adoptive parents who open their hearts and homes, creating a nurturing environment where children can heal, grow, and thrive. Adoption journeys can be challenging, but they are also filled with hope, resilience, and love. The impact adoption can make in a child’s life is immeasurable, offering them not only stability and care but also the chance to dream, succeed, and flourish in a forever family.
Community & Youth Connections – Partners in Advocacy
CASA support councils from across Arizona convened this fall to collaborate and share knowledge, resources and efforts, all aimed at enhancing the well-being and outcomes for youth living in foster care. These dedicated community members highlighted such priorities as addressing essential and emergency needs for children, providing support for kinship caregivers, creating welcoming, safe spaces for family visits, birthdays and other events, innovative partnerships (like an orthodontia program), and enriching the lives of children through outings, camps, lessons and other experiences that foster joy and a sense of normalcy.
CASA support council members also toured Red Hawk Ranch, an innovative mountainside home located in Navajo County, which provides placement and supporting services for sibling groups in a family-like setting where brothers and sisters can live, play and attend school together.
If you would like to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact as a CASA volunteer, please join us for an upcoming Information Session!
(This was the Voices of Hope, December 2024 newsletter. Subscribe to receive more.)
