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
Bonnie Brown, 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
An example of her grandfather’s traditional silver and turquoise rings, a cherished symbol of his Native heritage.
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
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.”
When we got back to the car, she SCREAMED, and I asked her why. She said, “I just had the BEST TIME of my whole life.”
(CASA Volunteer sharing the joy of a child following an outing together).
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.)
