Young people count on caring adults to keep them safe, loved and guide them to a life of opportunities. We are thankful for Court Appointed Special Advocates that focus on being the voice for teens. We also give thanks to all of you who trust us to support all CASA volunteers in this important journey. We are honored and forever grateful.
In The Spotlight – Creating Spontaneity Holiday Toy Drive
That special moment when a child opens a gift and feels instant joy – when the child feels love instead of concern. The spontaneous holiday moments we hope will flow naturally this year actually requires advanced thought and planning. One example of holiday readiness is the 2023 Voices for CASA Children toy drive that is taking place now.
The VOICES Toy Drive isn’t just about collecting toys. It is about creating a sense of normalcy and giving these children the ability to experience the same excitement and wonder as other children during the holiday season.
With a CASA volunteer by their side, these children will receive new, age appropriate gifts and an opportunity to feel special and valued. The interaction also fosters a closer bond between the child and the CASA volunteer. Strengthening this connection to the one consistent adult in the child’s life helps build resilience needed through the holiday season.
This would not be possible without the support VOICES receives from the local Arizona community and we thank you for that! VOICES encourages individuals and organizations to come together to make a positive impact in the lives of these children this upcoming holiday season.
Check out the VOICES Toy Drive wish list.
Celebrating Positive Outcomes – A Loving Family Created Through Adoption!
November is National Adoption Month. It is an opportunity to shine a light on the adoption journey and the many loving families that have come together as a result.
CASA volunteers are crucial to ensuring a youth’s voice is heard. They can also help make sure the complicated emotions of birth-family loss and adopted-family joy are acknowledged.
The National theme for 2023 is Empowering Youth: Finding Points of Connection. Learn more at the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
In Arizona, various activities are held throughout the month. In Maricopa County, National Adoption Day will be celebrated on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
If you know of a family that is on the adoption journey make sure to support and celebrate the entire family unit; parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Every family member is crucial in the family framework and will help the newest family member see that a permanent, loving family is possible – and has happened for them!
Community & Youth Connections – Arizona CASA Support Council Meeting
In October, VOICES hosted our partner Support Councils from across the state who support the CASA volunteers and youth in foster care in their local County. Together, we seek to ensure all Arizona counties have support for recruitment of CASA volunteers and learn from each other on the best strategies for foster youth essential needs. Great ideas were shared by all!
Special guests Charlie Gray, CASA of Arizona Program Manager and Luis DeLaCruz, President & CEO, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation provided insight and shared in the collaboration.
In Focus: Qualified Foster Care Organization (QFCO) Tax Credit*
Why it matters: Supporting youth and child advocates requires community support
A charitable heart in Arizona can reap rewards that go beyond knowing we are making a difference in our community. Thanks to the Qualified Foster Care Organization tax credit program, Arizona tax payers have an opportunity to take advantage of a dollar-for-dollar tax credit and save on their Arizona state taxes.
Simply donate to a QFCO, note the organization’s QFCO number (10010 for VOICES) keep your receipt and then include it in your tax preparation. The tax credit threshold is adjusted annually for inflation.
Tax Year 2023:
- $587 single, married filing separate or head of household
- $1,173 for married filing jointly
This can apply for donations made in 2023 or donations made January 1, 2024 – April 15, 2024 if being claimed on the 2023 Arizona income tax return.
It is important to note that a QFCO tax credit can be claimed in addition to other tax credits, such as as those made to a Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO), Public Schools or tax-deductible donations such as those made to cultural or animal welfare organizations.
To learn more visit: Arizona Department of Revenue
*Always speak to your Tax Advisor
Strengthening Advocacy Through Education – Supporting Youth in Times of Transition November 2023
We look forward to the holidays for the time spent with family and friends, eating our favorite foods and participating in special rituals that give us a sense of belonging. For adoptees and children in foster care, these aspects of the holidays can bring painful memories and reminders of the people and connections they are missing.
Often, these feelings are confusing and misunderstood. Adults may see a grieving child as angry or unappreciative. It is crucial that caregivers and those who support these youth not shy away from difficult conversations and the complexity that this season brings. Just having a caring adult listen and help the child name their feelings can be a powerful tool for healing.
VOICES includes these topics in our education track that is specific for CASA volunteers, such as the upcoming live webinar with Katie Wynen, an adoption social worker, who will focus on this topic of holiday rituals and traditions. CASA volunteers will learn the language of support and how to approach these conversations with youth in order to send an important message of validation.
To learn more about rituals and holiday traditions as they relate to adopted children and families, visit Pact, An Adoption Alliance.
(This was the Voices of Hope Newsletter, November 2023. Subscribe to receive more.)
