Radio Alice at 97.3FM interviewed Maya Durrett, Program Director for SFCASA, and Ashley Rhodes-Courter, author of “Three Little Words,” a memoir about spending nine difficult years in the foster care system. Ashley was the featured speaker at this year’s annual Board of Director’s luncheon, celebrating SFCASA’s 20^th Anniversary.

In the interview, Maya discusses the SFCASA program, the role of the CASA and challenges they face. Ashley, who lived in 14 different homes, was assigned a CASA at age 7 and talks about the pivotal role that her CASA played in her life, calling her a “game-changer and a lifesaver.” (more…)

In honor of Women’s History Month, SFCASA has chosen to acknowledge a handful of exceptional women volunteers, courageous women who have advocated on behalf of foster children. By publicly recognizing these unfaltering champions for their great acts of kindness, our hope is to enlighten the population of a growing concern in our community. These exceptional women, in turn, would like to share with us their experiences as CASA volunteers and what it means to be the voice for disadvantaged youth.

“CASA has been one of the most intense and meaningful experiences of my life because of its unique combination of effectiveness on so many levels: personal connection with families, individual advocacy within the system, and larger issues of social justice. I really believe that the involvement of volunteer advocates has had a significant impact on the laws and practices affecting foster children and youth today.”
Libby Colman, CASA for 10 years

“My CASA child had a reading and computing level of 1st/2nd grade at age seventeen, obesity, and teeth so weak she needed to be fitted with full dentures by age eighteen. My chief contribution was to get the most services possible from the education and medical bureaucracies.”
Faith Jansen, CASA for 9 years

“Whatever time you have to devote to a child, it’s more than that child has ever had. You don’t need any special skills. It’s all about caring and common sense.”
Susan Forstadt, CASA for 20 years

“Volunteering over the years has been immensely rewarding as I have seen first-hand the critical role that CASA volunteers and CASA itself plays—CASA volunteers offer that constant positive presence that youth in foster care don’t always have but really need in their lives, and CASA tirelessly pushes to improve the services available to foster youth.”
Marg Tobias, CASA for 12 years

“To be the sole constant in a child’s life is a privilege as well as a responsibility; every child deserves someone to be in his/her corner unconditionally. I know I have made a difference by simply being there.”
Liz Vogel, CASA for 9 years.

These phenomenal women will be forever written in our SFCASA history. We thank you for your devotion and unwavering commitment to your CASA children and for being leading examples for current and future volunteers!