Meet our Volunteers

SFCASA volunteers are individuals committed to helping San Francisco’s most vulnerable children to be safe, to feel valued, and to have the opportunities that all children deserve.

Margaret, 37, is a CPA with a full professional and social life, a kayak that she rows on the Bay, and early family exposure to domestic violence and alcoholism. When a friend told her about his experience as an SFCASA volunteer, Margaret decided to learn about this unusual opportunity to help a child. The evening SFCASA trainings accommodated Margaret’s professional time commitments, and after passing the stringent SFCASA screening requirements and completing the 40-hour training, she was assigned to seven-year-old Ariel. Abused since toddlerhood, Ariel was emotionally disturbed, aggressive in school, and with speech and learning delays, a challenging candidate for adoption.

Margaret went to work advocating for healthcare evaluations and therapies to remedy the little girl’s speech delays and aggressive behaviors, and arranged for Ariel to be placed in a non-public school for emotionally disturbed children. In this safe learning environment, Ariel began to thrive. When a prospective adoptive home was found, Margaret made sure that the adoptive parents understood all of Ariel’s challenges, kept them apprised of the progress of the adoption, and participated in get-acquainted visits to help Ariel feel safe while she and her prospective parents got to know each other. Margaret’s reward, after so much hard and dedicated work, is that Ariel has been adopted into a loving home.

Art, 72, is a retired Santa Barbara realtor who recently moved to San Francisco to be near his son and grandchildren. In addition to keeping up golf and continuing education classes, Art decided to give of his time, and he wanted to see results. When Art’s grandson found SFCASA on the Web, Art attended an orientation at SFCASA and was shocked to learn of the dire condition of children in foster care.

After he was trained and sworn, Art met with Leo, 14, in the young man’s fourth group home placement in 21 months. Leo was failing his classes, was overweight, and had been assessed as emotionally disturbed. His recent placement change from an out-of-county group home had made his therapist inaccessible. And at first, Leo did not like Art. But Art went to work for Leo, and he got results: an updated IEP with tutoring and placement in a non-public school where Leo receives individualized attention, transportation to Leo’s therapist’s office, and a YMCA membership. Art also joined the Y, and now both enjoy swimming.

More Volunteer Stories here..
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