Organization: CHILD ADVOCATES OF SILICON VALLEY
Mission: MATCHING TRAINED COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES WITH CHILDREN IN THE JUVENILE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM.
Activities: CHILD ADVOCATES OF SILICON VALLEY,INC. TRAINS AND SUPPORTS COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING A POWERFUL, INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR THE CHILD. THESE DEDICATED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS SPEND TIME WITH A CHILD AND BECOME A TRUSTED FRIEND, MENTOR, AND CONSTANT ADULT PRESENCE. THEY WORK WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS, TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS, AND OTHERS TO GET A COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE CHILD'S LIFE AND NEEDS. AND THEY PREPARE REGULAR REPORTS AND ATTEND HEARINGS IN DEPENDENCY COURT TO ADVISE THE JUDGE ON THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS WHEN KEY DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.FOUNDED IN 1986, CHILD ADVOCATES OF SILICON VALLEY, INC. WORKS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY JUVENILE DEPENDENCY COURT, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL COURT. THE COURT IS CHANGING THE WAY THE CHILD DEPENDENCY SYSTEM HAS TRADITIONALLY WORKED, FOCUSING ON HEALING THE FAMILY, INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING THE CHILD AWAY. IN ADDITION TO COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA), WHO UNDERGO 30+ HOURS OF TRAINING AND SPEND THREE TO FOUR HOURS A WEEK WITH THE CHILD OR WORKING ON THE CASE. THE AGENCY EMPHASIZES EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES TO HELP ENSURE THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF THE FOSTER CHILDREN BY FOLLOWING EACH CHILD'S PROGRESS IN SCHOOL, IDENTIFYING AVAILABLE ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT RESOURCES, AND MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOL RECORDS ARE TRANSFERRED IN ENTIRETY WHEN THE CHILD CHANGES SCHOOLS. CHILD ADVOCATES OF SILICON VALLEY, INC. IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CASA ASSOCIATION AND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OF OVER 950 PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE.THE AGENCY'S CASA VOLUNTEERS ARE USUALLY THE MOST CONSISTENT ADULT RELATIONSHIP IN THE LIVES OF THESE VULNERABLE CHILDREN. CASAS MEET WEEKLY WITH THEIR CHILD(REN) AND ARE THEIR CHAMPION, GIVING VOICE TO THEIR ISSUES AND MAKING THEIR CONCERNS "REAL" TO THE COURTS. SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S FORMER DEPENDENCY COURT SUPERVISING JUDGE KATERINE LUCERO SAYS, "ADVOCATE VOLUNTEERS ARE INVALUABLE IN HELPING JUDGES MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN. I KNOW THAT WITH AN ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER ON HIS OR HER SIDE, AN ABUSED CHILD HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF ENDING UP IN A SAFE, PERMANENT, LOVING HOME."DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020, THE AGENCY SUPPORTED 650 ADVOCATES IN THEIR WORK WITH 940 CHILDREN.
NTEE category: Crime & Legal-Related
Secondary category: Human Services