Community Resource Agency Assignment
Scope
Voices for Children is a non-profit organization that helps foster children in San Diego and Riverside Counties. I phoned the agency and spoke with Kristen Balelo, Senior Assistant Program Manager, on November 1, 2016. She described the societal problems affected by foster children when they are removed from their homes. On any given day there are about 3,500 open cases of child abuse in San Diego County. These large numbers of foster children 's cases has overwhelmed the court system. Each child removed from their home will receive a hearing in court every 6 months. A juvenile court judge can have as many as 500 cases to oversee. Social workers may represent up to 25 children 's …show more content…
It is traumatic for a child to be placed with new people who may have different cultures, religions, and disciplinary rules. Most foster children have to change schools. Many of these children have behavior problems at school. About one-fourth of foster children show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Attachment issues happen often with children who have been moved to more than one school. School records are sometimes lost when changing schools. Each time a child moves, they must adjust to a new family, a new school, a new therapist, and a new attorney. A lot of these children have learned to push away people, and detach. A parent can try to rectify the issue that led to the removal of their child. In order to have their child returned home, the parent must fix the problem by following a case plan established by the court. Counseling is necessary for the entire …show more content…
I had a phone interview with Kristen Balelo, Senior Assistant Program Manager, 858-598-2291. Her email address is KristenB@speakupnow.org. The website is https://www.speakupnow.org. Voices for Children trains volunteers to advocate for foster children. The volunteers are called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA 's). The agency goal is to provide a CASA to every child in need. The CASA reports to the court what they think is the best plan for the child 's well-being. A CASA is given the authority by a judge to oversee the child 's case in and out of court. CASA 's must be 21 years of age, commit to a minimum of 18 months of service. A CASA will be trained for a total of 35 hours online, and in the classroom. CASA 's must observe a judge at the Juvenile Dependency Court. An Advocacy Supervisor will guide the trainee through an assigned case. After graduating from the special training, the CASA will receive a security clearance. When all of the training is complete a CASA will be appointed one child 's case to work by
Scope
Voices for Children is a non-profit organization that helps foster children in San Diego and Riverside Counties. I phoned the agency and spoke with Kristen Balelo, Senior Assistant Program Manager, on November 1, 2016. She described the societal problems affected by foster children when they are removed from their homes. On any given day there are about 3,500 open cases of child abuse in San Diego County. These large numbers of foster children 's cases has overwhelmed the court system. Each child removed from their home will receive a hearing in court every 6 months. A juvenile court judge can have as many as 500 cases to oversee. Social workers may represent up to 25 children 's …show more content…
It is traumatic for a child to be placed with new people who may have different cultures, religions, and disciplinary rules. Most foster children have to change schools. Many of these children have behavior problems at school. About one-fourth of foster children show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Attachment issues happen often with children who have been moved to more than one school. School records are sometimes lost when changing schools. Each time a child moves, they must adjust to a new family, a new school, a new therapist, and a new attorney. A lot of these children have learned to push away people, and detach. A parent can try to rectify the issue that led to the removal of their child. In order to have their child returned home, the parent must fix the problem by following a case plan established by the court. Counseling is necessary for the entire …show more content…
I had a phone interview with Kristen Balelo, Senior Assistant Program Manager, 858-598-2291. Her email address is KristenB@speakupnow.org. The website is https://www.speakupnow.org. Voices for Children trains volunteers to advocate for foster children. The volunteers are called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA 's). The agency goal is to provide a CASA to every child in need. The CASA reports to the court what they think is the best plan for the child 's well-being. A CASA is given the authority by a judge to oversee the child 's case in and out of court. CASA 's must be 21 years of age, commit to a minimum of 18 months of service. A CASA will be trained for a total of 35 hours online, and in the classroom. CASA 's must observe a judge at the Juvenile Dependency Court. An Advocacy Supervisor will guide the trainee through an assigned case. After graduating from the special training, the CASA will receive a security clearance. When all of the training is complete a CASA will be appointed one child 's case to work by