Courtesy of Voices for Children:
Community volunteer and University City resident Ed Rubenstein has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (a CASA) with Voices for Children for nearly seven years.
Ed says his wife had encouraged him to apply when she heard about the need on the radio. Ed’s own children were grown, and he says, “I thought about how much I could give.”
No special experience is required to volunteer; all the training needed is provided. In fact, Ed’s background couldn’t be further from the foster care field. He owned and operated his own advertising and marketing agency in University City for 28 years, until retiring one year ago.
CASAs, like Ed, work one-on-one with a child or group of siblings in foster care. They get to know the children, gather important information from reports and professionals, and advocate for the children’s best interests. These children have been abused, abandoned, or neglected and removed from their homes.
Ed notes it can be challenging and that “the ‘emotional roller coaster’ of the issues is very difficult.” However, the rewards make up for it, and Ed reflects on being able to “see the progress that has been made with the child—I feel good knowing that I was able to afford the child a better way of looking at the future.”
With the support of a CASA volunteer, a foster child is more likely to succeed in school, receive vital services, and find a safe, permanent home.
More information and dates for volunteer information sessions can be found at www.speakupnow.org.
Editor’s note: There are currently banners hanging on light poles in south University City (such as those attached to this post) to draw attention to Voices for Children.
If you have a news item to share, please submit your story through UCCA’s Contact Us link at https://www.universitycitynews.org/contact-us-or-volunteer-in-uc/
Review article guidelines at https://www.universitycitynews.org/ucca-newsletter-archives/
What do Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, ImproveUC and UCCA have in common? They are all ways neighbors can connect with neighbors and the University City community. Create a post, start a conversation, share the news, organize an event, keep in touch, take a look:
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/universitycitycommunityassociation
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/UCCA_SD
- Nextdoor– https://nextdoor.com/sandiego/
- ImproveUC– http://improveuc.org/
- UCCA – https://www.universitycitynews.org/
