FROM LEFT: Kimberly Horowitz, Evan Henderson, Shiloh Henderson, Sarah Kudela, Kayla Flores, Ellena Barlow, and Hon. Judge Erika Ziegenhorn. NOT PICTURED: Sharon Bell, Geraldine Ly.
Eight community members were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children in foster care, juvenile and truancy court systems on Aug. 19, 2025. The ceremony was conducted by the Hon. Judge Erika Ziegenhorn following the completion of CASA’s 35-hour training program.
CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who are paired one-on-one with children involved in the county’s dependency, juvenile, and truancy courts. Advocates work as officers of the court, ensuring the needs of the children they represent are recognized and their best interests are considered in the courtroom, at school, and within the community.
While there is a particular need for bilingual and male volunteers, CASA encourages people of all backgrounds, cultures, professions, and educational levels to get involved. Volunteers can make a lasting impact by committing just a few hours each week.
For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer advocate, contact Clarita Cortes at (831) 761-2956, ext. 102, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org/volunteer.
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California’s Budget Decisions Are Failing Its Most Vulnerable Children
Difficult decisions were made to pass the California state budget this year. We understand lawmakers worked hard to protect essential programs. However, much more could have been done for foster and justice-involved youth.
Among the most alarming cuts was the elimination of statewide CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) funding, including for programs serving children in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Many vulnerable communities will feel the impact of these budget cuts, but for foster and justice-involved youth, being overlooked is nothing new. They are often left out of critical decisions and treated as an afterthought. Yet the state has both a legal and moral obligation to protect them. With the fourth-largest economy in the world, California has the resources. Lawmakers can choose to prioritize these children.
CASA programs are not only essential to foster children, they are required by law. California’s Rule of Court 5.655 outlines the legal and fiscal standards CASA programs must meet. Yet the lack of steady, adequate state funding undermines the state’s own mandate. This means fewer volunteers, fewer children served, and more young people navigating hostile systems alone, putting them at greater risk.
State funding could have ensured that children across all counties would be served by a trained Advocate. Without it, support now varies wildly by region. Smaller and rural counties, with fewer resources, have been hit hardest, resulting in children being denied support because of where they live.
This cut to the state budget isn’t just a missed opportunity. It’s a crisis. Children we fail today grow into struggling adults tomorrow. Without intervention, over half of youth who age out of foster care face homelessness, incarceration, or unemployment within two years. Nearly 80 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system end up involved in the adult criminal system.
When children receive early and consistent support, they are more likely to thrive into adulthood. CASA services lead to reduced time in the system, stronger educational outcomes, and lower rates of recidivism. Trained volunteer advocates help ensure each child’s safety and well-being while guiding them through complex systems. These outcomes save the state and counties money in the short term and lessen future spending on costly adult systems of care.
We are deeply grateful for our local community members, partners, and donors stepping up to protect these life-changing services. And we thank those lawmakers, including Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and State Senator John Laird, who fought to protect programs like CASA this year. We look forward to working with lawmakers to restore this vital funding in the future.
None of us condone the abuse and neglect these children have suffered. None of us want to leave a child in danger. California has made repeated commitments to child well-being but continues to leave foster and justice involved youth behind. So, let’s align our values with meaningful investment. These children deserve better.
CASA of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties advocate for and mentor children in foster care and juvenile court systems and will keep demanding the resources necessary for them to heal and thrive.