Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

In 1986, while presiding over Santa Clara County’s Juvenile Dependency Court, Judge Leonard Edwards recognized the need for a consistent, caring person to speak up on behalf of abused and neglected children. As a result, he co-founded Child Advocates of Silicon Valley (Child Advocates) with Nora Manchester. For 21 years, Child Advocates has recruited, trained and supported community volunteers to work one-on-one with children placed in the Dependency System. Our nationally-recognized training program and professional staff have led us to become one of the largest Advocate programs in the nation, providing more than 10,000 Advocates to speak up for over 15,000 foster children since our inception. In the words of Judge Edwards, “Our Child Advocate program is a major component of our court system and a critical asset for the abused and neglected children we see in our courtrooms.”

The mission of Child Advocates is to provide stability and hope to abused and neglected children by being a powerful voice in their lives. We match trained community volunteers (Advocates) with children in the Dependency system. Our Advocates provide support to the children and critical information to the courts in an effort to ensure that their needs and best interests are met. Because they are court-appointed, Advocates are in a unique position to thoroughly research every aspect of a child’s case, including meeting teachers, social workers, and foster parents. Every six months, Advocates provide the court with information regarding the child’s experience since the last court date and outline the Advocate’s recommendations regarding the child’s needs, whether they be social, emotional, or academic. The information Advocates are able to obtain is critical to the judge presiding over a child’s case. Because of the large number of dependency cases, judges have little time and limited information with which to make decisions about a child’s future. The information provided by Advocates gives judges a more complete understanding of a child’s situation. In addition to speaking up for children in court, Advocates serve as stable friends and mentors to foster children during what is a volatile and painful period in their lives.

Presiding Judge Katherine Lucero refers to our Advocates as “an amazing asset to a judge.” She explains, “They offer excellent reports and unique information on the case and are often one of the most valuable sources of input for a judge. Advocates serve as a reminder of the needs of the child.”

The work of Advocate volunteers directly assists the court system, enhances the administration of justice and can make an immense impact on a child’s life. As stated by attorney and current Advocate, Tom Schatzel, “As Advocates we are the only ones that really have the true story about the children. We’re the ones who spend time with the children and can tell the court what’s really going on.” With more than 2,600 children in the Santa Clara County Dependency system, providing more Advocates is critical to the individual children, to the court system, and to our community.  

HOW YOU CAN HELP

QUALIFICATIONS

For more information visit the agency’s website  or contact Samantha Hamilton at Samantha@cadvocates.org or 573-5665 for more information.

To find a specific volunteer opportunity for this agency, go to our search page  and
select the agency’s name.