Mariana Robles was selected as Voices for Children's (VFC) Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer of the year at a graduation ceremony held on Dec. 10 at the Elks Lodge in Riverside. Each year, Voices for Children honors a CASA volunteer who set a remarkable example in advocating for youth who live in foster care. Robles was chosen for her steadfast support for youth and her willingness to go the extra mile for each family she serves.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Robles came to the U.S. to attend graduate school and received her teaching credential at UC Riverside. She retired in 2020 after 27 years as a teacher in the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD). As a teacher – and teacher liaison for the final four years – she developed a mentoring system for her peers. Robles also served as vice president of the Riverside County Office Teachers Association. Tireless in her advocacy since retiring from RUSD, Robles devoted herself to working on behalf of children – specifically, dedicating herself to sibling groups.
Using her bilingual and education skills, Robles helped multiple families reunite by supporting Spanish-speaking parents. One case showed her deep, thoughtful, and purposeful strengths, according to the Voices for Children website: “When one of her case children wanted to take a baking class, Mariana advocated for this in court and collaborated with the boy’s social worker to find one for him to participate in that was close to home.” As an artist and educator, Robles knew how meaningful the class would be to that particular child.
Robles also serves as a member of the VFC Legislative Action Team and works to analyze how CASA volunteers can become ambassadors for the CASA model. “Mariana deserves to be honored for her unwavering support of our organization and the children she has served as a CASA,” Voices for Children President/CEO Jessica Muñoz said. “She is a CASA that not only advocates for children, but also the parents too, and has positively impacted the lives of so many families in her community through her work. Her consistency, positivity, and willingness to do whatever it takes to secure what is best for children make her a stellar example of a CASA. We are so grateful that Mariana is part of our team, and we warmly congratulate her on being named CASA of the Year for 2024.”
The CASA volunteer program is vital to supporting the health and safety of young children and youth in foster care. Children in the foster care system are often victims of abuse and neglect, among myriad challenges. A trusted advocate and support network can be instrumental in a foster child’s life and facilitate better outcomes for everyone involved.
“Receiving this award is a huge honor,” Robles said. “I have met such wonderful people and learned more than I ever thought possible through my involvement with Voices for Children, and I’m still humbled that they chose me as CASA of the Year. Being a CASA gives me a sense of purpose because it is such important work – these kids don’t deserve what happens to them, and if we can help them, we should.”
Forty-five new CASA volunteers were sworn in by Judge Mark E. Petersen at the graduation ceremony in which Robles was honored as volunteer of the year. To learn more about the valuable work that CASA volunteers do and find out how to become one, visit speakupnow.org.
