Untitled Page

• Art Project for Kids

• Children Needs Fund

• Bear Necessities

• Picturing Ourselves

• Holiday Toy Drive

• Project Birthday

• Summer Camp

• Be an Angel

_______________________________
• Art Project for Kids
The Guardian Ad Litem Program, in conjunction with Voices For ChildrenFoundation and National CASA Association, is holding an art project forteens in the foster care system. The theme is:

De Donde Soy, a Donde Voy
(Who I Am, Where I'm Headed)

Ten to fifteen current and former foster care youth, age 12 to 17, will havethe opportunity to attend two evening workshops conducted by renowned artist Xavier Cortada. The first session is on March 8, and will focus on introducing the theme and teaching some basic techniques. The second session, to be held on March 18, will be more hands-on, with the children expressing themselves through painting.

An art exhibit and reception featuring the teens' art pieces will be held
on April 7 at Waters and Colors Gallery on 701 Lincoln Road from 6pm to 9pm. Their paintings will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be used topay for art scholarships or art lessons for them. Guardian volunteers Voicesboard members and donors, judges, local dignitaries, the teen artists, other special guests and the press will be invited for hors d'ouevres andcocktails, and will have a chance to meet the young artists.

Voices For Children will ensure that every child receives an art supply kitjust for entering the contest. Additionally, the three best young artists will be selected by a panel of judges, and will have the chance to fly to Los Angeles, where a similar reception will be held with the local CASA program. Likewise, the three Los Angeles winners will fly here and attend our art reception.

• Children’s Needs Fund
The purpose of this fund is to fill the gap between State funding and children’s real needs. Direct financial assistance for those currently in the child protection system often-times covers immediate necessities, such as food, clothing, medical and/or psychological care. Voices supplements the State’s allotment to these children, as well as provides for other essentials like clothing, school supplies, tutoring, school uniforms and other emergency needs. Furthermore, since enrichment experiences are essential to a child’s processes of learning and understanding their surrounding world, Voices also provides children with the things that they deserve, such as field trips, summer camps, sports, arts, culture and more.
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• Bear Necessities
This project is based on a model program from Los Angeles, California. Voices provides judges with brand-new teddy bears to give to children entering their court rooms, a gesture of kindness and understanding, that helps to forge a relationship of trust and to make children feel more comfortable, thus easing the trauma of being in court. (back to top)

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• Picturing Ourselves

This project assists those in the child-protection system with understanding and communicating their experiences, through photography and writing, thereby improving self-esteem and awareness. Children are given a 35mm camera and several rolls of film and are asked to take photographs depicting themselves and their emotions, families, communities and dreams. Afterwards, children select the photographs they feel best illustrate the various categories and are asked to explain their choices to the group. Later, their interpretations are preserved in essay format. (back to top)

________________________________________

• Holiday Toy Drive
This project provides all children in foster care with new, wrapped toys for the Holidays. (back to top)

________________________________________

• Project Birthday
This project provides all children in the child-protection system with a special birthday celebration. Children ages one to 18 receive a birthday cake with candles, paper hats, party favors, paper and plastic ware, snacks, soda and a birthday present. Unfortunately, many of these children would not have a birthday celebration if not for this project. (back to top)

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• Summer Camp
Voices pays for children in the child-protection system to attend summer camp programs throughout Miami-Dade County, through the county's and city's Parks and Recreation Departments. Additionally, Voices joins with Summer Fun For Kids and provides specialty camp experiences, such as Shake-A-Leg camp, for children with disabilities, NFL Summer Camp, Operation Smile, for children with HIV/Aids, and the YMCA. (back to top)

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• Be An Angel
Help Us Help Them.
Daisy-15 years & Deidra-4 years
(Note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of children).

Daisy & Deidra’s parents are divorced and their mother recently remarried. After spilling her milk, Deidra was severely beaten with a belt by her stepfather, leaving welts and bruises. Both Daisy and Deidra have been removed from their home and placed with relatives.

It costs the Miami-Dade County Guardian Ad Litem Program over $500 to represent each abused or neglected child in one year. By joining our Angel Society with a contribution of $500, you support one abused, abandoned or neglected child involved in court proceedings for one year. You can Be An Angel and give a child the protection, care, and support that a guardian ad litem provides. (back to top)


		special programs

			• Art Project for Kids • Children Needs Fund • Bear Necessities • Picturing Ourselves • Holiday Toy Drive • Project Birthday • Summer Camp • Be an Angel _______________________________ • Art Project for Kids The Guardian Ad Litem Program, in conjunction with Voices For ChildrenFoundation and National CASA Association, is holding an art project forteens in the foster care system. The theme is: De Donde Soy, a Donde Voy (Who I Am, Where I'm Headed) Ten to fifteen current and former foster care youth, age 12 to 17, will havethe opportunity to attend two evening workshops conducted by renowned artist Xavier Cortada. The first session is on March 8, and will focus on introducing the theme and teaching some basic techniques. The second session, to be held on March 18, will be more hands-on, with the children expressing themselves through painting. An art exhibit and reception featuring the teens' art pieces will be held on April 7 at Waters and Colors Gallery on 701 Lincoln Road from 6pm to 9pm. Their paintings will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be used topay for art scholarships or art lessons for them. Guardian volunteers Voicesboard members and donors, judges, local dignitaries, the teen artists, other special guests and the press will be invited for hors d'ouevres andcocktails, and will have a chance to meet the young artists. Voices For Children will ensure that every child receives an art supply kitjust for entering the contest. Additionally, the three best young artists will be selected by a panel of judges, and will have the chance to fly to Los Angeles, where a similar reception will be held with the local CASA program. Likewise, the three Los Angeles winners will fly here and attend our art reception. • Children’s Needs Fund The purpose of this fund is to fill the gap between State funding and children’s real needs. Direct financial assistance for those currently in the child protection system often-times covers immediate necessities, such as food, clothing, medical and/or psychological care. Voices supplements the State’s allotment to these children, as well as provides for other essentials like clothing, school supplies, tutoring, school uniforms and other emergency needs. Furthermore, since enrichment experiences are essential to a child’s processes of learning and understanding their surrounding world, Voices also provides children with the things that they deserve, such as field trips, summer camps, sports, arts, culture and more. (back to top) ________________________________________ • Bear Necessities This project is based on a model program from Los Angeles, California. Voices provides judges with brand-new teddy bears to give to children entering their court rooms, a gesture of kindness and understanding, that helps to forge a relationship of trust and to make children feel more comfortable, thus easing the trauma of being in court. (back to top) ________________________________________ • Picturing Ourselves This project assists those in the child-protection system with understanding and communicating their experiences, through photography and writing, thereby improving self-esteem and awareness. Children are given a 35mm camera and several rolls of film and are asked to take photographs depicting themselves and their emotions, families, communities and dreams. Afterwards, children select the photographs they feel best illustrate the various categories and are asked to explain their choices to the group. Later, their interpretations are preserved in essay format. (back to top) ________________________________________ • Holiday Toy Drive This project provides all children in foster care with new, wrapped toys for the Holidays. (back to top) ________________________________________ • Project Birthday This project provides all children in the child-protection system with a special birthday celebration. Children ages one to 18 receive a birthday cake with candles, paper hats, party favors, paper and plastic ware, snacks, soda and a birthday present. Unfortunately, many of these children would not have a birthday celebration if not for this project. (back to top) _______________________________________ • Summer Camp Voices pays for children in the child-protection system to attend summer camp programs throughout Miami-Dade County, through the county's and city's Parks and Recreation Departments. Additionally, Voices joins with Summer Fun For Kids and provides specialty camp experiences, such as Shake-A-Leg camp, for children with disabilities, NFL Summer Camp, Operation Smile, for children with HIV/Aids, and the YMCA. (back to top) ________________________________________ • Be An Angel *Help Us Help Them.* Daisy-15 years & Deidra-4 years (Note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of children). Daisy & Deidra’s parents are divorced and their mother recently remarried. After spilling her milk, Deidra was severely beaten with a belt by her stepfather, leaving welts and bruises. Both Daisy and Deidra have been removed from their home and placed with relatives. It costs the Miami-Dade County Guardian Ad Litem Program over $500 to represent each abused or neglected child in one year. By joining our Angel Society with a contribution of $500, you support one abused, abandoned or neglected child involved in court proceedings for one year. You can Be An Angel and give a child the protection, care, and support that a guardian ad litem provides. (back to top)