Child Advocates

* In addition to the three key reforms mentioned in your Aug. 4 editorial, “Help for Foster Care,” there is another component already in place that greatly enhances the life of a foster child. A court-appointed special advocate is a volunteer who is appointed by the court to help manage the court-mandated care of the foster child and represent his or her best interest in Children’s Court. The cost to recruit, train and supervise one volunteer is $500. Currently there are 300 volunteers and 50,000 children under the jurisdiction of the Children’s Dependency Court in Los Angeles County.

Friends of Child Advocates is the fund-raising arm of the program.

CAROL G. MISHELL

Secretary, Board of Directors

Friends of Child Advocates

Los Angeles