Congressman Filner Honors Co-Founder of San Diego Based Voices for Children as an Angel in Adoption

Congressman Filner honors Kathryn Ashworth, Co-Founder of Voices for Children, as an Angel in Adoption at a ceremony in Washington, DC, today.

Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Bob Filner recognized Kathryn Ashworth as a 2012 Angel in Adoption for her advocacy of foster care issues over the past three decades as co-founder of Voices for Children (VFC).  Congressman Filner joined Kathryn at a special ceremony in the Rayburn House Office Building today.

“It is a privilege to honor Kathryn who has dedicated herself to aiding those who are the most vulnerable in our court system, foster children,” said Congressman Filner.  “As the co-founder of Voices for Children and a longtime Court Appointed Special Advocate, she has truly embodied what it means to be an Angel to children who don’t have a parent to look after their best interest.”

Kathryn Ashworth is being honored for her 32 years of work with Voices for Children.  The agency began in 1980 when Kathryn, a University of San Diego law student, and the late Elizabeth Brainerd Bacon, a social worker, set up a desk in the hallway of Juvenile Court.  They recruited friends and Junior League members to review the files of children under the court’s jurisdiction.  The two women were committed to finding ways to improve foster care and help judges make better decisions on behalf of foster children. 

In 1977, a group in Seattle had developed a new volunteer advocate model called “Court Appointed Special Advocates” (“CASAs”) for juvenile court.  Kathryn and Elizabeth adopted this format, which in San Diego became Voices for Children.  In 1983, Kathryn graduated with the first CASA training class at VFC and today, retired from her law practice (Ashworth Blanchet Christenson & Kalemkiarian), she continues to volunteer as a CASA. 

For more information about Voices for Children, visit www.voices4children.com/ .

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