Our goal is to have a highly trained and professionally supported CASA volunteer advocate appointed to every case and every child in CYFD custody. This commitment provides value to the community in that social workers and courts receive more information to help them do their jobs more effectively, the children have an independent voice in court that is concerned with their best interest, families have someone trying to identify their strengths as well as their obstacles to progress, and the community has another set of eyes and ears for our most vulnerable children.

Better outcomes for children in foster care directly benefit the children and their families. Statistics show that children with a CASA spend 7.5 months less in foster care, experience fewer out of home placements, and have significantly improved educational performance. More than 90% of children with a CASA never reenter the child welfare system, compared with 63% of the general foster care population. This outcome also results in significant savings in child welfare expenses. Children with a CASA, and their families, receive more court-ordered services because of the volunteer’s detailed knowledge of the child’s circumstances, but these services are more carefully targeted and monitored also resulting in a more effective use of service dollars.

Our organization has continued to grow and expand our programs. We started in Sandoval county in 1998 and have grown the program to cover 100% of the children in foster care with a CASA volunteer advocate. We took over the Valencia County program in 2016 with a 6% rate of coverage. We have grown the program to cover 49% of the children in the foster care system. We will continue to expand our program until every child has been assigned a CASA volunteer advocate.

We are a part of the National CASA program and a member in good standing with that organization. We track our volunteers and cases on a monthly basis. We collect data from our volunteers monthly and report this information to the Administrative Office of the Courts. We also collect and report data for the various grants we receive, including a Victims of Crime grant. We have also worked diligently to be fiscally responsible in order to sustain our programs. Our Board of Directors works closely with our administrative staff to ensure we are in compliance with all state and federal regulations. We expanded our Sandoval County program from 88% coverage in 2017 to 100% coverage today. Our Valencia County coverage increased from 13% coverage in 2017 to 49% coverage today. We have added a social media platform through our website and Facebook. Our donations have increased from just over $5,000.00 in 2017 to over $25,000.00 in 2019.

We have grown our program and expanded into a second county. Our program is financially stable and continues to support our goal and mission. We expanded our Sandoval County program from 88% coverage in 2017 to 100% coverage today. Our Valencia County coverage increased from 13% coverage in 2017 to 49% coverage today. During this time of growth we have continued to strengthen our financial status and have been fortunate to receive substantial grants and donations. Our ultimate goal is to serve all children in foster care in our two counties. We are well on the way to this goal even as the number of children in foster care and the severity of the cases is increasing. We have been able attract incredible volunteers who are committed to the CASA program and to our kids. We will continue to grow and strengthen our program by incorporating best practices in all areas.