CASA Volunteers
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.
Independent research has demonstrated that children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to reenter care.
Since 1985, the Albuquerque CASA program has provided these valuable volunteers for children who have experienced trauma from abuse and/or neglect. For the past 26 years, over 1,150 community members have been trained to advocate for the safety and permanency for over 12,000 children from 0-18 years old.