The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program trains, supervises and empowers community volunteers to serve at the request of our judges to serve as advocates for children who have been sexually, emotionally, and physically abused and neglected children who have entered the child welfare system. CASA volunteers are recruited, screened, trained and supervised by the CASA Case Supervisors. The child victim is represented at every stage of the court process ultimately leading to a safe and permanent home. Prospective volunteers complete an intensive interview process, background checks and complete a minimum of 35 hours of training that includes court observation with all new volunteers. Through weekly child visits and consultation with child’s service providers, CASA volunteers develop a depth of understanding and awareness about the children involved, ensuring that important details are brought to the attention of the judge and other professionals involved in the case. The CASA Program follows a best practices model. The CASA network sits on the precipice of becoming an evidence-based program; one that can prove measurable outcomes for the children our advocates serve and have positive impacts and effects on targeted outcomes. The need for evidence-based practices has grown across the CASA network just as local, state and national funders have begun to require that programs receiving support be evidence-based. National CASA is following an Evidence-Based pathway. Three distinct but interconnected components have been identified as essential to establishing our evidence base: 1) Judges’ Perspective Study 2) Volunteer effectiveness study 3) A child outcomes study. In Colorado, there has been an active effort working on measurable Outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, placement stability, health and mental health, as well as educational advocacy and youth advocacy. The CASA Program serves children birth to 18+ and this proposal is focused on serving youth aged 9 – 18+ that are in the program.

2020-2021 People Served by Area of Weld County

• Carbon Valley (Berthoud, Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Longmont, Mead, Northglenn, Thornton): 21
• County Seat (Evans, Garden City, Greeley): 174
• Outback (Briggsdale, Grover, New Raymer): 0
• Poudre River Corridor (Severance, Windsor): 10
• South County (Brighton, Fort Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg, Lochbuie): 8
• Thompson River Valley (Johnstown, Milliken): 4
• US-85 Corridor South (Platteville, Gilcrest, LaSalle, Kersey): 15
• US-85 Corridor North (Eaton, Ault, Pierce, Nunn): 14
• Outside Weld County: 11

Find out more about this program:
2019-2020
2020-2021

In one case, we had a youth who had run away. She kept in communication with her CASA volunteer and not as much other professionals on the case, but she would never disclose where she was. The youth mentioned a contact that she had previously that she said she wished she could live with instead of going back to foster care. The CASA made sure that this information was relayed to the child welfare team so they could check to see if this person was a viable placement option. Because of this strong connection between volunteer and youth and this new information, this youth was able to be placed in a safe permanent home where she wants to stay. This youth is now working diligently on independent living skills and doing great.