CASA of the Pikes Peak Region is an inclusive and accepting organization
that is committed to serve fully all children and families in need.
Overview
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Pikes Peak
Region is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization serving
El Paso County and Teller
County that trains and supervises
volunteers to represent the best interests of our most
vulnerable citizens - victims of child abuse, neglect,
and severe domestic conflict. CASA volunteers are appointed
by judges to be a voice for these children in court and
in the community. The desired result is that children are
placed into safe, loving homes where they can thrive.
We offer a variety of programs and services designed to meet
the special needs of vulnerable children. Among them are the:
Dependency and Neglect Program; Domestic Relations Program;
Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time Program (SEPT).
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region serves approximately 900 children
per year, but hundreds are still waiting for volunteer
advocacy.
At a Glance:
- CASA helps ensure that abused children get out of the
child welfare and legal systems and into safe and permanent
homes
more quickly than they would otherwise.
- CASA promotes early intervention to stop the cycle of
generational abuse.
- CASA intervention…
- offers abused and neglected children the opportunity
to thrive in safe and permanent homes;
- interrupts possible delinquent and criminal behaviors,
which often take root in abusive and unstable homes;
- adds to true “quality of life.” CASA advocacy gives abused
and neglected children the opportunity to become contributors – assets
to the community rather than deficits.
Mission Statement
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provides a volunteer's voice
in court for children who are victims of abuse, neglect or
domestic conflict and promotes community awareness of these
issues to ensure safe and permanent homes.
Vision Statement
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region ensures safe environments and
lasting homes where children in need can thrive.
Statement of Purpose
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region was founded to train volunteers
as advocates for victimized children and to educate the community
about abuse and neglect.
Through comprehensive training programs, CASA of the Pikes
Peak Region educates a carefully screened and selected group
of volunteers about child abuse, neglect, and domestic relations
conflicts. They learn about the dynamics of child abuse and
neglect, child development, advocating within the court system,
the roles of the Department of Human Services, the judicial
system, and many of the community resources available to children
and families involved in these cases. The volunteers continue
their training through regular in-services that provide additional
information and support.
The volunteers, or CASAs, appointed by the Court, generally
work on one case at a time. They provide the families and victims
of child abuse, neglect, and domestic conflict with information
on court procedures, community resources, and support. CASAs
monitor the court-ordered treatment plan to assure positive
progress is being made and to assess if the children can be
returned home. They write reports to the court, speak up in
court and make recommendations as to the child's best interest.
They provide factual, unbiased information to the Court about
the child's and family's situation and progress, enabling the
Court to make more informed decisions in the best interest
of the child.
CASA of the Pikes Peak Region educates the community about
factors contributing to child abuse, neglect, and domestic
conflicts, and how involved individuals can positively impact
efforts to end this cycle. |
