13 advocates take oath in September; More are needed!

In 2023, more than 18,000 calls came into the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline from Colorado’s Pikes Peak Region. These are calls made just from El Paso and Teller counties. From these calls, hundreds of children were removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

What kids need more than anything during these time is a trusted and dependable adult to stand by them as they navigate the child welfare system. That’s what a CASA volunteer, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, does.

In a given year, about 800 kids in the Pikes Peak Region need a CASA volunteer.

There is no specific background or expertise required to become a CASA volunteer. Applicants need to be at least 21 with the ability to pass a background check. After being accepted into the program, future CASA volunteers will complete a two-week training course which culminates with an oath taken before a judge at the courthouse. At this time, they become officers of the court and are assigned a child or sibling group to advocate for.

Last month, thirteen new advocates took that oath at the El Paso County Courthouse before 4th Judicial District Judge Erin Sokol.

Congratulations new advocates Maryhelen Cabrera, Jessica Cook, Nancy Dassoff, Elizabeth Douglass, Nadia Fischer, Margie, Susan Mack, Bailey Prescott, Dr. James Ralph, Kerri Randall, Natalie Rubenak, Stacie Tshabalala, and Mariana Wagner.

“The children who need our help are involved in the family court and child welfare systems due to being mistreated by people who are supposed to take care of them, people who they love and trust,” said CASA of the Pikes Peak Region Executive Director Angela Rose. “These kids have done nothing wrong. They are the most vulnerable members of our community and it is our duty to stand up for them.”   

Last year, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region had 376 volunteers who advocated for 657 children. More volunteers are needed to provide this life-changing advocacy to every child in need.

Anyone who wants to make a difference for a child in this capacity can learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer at one of these upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions:

  • Virtual Info Session on Saturday, October 26th from 10-11 AM
  • Virtual Info Hour on Tuesday, October 29th from 5:30-6:30 PM
  • In-Person Info Hour on Tuesday, November 5th from 12-1 PM

RSVP to any CASA Volunteer Information Session here: www.casappr.org/volunteer.

About CASA of the Pikes Peak Region

CASA of the Pikes Peak Region is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1989 as a local program of the National CASA Association. Serving El Paso and Teller Counties, the organization’s core mission is to recruit, train, and support citizen volunteers in its Dependency & Neglect program to provide a voice and advocate for victims of child abuse and neglect. The nonprofit also operates a Supervised Exchange & Parenting Time (SEPT) program, Milton Foster Children’s Fund (MFCF) & the Hanger, and Children & Families in Transition. With 504 volunteers who put in over 15,000 hours in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provided advocates for 657 children and served a total of 1,450 children in three programs. For more information, visit www.casappr.org