$15,075 raised by 78 donors
100% complete
$15,000 Goal
CASA Volunteers are ordinary citizens, like you, doing extraordinary work. They establish stable relationships with children who have experienced abuse and neglect, getting to know their unique history and making informed recommendations to the courts. CASA Volunteers spend time getting to know the child(ren) and family on their case, and help to ensure each child’s needs are being met. They provide invaluable information to the Judge about the child’s life, and speak on behalf of the child in court, advocating for their best interests. The desired result is that children have a safe and permanent home where they can thrive.
"Being a CASA has made me feel like a better person. I can count the number of lives I have personally impacted and visibly see the difference that it has made. This program gives me a chance to give back to my community, my home."
-Kevin Houck, CASA Volunteer
To provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth from the child welfare system so every child can be safe, have a permanent home, and the opportunity to thrive.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) started in 1977 in Seattle by a judge who felt he was not getting the essential information needed to make critical, life-altering decisions about children who have experienced abuse and neglect. The nationwide program recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers who advocate on behalf of youth victims who were abused or neglected by their parents or guardians and are involved in the court system. The judge founded the CASA Program to empower these volunteers to advocate on behalf of children throughout the legal process
CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties was established in 2000 in response to the need to improve the representation of abused and neglected children living in the two counties. The CASA Program recruits, screens, trains and supervises community volunteers who are independent lay advocates and appointed by judges to advocate for child abuse victims, birth to age 21, who were physically or sexually abused, who witnessed domestic violence, or who were severely neglected by their parents or guardians and are involved in the court system. In Colorado, only CASA Programs, which are set up by Judicial District, are authorized to provide this service. The duties and responsibilities are outlined in Colorado state statute C.R.S.§19-1-201 et seq. of the Colorado Children's Code. The law explicitly recognizes that "the work of community volunteers has been proven to be effective in addressing the needs of children. Partnerships between guardians ad litem (court-appointed youth attorneys) and community volunteers can enhance the quality of representation for children." CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties serves the 17th Judicial District, which encompasses the two counties and includes the cities of Bennett, Brighton, Broomfield, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Henderson, Northglenn, Thornton, and portions of Arvada, Aurora, Denver and Westminster.
Since its inception, CASA has grown to more than 250 dedicated CASA volunteers advocating for over 600 children yearly. The Program is highly regarded by the Courts, County Human Service Departments, and municipalities in the 17th Judicial District.
Organization name
CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties
other names
CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties
1999
Tax id (EIN)
31-1657019
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Child Care Credit
Address
11860 Pecos Street Suite 2700Adams County, CO, US