CASA Of El Paso

CASA volunteers are everyday citizens who are at least 21 years old, complete a pre-screening process (application, references, background checks), complete a 35-hour training curriculum, and are willing to commit to 18 months on a case to provide the child (ren) consistency. Volunteers also have option of "teaming up" with a partner, friend or loved one. CASA volunteers find out what is happening in the life of a child and report back to the judge what they believe the child's needs are and where the child should live permanently. CASA volunteers search for information by reviewing records, interviewing parents and other family members, talking to teachers, doctors, foster parents, and everyone else who may have information about the educational, medical, emotional needs and the best, most appropriate, permanent placement for a child in foster care. The time commitment is not huge, 15-20 hours a month.

CASA of El Paso remains committed to providing advocacy to abused and neglected children in El Paso County. We continue to need qualified advocates to speak up for children in court. Please check out our website at www.casaofelpaso.org.

CASA of El Paso promotes and protects the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect by empowering volunteers to advocate for their safety, well-being, and for opportunities to thrive. CASA is a national volunteer movement that began more than 30 years ago, when Judge David Soukup in Seattle decided he needed to know more about the children whose lives were in his hands. His solution was to ask community volunteers to act as a "voice in court" for abused and neglected children. These Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) provided him with the detailed information he needed to safeguard the children's best interests and ensure that they were placed in safe, permanent, and loving homes as quickly as possible. Today, the CASA movement has evolved into one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country.

Prospective volunteers must be 21 years of age and have a clean background check to apply.  Once accepted, each volunteer completes a required training, which will provide all tools needed to become an effective volunteer. Training sessions are held every 4 to 6 weeks so one is starting soon!  Visit our website to download the application or for more information. You may also go to www.becomeacasa.org to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer. While being a CASA volunteer isn't an overwhelming time commitment each month, we do ask for a long-term commitment of at least 18 months in order to see a case through to its completion.

Make a difference in the life of a child. And your own! Become a CASA volunteer and give a voice to the abused and neglected children in El Paso's foster care system.