Causes: Child Abuse Prevention, Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Community Mental Health Centers, Crime & Law, Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Protection Against Abuse

Mission: CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provides a volunteer’s voice in court for child victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic conflict and promotes community awareness of these issues to ensure safe and permanent homes.

Results: Since its inception 30 years ago, CASA has served more than 18,000 children through all our programs.

Target demographics: CASA’s target population is any child, age 0-18 years and living in the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties), in need of our services.   All cases served by CASA are appointed to the organization by the court.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 2,100 children were served through all four of CASA of the Pikes Peak Region programs.

Geographic areas served: El Paso and Teller Counties, Colorado

Programs: There are four programs within CASA of the Pikes Peak Region specifically designed to address the unique needs of child victims of abuse, neglect, and severe domestic conflict. Many families served by CASA utilize resources in multiple programs at the same time. These programs and their components are:1) The Dependency & Neglect program entails advocating for abused and neglected children in the court system. Cases involve physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or emotional neglect. Volunteers assigned to cases visit the child frequently, meet with professionals involved in the case (teachers, therapists, and attorneys, for example), monitor compliance with court orders, research new family members, attend hearings, "speak up" for the child in court, and write objective reports to the court about the information they have gathered. These reports clarify issues and keep cases moving. Served 715 children in FY 2018-2019.2) Supervised Exchange/Parenting Time (SEPT) is a court-ordered service protecting children from witnessing parental disputes during exchanges and provides for supervised visits to non-custodial parents in high-conflict custody or domestic violence cases. This program gives children a neutral, safe setting in which to have parenting time with both parents. Served 167 children/114 families in FY 2018-2019 through 104 exchanges and 2,358 visits. 3) Milton Foster Children’s Fund (MFCF) provides all foster children with opportunities not funded through other agencies, including scholarships for specialized education, sports and recreation activities, and unmet medical and dental needs, among others. The Hanger (a project within MFCF) is a store where teens in foster care can shop for donated clothes and accessories, gain work experience, and participate in life skills workshops to prepare them for aging out of the foster care system. All funds are allocated by a volunteer committee based on established criteria and an application process. MFCF served 972 children and foster youth in FY 2018-2019.4) The Children and Families in Transition (C-FIT) Program educates parents about the effects of divorce on children. The seminar also instructs parents about the legal aspects of custody arrangements, the negative effects of parental conflict on children, and is mandatory for all divorcing parents in the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties). Served 3,007 parents in FY 2018-2019.