Last year in New Mexico 18,000 reports of abuse and neglect of children were investigated, resulting in over 4000 child victims, approximately 40% of them under the age of 5. These small victims suddenly found themselves without a home, among strangers. The problem is so serious that in 2005 Governor Richardson proclaimed April as New Mexico Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

Although the numbers are disheartening, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program of the First Judicial District has been helping to make a difference since 1995. We train, support and promote volunteers from Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos counties to speak for the best interest of these children in court in order to help them reach safe, permanent homes.

CASA volunteers watch over and advocate for these abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. Recognized in 2005 with a Legislative Memorial for ten years of service, CASA’s 80+ volunteers annually represent approximately 260 children from 150 families in our three-county area. However, there is an urgent need for more volunteers as the number of children in custody is steadily increasing.

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