We advocate for children who’ve been abused or neglected by empowering community volunteers to speak up for them in the foster care system.
Who We Are
Mission Statement
The New Mexico CASA Association develops and supports local programs throughout New Mexico that provide quality volunteer advocacy in court for children who are abused and neglected.
Vision Statement
CASA believes that every child deserves a safe, loving, and forever home.
All people shall be treated with dignity.
Through our leadership and partnerships with community members and judges, the CASA network has grown. Today, more children than ever have the consistent, caring support and advocacy of a CASA volunteer.
What We Do
A Child Advocate is not only an advocate, but also a problem-solver, who works one-on-one with a child in foster care to ensure their needs are being met. For children who’ve been abused or neglected, having a Child Advocate means their voice will be heard, and they will no longer be invisible.
We bridge the resource gap by providing a wide range of services that strengthen CASA service, quality and impact throughout the state.
Who We Are
Mission Statement
The New Mexico CASA Association develops and supports local programs throughout New Mexico that provide quality volunteer advocacy in court for children who are abused and neglected.
Vision Statement
CASA believes that every child deserves a safe, loving, and forever home.
All people shall be treated with dignity.
Through our leadership and partnerships with community members and judges, the CASA network has grown. Today, more children than ever have the consistent, caring support and advocacy of a CASA volunteer.
What We Do
A Child Advocate is not only an advocate, but also a problem-solver, who works one-on-one with a child in foster care to ensure their needs are being met. For children who’ve been abused or neglected, having a Child Advocate means their voice will be heard, and they will no longer be invisible.
We bridge the resource gap by providing a wide range of services that strengthen CASA service, quality and impact throughout the state.
NM CASA Association Board Members
Travis Steele
President
An attorney at Butler Snow Law Firm, Travis serves as outside general counsel for organizations in contract, governance, regulatory, and litigation matters.
Jeanine Rogge
Director
The Program Coordinator at LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc. in which she encourages youth to pursue and continue secondary education in NM.
Jesse Cirolia
Director
The Manager of Community Health at CHRISTUS St. Vincent working to support and address the needs of the most vulnerable patient populations through direct services, and support the community system of care through grant making and strategic alignment.
Spencer Wright
Vice President
A board member with NM CASA, Spencer is also the board chair for Alta Mira Specialized Family Services in Albuquerque and is the treasurer of CASA First in Santa Fe.
Amy O’Neill
Director
The Program Director of the San Juan County CASA Program of Childhaven since March 2000.
Annie Rasquin
Director
The Executive Director for CASA First, the CASA program that serves Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos Counties.
Veronica Montaño-Pilch
Interim Executive Director
The Interim Executive Director for the NM CASA Association, Veronica Montaño-Pilch has spent over 28 years at local, state, and national levels working with children and families affected by poverty, communicable diseases including abuse and neglect.
We’ve made getting involved in the CASA movement easy.
By becoming a CASA volunteer, you can help provide a voice for children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child’s best interests in court. You are not a foster parent, you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child’s life.
TO BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER MEANS YOU ARE:
- Willing to commit at least one year of your time (on average, volunteers spend 10-15 hours a month on their case);
- Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing;
- Willing to participate in an in-depth training program;
- Able to pass National & Local criminal background checks, and also CYFD history background checks; and be
- Over age 21
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about volunteering as a CASA, please contact us using our form below or give us a call at (505) 977-3432
Address
2340 Alamo Ave SE, Ste 112
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Talk to Us
Phone: (505) 977-3432
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about volunteering as a CASA, please contact us using our form below or give us a call at (505) 515-0021
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
© 2021 New Mexico CASA | A member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association ®