SERVICEHEART

The mission of Serviceheart, inc. Non-profit, CASA Program of Otero and Lincoln County is to provide specially selected and trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the pursuit of safe and permanent homes. The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who advocate for this vulnerable population. CASA’s goal is to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect, in our commitment in advocating for the children in foster care. CASA works within the 12th Judicial Court.

The average case in the foster care system lasts 18 - 24 months, and many times a CASA volunteer is the only constant presence in the child’s life during this time, and foster homes and social workers change. We provide a positive adult role model, and ensure that these children to not get lost in the legal or foster care system by acting as their voices and advocating for their best interests.

These children are already suffering the effects of abuse, neglect and trauma. They have been removed from familiar environments and placed into strange confusing situations, often separated from siblings. Our goal is to provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the Otero and Lincoln counties foster care systems can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. The effects of having a CASA to a foster child are many and I would like to share just a couple with you. Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to be adopted. They spend less time in long term foster care, and are half as likely to reenter the system. They do better in school and have a more positive outlook towards their future. We currently serve over 125 children in our local communities.

Our goal is to provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in Otero and Lincoln counties foster care systems can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. To keep our program growing and accomplish our goal of advocating for these children in crisis this we need your help.