CASA of El Paso in Need of More Volunteers for Child Advocates

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and CASA of El Paso are in need of more volunteers to help make a difference in childrens lives.

Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA volunteers, are a vital part of the lives of children who are in the care of the state, and El Paso is in need of more of these advocates. CASA of El Paso is working all this month to raise awareness  about child abuse and neglect, while trying to get more people involved.

All types of people can be a CASA volunteer and speak up for a child or siblings that are in the care of the state of Texas. You are the voice for them and speak for them in their best interests.

Last year alone, there was 635 children in system in El Paso County. According to Lisa Saucedo

According to the Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS), there were 800 victims of child abuse or neglect and a total of 635 children in the child protection system in El Paso County last year. CASA volunteers help these children by working on a case-by-case basis and represent these children and their best interests in court. They get to know not only the child, but also everyone that is in that child's life. This includes family members, teachers, friends and foster parents. This volunteer's role is vital to helping the child find their way into a safe, permanent home.

El Paso had over 370 CASA volunteers last year and this year they are looking for even more! If you would like to be a CASA volunteer, you must be:

• willing to commit at least one year to the program
• able to effectively communicate orally and in writing
• willing to participate in an in-depth training
• able to pass a criminal and CPS history background checks
• over the age of 21

If you meet all of these criteria, please visit the CASA of El Paso Volunteer website or the CASA of El Paso website.