A cloud that rains fear and uncertainty on children whose home life is not often sunny slowly dissipates with the help of Court Appointed Special Advocates.
And more children in El Paso and Teller counties need the help of the Colorado Springs-based CASA of the Pikes Peak Region.
The number of children removed from their homes by child welfare agencies on suspicion of abuse or neglect, or who live in precarious situations, is higher than pre-COVID-19 averages, said Keri Kahn, spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization.
Before the pandemic that began in March 2020, a monthly average of 24 children under age 18 were referred to CASA by a judge or magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District, she said.
During the height of school closures and social distancing in 2020, the number jumped to 42 court referrals per month, Kahn said.
Cases have receded to 32 a month, which is lower than the pinnacle but more than before the pandemic began.
“I can’t speculate as to why there are more kids,” Kahn said. “Child abuse and neglect is common in all socioeconomic classes across the country.”
The court appoints CASA to dependency and neglect cases in which the children are placed in foster care or living in their home but are at risk of continued harm.
CASA also enters the picture when children have been victims of physical or sexual abuse and there are risks that include parental substance abuse, domestic violence, parental mental health, concerns about the quality of care and other issues.
In the last fiscal year, 376 trained CASA volunteers advocated for 657 children involved in the family court system and child protective services.
Currently, Kahn said, about 800 children under age 18 need assistance with navigating the unexpected turn their lives have taken. It costs the organization about $1,200 to serve one child with a CASA volunteer for one year.
An information session for anyone interested in volunteering will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday (April 9) at the CASA office, 418 S. Weber St. To RSVP, go to www.casappr.org/volunteer.
Carl Brantley, a CASA volunteer advocate for seven years, said the time he’s spent getting to know children has been rewarding.
“It’s made a big difference in my life, and it’s a joy to give back,” he said. “I see these children, who haven’t had the advantages that other children have had, respond when you go to the zoo or for a hike by opening up and blossoming. It gives you a sense you’re doing something that’s making a difference.”
Volunteers such as Brantley, a retired sales manager, participate in a two-week, six-session basic training course before being sworn in by a judge.
Advocates are assigned one case at a time and specify the gender and age range they’d like to be paired with, he said. They accompany children to court hearings and build rapport and trust by going on outings and getting to know each other.
Because children often are mistreated by people they love and trust and who are supposed to take care of them, it’s difficult for them to learn not all adults are out to hurt them, Executive Director Angela Rose said in a statement.
“These kids have done nothing wrong,” she said. “They are the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is our duty to stand up for them.”
Advocates report directly to the court about what’s going on in a child’s life, presenting “this is what we see, and here are our recommendations on what’s needed for this child,” Brantley said.
The information CASA volunteers provide helps the court decide whether to return the child to the parents — which Brantley said is the foremost goal — or “if we think the child needs a foster home or services such as therapy.”
Because it’s emotional to work with abused and neglected children, volunteers feel like a family, Brantley said, who support each other and can relate to what others are experiencing.
“That helps us help more children be successful, and if we do that, we’re going to make the community better,” he said.
El Paso County continues to lead the state in reports of suspected child abuse or neglect to a statewide hotline, 844-CO4-KIDS, according to statistics from the Colorado Department of Human Services.
The state received 117,762 calls last year, of which 17,745 were from El Paso County. Denver County recorded the next highest amount with 13,200 calls in 2023.
About one-third of the calls in El Paso County and 28% statewide were referred for further investigation, the data shows.
Kahn believes the high number of reports reflects that “people in the Pikes Peak region know about the hotline, and it’s actually an illustration of how caring our community is.”
CASA’s annual fundraiser, Light of Hope, will be held 12:30-1:30 p.m. on April 18 at the Doubletree Hotel, featuring success stories. For more information, go to https://www.casappr.org/lightofhope/.
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