Dependency & Neglect Advocate

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.  We listen to the voices of the children who experience abuse and neglect and stand up for their rights.  We visit the children, get to know them and advocate for their needs to be met in an overburdened child welfare system.

A CASA can be a mentor and friend and provide stability to a child in need.  A CASA fights for children and protects them from harm. CASA of the Continental Divide is the sole organization in the 5th Judicial District that speaks up for children who experience abuse and neglect.  We are the voice for those who have no voice. The children that we serve are your children and our children.  They are from your county and your towns, and they need us – and you!

Volunteer now
To learn more about becoming a D&N volunteer advocate, please fill out this form and a CASA representative will contact you, or contact Catherine Berglund, CASA Program Coordinator at 970-368-2589 or casacd_pc@mtncasa.org.

• Advocate training is 30 hours. Most of which is completed in your home with learning enhanced through facilitated group discussions.
• Training is available in all four counties.
• Includes opportunities to observe court hearings.
• Specialized training on current topics and continuing education workshops.
• Information on mandatory child abuse reporting, victims’ rights act, Indian Child Welfare Act, and various other challenges facing families in our district

Who: Amazing future Court Appointed Special Advocates
When: July 20th, July 27th, August 3rd, and August 10th from 5 pm to 8 pm
Where: CASA office located at 330 Fiedler Ave Ste 206 Dillon, CO 80435 (zoom link)
Why: Because you are taking a step toward making the difference in the life of a child. You are awesome and we appreciate you!

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program:

Week 1 & 2:
Pre-work:
– Confidentiality form

Week 1 Training Session will focus on: An Introduction to CASA and our Dependency and Neglect Program

Week 2:
Pre-work:
– DV Ted Talk
– Implicit Bias Test
– Implicit Bias Ted Talk
– Aces test
– Mandatory reporter training link

Week 2 Training Session will focus on: Exploring bias and learning about ACEs, as well as an introduction to the court process, and a presentation from our guest speaker, Guardian Ad litem, Stephen Gerard

Week 3:
Pre-work:
– Podcast Brene Brown w/ Dr. Bruce Perry

Week 3 Training Session will focus on: The role of DHS, writing a court report, as well as a presentation from a guest speaker from DHS, and a presentation from Catherine J. Cheroutes, 5th Judicial District Judge

Week 4:
Pre-work:
– AllRise for Children

Week 4 Training Session will focus on: Trauma and the different ways it can impact the children on CASA cases, and the many different forms of advocacy

Court Hearing Schedule
Observe 2 hearings: Court Schedule

Suggested reading/supplemental material:
– What happened to you, Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
– The Body Keeps the Score, Sean Pratt, Bessel A. van der Kolk, et al.
– What Happened to You, Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah
– The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook — What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing, Dr. Bruce Perry
– Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, Adam Grant
– Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell
– The Culture Map, Erin Meyer
– The Whole Brain Child; Daniel J Siegel, MD

For CASA of the Continental Divide’s full volunteer application, please apply here:  CASA Volunteer Application

Application instructions

Please gather the necessary information listed below prior to beginning the online application.  You will not be able to save the volunteer application and return at a later time to finish.

Once you have all your information at your fingertips, click on the Volunteer Application link above to complete the volunteer application.

1. Volunteer Experience: Names of Organizations- Names of Supervisors-Dates of Volunteerism- Responsibilities
2. Employment History for past five years: Name of Organizations-Titles-Responsibilities- Supervisor Names- Work Hours- Addresses- Phone Numbers-Dates of Employment
3. Motor Vehicle ID and Insurance Information
4. Three References: Names- Mailing Addresses- Phone Numbers- Email Addresses