A child in court with a CASA First volunteer. Courtesy/CASA

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Being placed in foster care isn’t easy for kids, but CASA First in Los Alamos is making things easier for foster children in New Mexico’s First District Court system. The non-profit organization provides a Court-Appointed Special Advocate or CASA to kids in New Mexico’s foster care system whose cases are overseen by the First District Court. CASA is a nationwide organization and there also are groups in other court districts in New Mexico.

“Our volunteers tell us that being a CASA is the most challenging volunteer activity they’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding,” Casa Executive Director Annie Rasquin said. “Our volunteers are open and fierce. We’re a family, doing this work together. We believe every child deserves to be cherished and loved.”

CASA First has advocated for thousands of foster children in three northern New Mexico counties (Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe) since 1995. More than 170 foster children are matched with CASA volunteers every year, Rasquin said.

CASAs are officers of the court and sworn in by a judge.

“We’re independent,” she said. “We’re not part of the state system. We’re a fresh set of eyes and we can ask the questions that need to be asked.”

The Los Alamos Daily Post spoke with four Los Alamos CASAs.

Suzanne Canfield became a CASA two years ago and has been assigned to the same child the entire time.

“I’m what is called a ‘Casita’, she said. “We serve the youngest children, babies and toddlers. My child was in foster care when we first met. He was two. Now the child is in the last stages of reunification with a parent. The number one goal is reunification, and if that can’t happen, adoption. I feel very comfortable with the outcome in this case.”

Being a CASA has several important aspects. One of the most important aspects is being a constant in a child’s life when so much around them changes during the period before their case is resolved. CASAs visit the child at least once or twice a month while their case is open and can stay involved with a child through adulthood.

“We use Facetime calls during the pandemic to keep in touch,” Canfield said. “Safety is the most important thing. Does a child seem fearful or unhappy? With a young child, they may not be able to tell you in words.”

CASAs keep records and write a report that is submitted to the judge in a child’s case. They don’t make clinical judgements. They observe and report what they see.

“Our job is to oversee what has been ordered by a judge and make sure it’s happening,” she said. “Social workers can have dozens of cases. Sometimes issues aren’t getting addressed. We can help make sure things are on track.”

“The best thing about being a CASA is knowing your child is happy and healthy and feels loved,” Canfield said. “We’re changing lives, one child at a time.”

Tragedy brought Ali Harper to CASA First. Her son died of complications of hydranencephaly at the age of four. She founded the Global Hydranencephaly Foundation, www.ghf.life, to help other children and their families.

“I saw the struggle children with the condition have in foster care,” she said. “I wanted to get involved with foster children.”

As a CASA, Harper keeps in touch with her child on a weekly basis.

“I’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I’ve learned about court processes and how the system works. I’ve learned how to gather information in order to write the best report.”
“The hardest thing about being a CASA is when things don’t go the way you want them to go,” Harper said. “You have to keep your emotions in check and focus on what’s really best for the child. Being closely involved with the child will lead you in the right direction.”

Rachel Scholz, a retired educator, knew she wanted to volunteer by helping children. She read an article about CASA and discovered it was the way she could make a real difference in children’s lives.

“I’ve had five cases over the six years I’ve been a CASA,” she said. “I’m open to any age. I’ve had children from ages 1.5 to 13 and have had siblings.”

Scholz is able to use her education training to make sure things are going well, especially for kids changing schools.

“I visit the school and make sure everything is working correctly and the educational plan is being followed,” she said.

“It sometimes breaks your heart to see what the children have to go through when their lives are upended,” she said. “They don’t know why it’s happening or when it will end. You are an independent person they can talk to and maybe you’re the only person they can trust.”

Scholz stressed that CASAs don’t enter the program as superheroes.

“It can seem daunting, but CASA has very thorough training and very good support,” she said. “There are also support groups with other CASAs. There are always people who have had experience with what you’re dealing with.”

Alice Barthel is part of the Computational Physics and Methods Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She did child-advocate volunteer work while pursuing her Ph.D in Australia at the University of New South Wales. She found it very rewarding, so when she came to Los Alamos, she was looking for something similar and discovered CASA.

“I think we’re likely to make a difference in a child’s life,” she said. “It’s a good match for me and although it is time consuming, the Lab is flexible. Having a week day off every other Friday is very helpful.”

Establishing a relationship with a child may be difficult.

“Engage with the child on their level,” Barthel said. “Have something in your bag that will engage the child. Let the child lead the interaction. Ask the child if they have questions for you. Introduce yourself and explain your role.”

The most important thing a CASA can do for a child?

“Consistently show up,” Barthel said. “There are a lot of changes in their lives and a consistent person can be really important.”

Barthel provided a useful tip for being the child’s voice in court.

“Ask the child what they want to say to the judge,” she said.

Being a CASA can take an emotional toll.
“You get attached to the child,” Barthel said. “I came from a sheltered background and it’s hard to get your head around what the child has experienced. But the relationship with the child, seeing them blossom, is very rewarding.”

CASAs really make a difference, Barthel said. Having a CASA assigned reduces the likelihood of abuse and makes it more likely a child will have a permanent placement. It also makes things go more quickly.

“I wish as a nation, we could do better for these children,” she said.

Barthel wants people to know that if they are motivated, being a CASA is something they can handle.

“It can be daunting, but you’ll get good training,” she said. “This is something you can do.”

Being a CASA is not for everyone, but it isn’t the only way to help. Julia Lapis serves on the CASA First Board. Lapis is a lawyer who worked on death row appeals before becoming a member of the legal team at LANL.

“It really tuned me in to what youth from troubled backgrounds face,” she said.

Lapis learned about CASA when she heard a CASA First employee speak and that moving speech caused her to contact the organization.

“We oversee CASA First and make sure the program is on track,” she said. “It’s been very rewarding.”

There are plenty of ways to help CASA.

• Become a CASA First Angel. CASA First Angels is the principal volunteer support group for CASA First.
• The role of the ambassadors is to raise funds through special events and promote community awareness about the needs of the children CASA First serves and the transformational effect a loving, dedicated
• CASA volunteer advocate has on these children’s lives.
• Give a donation. Small donations really add up, and of course big donations are great, too. Triad, the organization that manages LANL will match your contribution through the Los Alamos Giving Campaign.
• Organizations such as churches and civic groups can raise funds for CASA First or make contributions.
• Spread the word! The CASA First staff would love to give presentations to groups. Tell people aboutCASA First and visit https:////www.casafirst.org.