About Us
New Mexico CASA
Who We Are
Mission Statement
The New Mexico CASA Association develops and supports local programs throughout New Mexico that provide quality volunteer advocacy in court for children who are abused and neglected.
Vision Statement
CASA believes that every child deserves a safe, loving, and forever home.
All people shall be treated with dignity.
What We Do
A Child Advocate is not only an advocate, but also a problem-solver, who works one-on-one with a child in foster care to ensure their needs are being met. For children who’ve been abused or neglected, having a Child Advocate means their voice will be heard, and they will no longer be invisible.
We bridge the resource gap by providing a wide range of services that strengthen CASA service, quality and impact throughout the state.
There are over 900 children in our county that still need an advocate.
NM CASA Association Board Members
Through our leadership and partnerships with community members and judges, the CASA network has grown. Today, more children than ever have the consistent, caring support and advocacy of a CASA volunteer.
TRAVIS STEELE
President
An attorney at Butler Snow Law Firm, Travis serves as outside general counsel for organizations in contract, governance, regulatory, and litigation matters.
SPENCER WRIGHT
Vice President
A board member with NM CASA, Spencer is also the board chair for Alta Mira Specialized Family Services in Albuquerque and is the treasurer of CASA First in Santa Fe.
ANNIE RASQUIN
Director
The Executive Director for CASA First, the CASA program that serves Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos Counties.
JEANINE ROGGE
Director
The Program Coordinator at LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc. in which she encourages youth to pursue and continue secondary education in NM.
AMY ONEILL
Director
The Program Director of the San Juan County CASA Program of Childhaven since March 2000.
VERONICA MONTANO-PILCH
Interim Executive Director
Veronica has spent over 28 years at local, state, and national levels working with children and families affected by poverty, and communicable diseases including abuse and neglect.
JESSE CIROLIA
Director
The Manager of Community Health at CHRISTUS St. Vincent working to support and address the needs of the most vulnerable patient populations through direct services, and support the community system of care through grant making and strategic alignment.
We’ve made getting involved in the CASA movement easy.
By becoming a CASA volunteer, you can help provide a voice for children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child’s best interests in court. You are not a foster parent, you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child’s life.
TO BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER MEANS YOU ARE:
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Willing to commit at least one year of your time (on average, volunteers spend 10-15 hours a month on their case);
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Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing;
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Willing to participate in an in-depth training program;
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Able to pass National & Local criminal background checks, and also CYFD history background checks; and be
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Over age 21