CASA urges court-appointed advocates for Valencia County’s most vulnerable children

CASA Partners 4NMKIDS issued a recruitment appeal Feb. 12, 2026, urging Valencia County volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children placed in foster care. The organization said its volunteers "represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system" and is seeking adults to monitor services, make court recommendations, and support children through school, health, and mental-health issues.

The volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) highlighted its local history in materials distributed to county partners and stakeholders. "CASA Partners 4NMKIDS recruits, educates, and supports volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected foster children in both Sandoval and Valencia Counties," the organization wrote. The group also notes it "began advocating for foster children and youth in 1997 in Sandoval County" and "in 2016, at the request of the 13th Judicial Court, we expanded into Valencia County."

CASA’s materials list core volunteer duties in detail: volunteers match with children, "get to know the children and their circumstances, show them that someone cares, advocate for their best interests (including making recommendations to the Court), encourage them to grow to their fullest potential, and become involved in key issues in their life, especially permanent placement, along with school, health, and mental health issues." The organization further emphasizes that volunteers "monitor support services" and "make recommendations for home placement" as part of court advocacy.

Campaign language underscores the human need behind recruitment. According to CASA text, "A CASA volunteer is often the sole consistent adult anchor for foster children. Children frequently remark how important it is to them that these tireless advocates are the only people in ‘the system’ who are not paid to assist them. CASA volunteers give a voice to a child who cannot speak up for themselves and are frequently viewed as mentors or guides."

Local child-protection services work alongside a multidisciplinary center based in the county. The VSS Child Advocacy Center promotes its model with the tagline "Providing hope. Seeking justice. Journeying to heal." VSS lists partner agencies by name: New Mexico State Police; New Mexico State Children's Youth & Family Department Protective Services; Los Lunas Police Department; Belen Police Department; Bosque Farms Police Department; Valencia County Sherriff's Department; All Faith's Safehouse; and the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office. VSS materials detail the forensic interview process: "A specially trained forensic interviewer meets with each child, asking age appropriate, non-leading questions to allow abused children to share their story in a way to withstand court scrutiny, aid in prosecution of abuser, and minimize additional trauma to the victim." VSS also provides mental health therapy, investigational resources, and licensed counselors for children and non-offending family members.

Legal and court resources for guardianship or related child-welfare legal questions remain active in the region. The 13th Judicial District Court in Los Lunas is located at 1835 Highway 314 S.W.; the court can be reached at 505-865-4291 and maintains a Court Clinic the second Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where volunteer attorneys see people first come, first served. Advocacy, Inc. (6301 4th St. N.W., Ste 3, Albuquerque; 505-266-3166 or 866-257-5320) and Pegasus Legal Services for Children (3201 Fourth St. N.W., Albuquerque; 505-244-1101) handle legal advocacy for at-risk children, while the Senior Citizen Law Office (301 Gold S.W.; 505-243-7871) and the Native American Protection and Advocacy Project (3535 E. 30th St., Ste 201, Farmington; 505-566-5880 or 800-862-7271) provide specialized assistance. Parents Reaching Out maintains a resource library at 1920-B Columbia Dr. S.E., Albuquerque.

The public notice that CASA is "actively recruiting" in Valencia County arrived with some gaps: the Valencia County News-Bulletin excerpt supplying the recruitment language was truncated and omitted contact and training details, showing the phrase "The story notes that alt" before cutting off. CASA’s materials likewise include omitted web sections and a "celebrating 25 years" line without a calendar reference. For current clinic schedules or to confirm referral and training contacts, the 13th Judicial District Court at 505-865-4291 can confirm court-clinic hours and local coordination; CASA Partners 4NMKIDS and the VSS Child Advocacy Center should be contacted directly by those seeking to volunteer or refer a child for services to obtain up-to-date application, training, and operational information.