Twenty-Nine Community Members Join the Fight Against Child Abuse

Adams and Broomfield Counties, CO – Twenty-nine individuals from Adams and Broomfield Counties were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates by Judge Jill-Ellyn Straus on March 4, 2010 at the Adams County Courthouse. As volunteer advocates for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program of Adams and Broomfield Counties, these individuals will now have the chance to advocate for children in the court system that have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. These volunteers will work closely with caseworkers and attorneys to help be an additional set of “eyes and ears” on open abuse and neglect cases providing valuable information to the judge regarding the child’s well being and best interests. As advocates, they will also work to ensure that the educational needs of children are being met while they remain in the system.


Judge Straus administered the CASA Oath in the presence of several of her esteemed colleagues, the Honorable Judge Patrick Murphy, Magistrate Peter Stapp and Magistrate Gregory Beacom. Each of the Judges thanked the volunteers for their commitment and dedication to the children in the community. CASA Executive Director, Simone Jones , along with Antelia Salazar-Ball and Tanner Tweten, members of the CASA Board of Directors, offered a warm welcome to the new volunteers who will begin taking cases this month.

"It doesn't take, but maybe 12 to 15 hours a month of their time, to help ensure that innocent children who have suffered from abuse and neglect are kept from further harm," says Jones. The group is still in need of more volunteers. Last year, the program helped more than 400 kids locally.

The new CASA volunteers include:
Jeff Crow of Arvada; Kristy Allison and G. Scott Smith of Aurora; Mindy Brink, Angela Buchanon and Edith Parrish-Kohler of Brighton; Lisa DeLaFleur, Megan Feldman, Jennifer Hotka, Jody Jackson, Erin Rossiter, Judy Stetson, Emily Tweten and Barbara Zeidman of Broomfield; Gwen Davenport of Denver; Jandi Fyffe and Charly Kirsch of Ft. Lupton; Patricia D. Murphy of Louisville; Brandy Sylvester of Superior; Bonnie Most, Irene Randall, Maria Stevens and Nila Watterson of Thornton; Denise Dillinger, Cherlyn Ellis, Shawna Rigli, Jackie Rivera and Heidi Voorheis of Westminster and Tasia Brick of Wheatridge.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Adams and Broomfield Counties is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that trains, supports and supervises community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of innocent child victims of abuse and neglect. Each year, in Adams and Broomfield Counties, there are over 1,300 children who have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected, and who are in desperate need of a caring, committed CASA Volunteer to speak up for their best interests. In Adams and Broomfield Counties , there are over 200 CASA volunteers, and we are in need of more great community members to become advocates for children. CASA conducts volunteer training classes three times a year. The next class begins in June 2010. For more information about CASA, call (303) 654-3378 or visit www.casa17th.org.