CASA of Lea County

Family Time Visitation Program is a community provider of supervised visitation, safe custody exchanges and parent education to any family who is referred via court order or self-referral. The program has grown to serve any family in need of supervised visitation and custody exchange. The Family Time Visitation Program was established in 2005. Family Time Visitation Program FTVP serves any family in need of supervised visitation and safe custody exchange services. Via a contract with the Administrative Offices of the Courts, FTVP provides services to families affected by domestic violence and high conflict domestic matters on a sliding fee scale. Eighty percent 80 of the programs referrals for services come from Children, Youth and Families Department CYFD.

CASA of Lea County's Canine Companion Program was established in December 2010. A year after the passing of CASA's first canine companion, Cooper, Phillip, a black English Labrador, specially bred and trained by Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe, was placed with CASA of Lea County in December of 2017. Phillip provides emotional support and unconditional love to children in the legal system due to abuse and neglect, to child victims or witnesses of violent crimes and juvenile offenders. The CASA Canine Companion has many duties to fulfill in the course of a workday. In Children's Court, Phillip lends emotional support of victims of child abuse and neglect. In the same setting, he intuitively gives comfort and support to nervous CASA advocates as they prepare to stand up and speak to the Judge about what is in the best interest of the child. At CASA's Family Time Visitation Center, Phillip is a calming presence as children visit with their families, some of whom are affected by domestic violence and custody issues. Additionally, Phillip works in the Lea County Juvenile Detention Center where he brings calm and focus to child inmates as the anxiously await sentencing or transport to other detention facilities or treatment centers. During a time in their lives filled with confusion and uncertainty about their future, Phillip is a caring and welcome friend who allows them to let down their emotional guard and express their feelings.

Court Appointed Special Advocates CASA recruits and trains community volunteers to provide unbiased advocacy for foster children from birth to 18 years of age. Each of the children served are victims of abuse and/or neglect to the degree that the State of New Mexico is compelled to protect them by placing them in foster care. CASA of Lea County, Inc. was incorporated in 2003. The agency's mission has evolved from solely providing volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates to victims of child abuse and neglect to the broad philosophy that we strive to make Lea County, New Mexico a safer environment for all children via CASA court advocacy, Family Time Visitation Center's various services and the Canine Companion Program. In our sixteen-year history, CASA of Lea County has formed collaborative relationships throughout the community to serve the best interest of children in need and has received national recognition for our innovative volunteer recruitment program within the Hobbs Municipal School District. Since 2005 CASA volunteers and staff have stood up and provided a powerful voice for close to 683 children in need of safe, permanent, nurturing homes. CASA is serving each Lea County child who is in foster care today. Children are assigned to trained volunteer advocates. For any child in the legal system waiting for their own CASA volunteer, CASA provides court room advocacy in their best interest. The Childrens Court Judge listens to and carefully considers CASA driven recommendations and observations at each hearing called for every child in the foster care system in Lea County.