COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE INC | CASA OF LARIMER COUNTY

CASA provides highly-trained, community advocates (CASAs) from all walks of life to children navigating the D&N court systems. CASAs visit regularly with their child or sibling set, building a securely attached bond, and providing the health, education, and placement advocacy other parties assigned to the case may be unable to provide. CASAs are court-appointed, distinguishing them from other advocates and enabling them to work closely with professionals and caregivers regarding the child’s wellbeing and needs. CASAs serve as the eyes and ears of the Court, investigating and gathering information from visits and outings with their child. They use this knowledge to make recommendations to the court regarding their needs and wishes.

Family Connection’s programming helps children connect with their non-custodial family, strengthening attachments to those family members. One study writes, “Children [visiting frequently with non-custodial family] with higher levels of attachment had fewer behavioral problems… and were less likely to be termed developmentally delayed than children with lower attachment.” (McWhey) Through supportive case management, coaching, and lessons based on the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) and TBRI, FC programming supports parents in increasing their knowledge of child development and cultivating positive parenting skills. The skills developed in NPP and TBRI are linked to reduced rates of recidivism of abuse and neglect.

CLC offers Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) in two modalities to a client population comprised of caregivers of children and youth involved in the child welfare system by providing trauma-informed intervention, training, support, and relationship building to their associated volunteer advocates, bio parents, and foster and kinship parents. TBRI ® is an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and attachment-rich model of caregiver education and support designed to best meet the short-term needs and impact long-term outcomes for children and youth with histories of complex developmental trauma.