Volunteers clean, paint and get settled in Jan. 23
Volunteers with CASA First — Court Appointed Special Advocates for the First Judicial District — christened their new La Casita del Valle office on Jan. 23 in Española.
“Very nice new digs,” said Cynthia Lentini, who, along with three other volunteers, will run the Española office. “We accomplished quite a bit that day, but it’ll be a few more weeks until we’ve put the finishing touches on the office. CASA volunteers here in Española came by to help us clean up the place, to help paint and get us settled in. They also helped us get our resource room set up for the kids. It was a really nice event that brought many of our partners together.”
The new office is located on South McCurdy Road in the community center being developed by McCurdy Ministries.
“It’s a beautiful thing that’s happening at McCurdy,” Lentini said. “Some of that extra space they’ve got had been empty for a while, and the executive director’s now started renting out space to local nonprofits. It’s turning into a one-stop shop for families in need.”
She said it’s really exciting that they’re creating the nonprofit hub to serve area youth and the community. Parents and grandparents won’t have to go to multiple locations because they will have all of the services they need in one place.
From their Santa Fe offices, CASA First has been providing advocacy for infants, children and youth in Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties since 1995. Appointed by the courts, the organization’s volunteers are paired with children in foster care. These highly-trained, well-supported volunteers ensure the children’s safety and that they get the resources they need, and report directly to the courts on how the children are faring — oftentimes doing so as the only steady adult presence in the child’s life.
“We can also receive referrals directly from the Española schools, and not just from the courts,” Lentini said. “One of the things we’re going to have on site is a calm, comfortable room for kids which is a place to de-escalate. There aren’t a lot of places for young people to go in this type of situation.”
According to the organization, CASA First also offers what they call the Abrigo program, which matches a dedicated advocate to any infant, child, or youth in the three-county area who’s trauma-impacted, system-involved or simply needs extra support. CASA First youth ambassadors, meanwhile, is a volunteer group where youth ages 8-21 can learn self-confidence, social and leadership skills through community service.
“So, we have some volunteers already on the roster here in Española,” Lentini said. “Many of the ones we have are retired people, but they’re still concerned for the health and well-being of children in need. But volunteers can come from many walks of life. And we’re always in need for more volunteers. I’m definitely putting that word out now. We need more volunteers for sure. There’s no such thing as too many.”
The Brooklyn native, who now calls the Valley home, will work out of the Santa Fe and Española offices and previously worked with the Rio Arriba County Health Council.
“The first time I came to this area, I saw this landscape and I said, ‘oh yeah, this is for me,’ ” she said. “This is my home and my community. Absolutely, we’re excited to be moving into Española and serving this valley. We want the people of Rio Arriba County to know that we’re here and we’re ready to serve.”
Those who want to volunteer with CASA First, or be connected to an Abrigo advocate, should call 505-820-1500, or visit www.casafirst.org