CASA Program Crime Victim Trauma Intervention Project

Chaves County CASA’s Trauma Intervention Project (TIP) is an innovative way to serve child victims of crime who experience abuse and neglect as well as the team of service providers who can incur trauma and face burnout while supporting victims.

The TIP’s intended beneficiaries are abused and neglected children and the teams of adults who serve and protect them including law enforcement, members of the courts, and foster parents among others. The TIP has the potential to help over 1,000 individuals a year.

The TIP will treat children who have suffered sexual and physical abuse, human trafficking, and abandonment. It will also support the team of foster parents, members of the court, and law enforcement officers who work with victims. The TIP aims to help build resilience among the service team to lessen burnout, caregiver stress, and secondary trauma, ensuring experienced, engaged caregivers are available when children in danger need them most. While the TIP will initially serve Chaves County, Chaves County CASA will assist other CASA organizations across the state to ensure this this comprehensive approach to trauma-informed care is available in all of New Mexico.

Southeastern New Mexico is in crisis. Its citizens are struggling with the horrific effects of child abuse and neglect, drug abuse including opioids, poverty, and human trafficking. Child abuse cases are at an all-time high for torture and trafficking. Chaves County CASA has a proven history of effectively serving child victims of crime. The program has strong partnerships with the Chaves County Sheriff Department, Roswell Police Department, New Mexico Homeland Security, State Police, New Mexico’s Children, Youth & Family Department, and the District Attorney. These connections leave CASA well poised to implement the TIP and end the cycle of child abuse in this rural community.