Letter from the Director - Looking Ahead

Since starting as the new Executive Director of Colorado CASA, I have had the privilege to get in my car and travel throughout the state to visit our local programs in JeffCo, Littleton, Fort Collins, Durango, Denver, Colorado Springs, Adams and Broomfield counties. It has been my honor to meet our incredible local executive directors, their teams and see their safe spaces for our CASA staff, volunteers and kids to congregate in and to learn about the hard work they do every single day.

I am excited by what I see and learn – with more to come! In January, my travels will take me to Weld, Summit, Pueblo, Montrose, Mesa, Boulder and Alamosa counties. I will participate in a pre-service training, get into various courtrooms in Colorado, and witness new CASA advocates being sworn in – the start of their journey providing the critical support our kids need and deserve during a challenging time in their lives!

As I look ahead and with the Colorado 75th General Assembly regular session kicking off today, these priorities are steering us forward:

• Protect our statewide increased revenue line item awarded last session in a tough budget year

• Continue to create community partnerships at the state level that benefit local programs such as one that was just started in December with the Denver Broncos

• Reconvene our important legislative and data committees to improve our support of local programs and better share our impact

• Bridge our rural and urban programs as we welcome our 19th program in Alamosa – CASA del Valle

I look forward to meeting more of you, sharing the work our teams across the state are doing and launching a new awareness and volunteer recruitment campaign in the next few months.

Thank you for your support---here’s to learning and becoming new and improved.

Alicia Economos, CEO