New Mexico Forms Library

10-528. Order appointing court-appointed special advocate in child welfare proceedings.

STATE OF NEW MEXICO
COUNTY OF _______________
__________________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT
IN THE CHILDREN’S COURT

STATE OF NEW MEXICO ex rel.
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT

In the Matter of

_______________________________, a Child,¹ and Concerning
_______________________________, Respondent.²

ORDER APPOINTING
COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA)

This matter came before the Honorable _________________ on _______ (date) to appoint a court-appointed special advocate (“CASA”) for the child in this case. The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (“the Department”) was represented by _____________, children’s court attorney.  _________________ (name of child)) was represented by __________________, (guardian ad litem/attorney). Respondent _________________ (name of respondent) was represented by attorney ________________ (modify as necessary). [The tribe was represented by ______________. The tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)/Indian Family Protection Act (IFPA) worker is ______________.]³ The court being fully advised on the premises hereby FINDS as follows:

1.   The child in this case [has] [has not] been adjudicated abused or neglected at this time; and

2.   A CASA will assist the court by complying with the duties listed in Rule 10-164(C) NMRA.[; and

3.   This case is subject to the IFPA and the ICWA. A CASA will assist the court in assessing whether the Department is making active efforts at engaging the tribe, communicating regularly with the tribal ICWA/IFPA worker, seeking statutorily-preferred placements for the child, and maintaining the child’s cultural connections.]³

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that ________________ (name of CASA) is appointed as the CASA in the above-captioned case under Rule 10-164 NMRA. The CASA is a participant to the case and may review pleadings filed in the above-captioned case. The CASA may also review all records or information concerning the parties in this case, including social records, diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric or psychological reports, videotapes, transcripts and audio recordings of a child’s statement of abuse or medical reports incident to or obtained as a result of a neglect or abuse proceeding or that were produced or obtained during an investigation in anticipation of or incident to a neglect or abuse proceeding, as permitted under NMSA 1978, Sections 32A-4-33, -3B-22. The CASA shall not be named as the child’s educational decision maker or the child’s parent for purposes of the Federal Education Records Protection Act, unless so appointed by separate order of the court. All parties and counsel shall timely cooperate with the CASA’s inquiries as permitted under Rule 10-164.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within five (5) days of the issuance of this order, the CASA shall file with the court Form 10-529 NMRA, to certify that the CASA meets the qualifications under Rule 10-164, that the CASA has reviewed and will abide by the confidentiality provisions of Section 32A-4-33 and Rule 10-166 NMRA, and that the CASA will promptly request to be relieved of this appointment if the CASA falls out of compliance with Rule 10-164 or is no longer a CASA.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that five (5) days before any hearing in this case at which a CASA report will be considered, the CASA shall provide the court with a report and shall provide a copy of the report on all parties[, including the tribal ICWA/IFPA worker].³ The court may request additional CASA reports at its discretion. The substance of the reports shall vary, depending on whether the adjudicatory hearing has concluded at the time the report is provided to the parties.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that prior to the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing, a CASA  is permitted to discuss matters related to the best interest of the child or eligible adult in the case with the following individuals and entities, as appropriate: CYFD’s Permanency Planning Worker, the Children’s Court Attorney, the child’s guardian ad litem or attorney, the foster parent, the child’s teachers, the child’s medical providers, the child’s therapists, the child’s counselors, [the tribal ICWA/IFPA worker,]³ and any other community or service providers for the family. Under Rule 10-164, prior to adjudication, a CASA is not permitted to interview any respondent to the case unless that respondent’s attorney has consented to the interview. Any pre-adjudication report shall provide factual information about the child’s wellbeing, including the following:

1.   the child’s mental, physical, medical, therapeutic, emotional, cultural, and educational needs;

2.   the child’s recreational and extracurricular-related activities and interests; and

3.   the quality and regularity of family time between the child, the child’s siblings, and the respondents.[; and

4.   CYFD’s efforts at engaging the child’s tribe, including how often CYFD is communicating with the tribal ICWA/IFPA representative, whether CYFD is pursuing the ICWA/IFPA placement preferences, and whether CYFD is making active efforts to maintain the child’s cultural connections.]³

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that once a child has been adjudicated abused or neglected as to a respondent, in addition to the individuals listed in the previous paragraph, the CASA is permitted to discuss the case with the respondent to whom the child has been adjudicated and that respondent’s attorney. Any post-adjudication report shall include the information listed in the previous paragraph, as well as any information or recommendations related to the child’s best interest and needs of the family, to include the following:

1.         the Department’s efforts at implementing and facilitating any court-ordered case plan for the parties; and

2.         the parties’ compliance and progress with any court-ordered case plan(s).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that when gathering information from individuals who are not a party to the case, the CASA shall diligently and faithfully observe the confidential nature of this case and the family’s right to privacy under Section 32A-4-33 and Rule 10-166. Accordingly, the CASA shall maintain and destroy any case-related documents received in a manner that ensures confidentiality and privacy. The CASA shall not keep any documents once the CASA is relieved of this appointment by this court.

This order of appointment shall remain in effect until further order of this court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Certificate of Service
I certify that a copy of this Order Appointing Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) has been provided to all attorneys for this case [and the tribal ICWA/IFPA representative]¹ on the date of filing.

__________________________
CASA

(the Department shall file a certificate of service demonstrating that the Indian Tribe(s) and/or Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Office was/were served a copy of this order within five (5) business days of the order’s issuance.)]³

USE NOTES

1.   As appropriate, modify to use the plural “children” throughout this form. Modify the caption and the form as appropriate for use in a fostering connections case.

2.   As appropriate, modify to use the plural “respondents” throughout this form. Modify the caption and the form as appropriate for use in a fostering connections case.

3.   Insert if the case is subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1963, or Indian Family Protection Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 32A-28-1 to -42.

[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2025-00170, effective for all cases filed on or after December 31, 2025.]