Brownwood News – April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and CASA in the Heart of Texas is raising awareness of the need for more dedicated members of the community to step up and become CASA volunteers, and help break the cycle of abuse and neglect, through supporting children and families. (article contributed by Joanne McCraw, CASA)
CASA volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are everyday people from all walks of life who are recruited and specially trained to advocate for children in foster care and provide a consistent, reliable adult presence for them during a difficult time in their life.
“Our volunteers’ first priority is to keep families together whenever safe and possible,” said Michelle Wells, Executive Director of CASA in the heart of Texas. “Foster care is only a temporary solution to the problems at hand. We need to create long term support networks that work to care for families, make reunification a possibility, and help break the cycle for the next generation.”
CASA volunteers are typically assigned to one child or sibling group to advocate for their best interest in court, in school and in other settings. They get to know the child and everyone involved in their life, such as parents and other family members, foster parents, therapists, caseworkers and teachers, in order to develop a realistic picture of the child’s unique situation. They engage those important to the child and family in order to build a network of support around them, so that the family has access to support and resources after CASA and CPS involvement has ended. They make recommendations to the judge overseeing the child’s case, with the goal of ensuring that the child is safe and the family has the resources, support and healthy relationships needed to heal. The consistency of the relationships of our volunteers and children are even more critical during these times of limited social interaction.
Locally, CASA in the Heart of Texas served 99 children in the foster care system in Brown, Comanche, and Mills counties during fiscal year 2019, which means there were 226 children who still needed someone to advocate for them. This April, consider stepping up to make a difference by becoming a CASA volunteer.
“There is still a great need for CASA volunteers,” said Joanne McCraw, Recruiter/Trainer. “By becoming a CASA volunteer, you can take your efforts beyond just awareness and do your part to help support children and families right here in our community.”
When reunification is not a possibility for the children they serve, CASA volunteers work to find others that can provide a positive, healthy and loving environment. These can include relatives, friends or other adults that are important in the child’s life—keeping a child connected to their home community.
Statewide, the CASA movement is growing faster than ever before. Last year, the 72 CASA programs in Texas recruited a total of 10,874 CASA volunteers to advocate for 30,432 children.
“We at CASA in the Heart of Texas always hope for the day when CASA, foster care and a national month dedicated to child abuse prevention are no longer needed because all children are growing up safe, secure and supported with their families,” said Wells. “Until then, we will continue to seek more members of the community to join our growing movement so that we can provide a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one.”
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. If out in public, wear blue clothing or a blue ribbon to promote awareness. Churches are also encouraged to participate in Blue Sunday on April 26, 2020 by intentionally praying for children in the foster care system, as well as those providing care for them, involved in the decision-making process for them, and for the families that they yearn to return to. If you see abuse, report it to 1(800) 252-5400 or go to www.txabusehotline.org. With everyone so isolated at present, please be extra observant of children when you do see them. There are far fewer opportunities for children to be seen by caring adults in our present situation and the stress levels for at-risk families may be far higher than normal. If a child’s life is in danger, call 911. For more information on CASA, visit www.BecomeaCASA.org, www.CASAbrownwood.org or call 325-643-2557.
CASA in the Heart of Texas is striving to protect the health and safety of all by allowing staff to work from home, utilizing technology to facilitate communication, and practicing all the guidelines of our federal, state, and local authorities. While staff are not in the office, our voicemail is being monitored regularly during office hours. Please join us in doing everything possible to keep yourself and others safe as we navigate these difficult and trying days.
