Dear CASA Supporter
The past month has seen children from throughout our region return to school to begin the next step toward what we hope are the brightest of futures.
As the school year begins, CASA programs around the country encounter an heartbreaking challenge as the number of children entering care due to abuse or neglect spikes.
Teachers and school administrators are often the first people to identify and report the signs of abuse. Children who suffer mistreatment at home often also have minimized social connections outside the home. For this reason teachers are some of the few people who can make first-hand observations of the signs of abuse or neglect. They might notice a child who seems weak and malnourished, a child with an untreated ailment, bruises or injuries, or even simply an empty chair for a child who has never showed up at all.
It is an incredibly important role that educators can serve in taking the first step in putting an end to abuse, because once mistreatment is recognized, our passionate CASA volunteers can begin their work.
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CASA enters at the most critical time, when the child feels alone, scared, and confused. We are grateful to have 270 volunteers advocating for the best interests of these children, in their homes, at their schools, and in the court room so that every child will have a trusted ally by their side.
