Become a Voice for Children - Cenla Health: Alexandria, Pineville, Louisiana

The month of April dons the title “Child Abuse Awareness Month".Child Abuse is a topic often met with a heavy sigh, a wave of the hand or utter silence.These common responses do not reflect a lack of compassion for these children, rather they illustrate the overwhelming sense of powerlessness we feel when facing problems as tragic and as chronic as child abuse.The public in general is often at a loss as to how they can effectively address such a complex problem.Fortunately, the CASA program of Rapides Children's Advocacy Center, Inc. provides everyday individuals opportunities to positively impact the lives of abused and neglected children.

The mission of the CASA program is to speak up for the best interests of abused and neglected children as their cases proceed though the judicial and child welfare system.Our CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program trains community volunteers to monitor the cases of children once they have been removed from their homes and placed into foster care.Foster care is designed to be a temporary placement for children while a permanent resolution is pursued by the Courts.Working alongside many juvenile welfare professionals and often meeting with teachers, doctors, foster and biological parents. CASAs make independent, objective recommendations to the Court helping to ensure children remain safe and spend as little time in foster care as possible.

Unfortunately, here in Rapides parish on any given day there are at least 250 abused or neglected children living in foster care.Each one of these children deserves the right to grow up in a safe, permanent home with loving, nurturing adults to care for them.CASA volunteers play an important role in helping to achieve this goal for children and more volunteers are needed now, more than ever.To learn more on becoming a CASA volunteer and becoming a powerful voice for children, please call 445-5678.

Aubrey Hoskins is Community Development Director of the Rapides Children's Advocacy Center.

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