CASA of Gila County
(Globe, AZ) – In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, CASA of Gila County is issuing a call to action for residents of Gila County to stand against child abuse and take action to support children who have been abused or neglected.
Children come into the child welfare system through no fault of their own. “The needs of Gila County’s children coming into care are more complicated than ever before, and life in foster care can be chaotic,” said Emily Leverance, CASA Coordinator. “Every child deserves the support of caring, consistent adult with the training to help them heal and thrive.”
Throughout the month of April, CASA of Gila County is calling on members of the community to help our program serve more of Gila County’s most vulnerable children. We are asking community members to volunteer as Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Without intervention, the odds are stacked against children in foster care. A child with a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, however, will leave the foster care system two-and-a-half months earlier, on average, compared to a child without a CASA volunteer. Studies show children with a CASA volunteer receive more services that are critical to their well-being than children without an advocate, and those children are more likely to achieve educational success.
“CASA volunteers are a constant for the child in a time of chaos,” said Leverance, “A child may have multiple social workers, attorneys, therapists and foster placements throughout the life of the case but only one CASA volunteer, which can make all the difference for the child’s future.”
CASA of Gila County is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CASA), a nationwide network of programs in nearly 1,000 communities. At the heart of the movement are nearly 77,000 highly trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of more than 250,000 of America’s children who have been abused or neglected. In Southern Gila County, there are 6 volunteer advocates fighting for the best interests of 5 children, but 70 more children need the care and support of a CASA volunteer.
For more information about CASA of Gila County or to volunteer, visit www.CASAofGilaCounty.org