From Gulf Coast CASA
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Gulf Coast CASA is raising awareness of the need for more dedicated members of the community to step up and become CASA volunteers, and help end child abuse and neglect, through supporting children and their families.
This April 11 CASA will host a Pinwheel Ceremony in Bay City at the Matagorda Courthouse, at 1700 7th Street, Bay City from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
This April, consider stepping up to make a difference by becoming a CASA volunteer.
“There is always a need for more CASA volunteers,” said Michael Hebert.
Locally, Gulf Coast CASA served 23 children in the foster care system in Matagorda County in 2023, which means there are still 91 children who need someone to advocate for them.
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 Michael Hebert, executive director of Gulf Coast CASA.
“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 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 their parents and other family members, foster parents, therapists, caseworkers, and teachers, in order to develop a realistic picture of the child’s unique situation.
If you see abuse, report it to 1 (800) 252-5400 or go to www.txabusehotline.org.
If a child’s life is in danger, call 911. For more information on CASA, visit gulfcoastcasa.org/volunteer or call 979.308.4576.