April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

We all have a role to play in ending the problem

By Cynthia Druley

By the time you finish reading this article, more than 30 cases of child abuse will have been reported to authorities nationwide. By the end of today, that number will swell past 9,000; and four of those children will die at the hands of their abuser – all in a single day.

When we take stock of these sobering statistics during April — National Child Abuse Prevention Month — it’s easy to be overwhelmed.

You may ask yourself, “What can I possibly do to make a difference?” You can play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect by becoming advocates for children.

For some of us, that advocacy comes in a formal role. Teachers, childcare workers, health care providers and others who come into daily contact with children can be vigilant for signs of abuse and neglect. Taking action to report suspected abuse or to offer extra time and attention to fragile children and their families can do more than make a difference. It can save lives.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers stand up for abused and neglected children, giving them a voice in an overburdened child welfare (foster care) system that is hard-pressed to meet their individual needs. A CASA volunteer’s comprehensive advocacy can support them during a very difficult time and break the cycle of abuse and neglect.

Children with CASA volunteers find safe, permanent homes more quickly, are half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, and do better in school. On a national basis, CASA organizations are making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of abused and neglected children across the country. Last year CASA of Santa Cruz County made a difference in the lives of over 200 such children in our community. But despite all the children we have helped, there are still far too many who are left to fend for themselves.

CASA of Santa Cruz County is one of more than 900 CASA programs across the country committed to ensuring that every child who needs a CASA volunteer has one.

CASA volunteers are men and women just like you — teachers, businesspeople, retirees, grandparents — who are passionate about taking an active role in helping children in our community. They are over 21 and are willing to participate in an in-depth training program and commit to help a child or young adult until they find a permanent home (usually 18-24 months.) They are able to pass a criminal and Child Protective Services background check. They took the first step to finding out how to be a CASA volunteer by calling (831) 761-2956 x102 or by going to www.casaofsantacruz.org.

Not everyone is ready to make a commitment to be a CASA volunteer, but everyone can be an advocate. Here are some steps you can take to make our community safer for our children.

Keep the toll-free child abuse hotline number close at hand, 1 (877) 505-3299 or (831) 454-2273; if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you can report your suspicions confidentially.

Donate or volunteer for a social service agency that helps children who have been abused or neglected, such as Survivor’s Healing Center, Monarch Services, the Parents Center, and the United Way.

Educate yourself — and others — about the devastating toll that abuse and neglect take on children and our society as a whole.

Your advocacy for children will not only help end child abuse, it will improve our community for everyone who lives here. Children who are abused and do not get the support they need to heal are more likely than other kids to drop out of school, end up homeless, turn to crime, and as adults rely on social welfare programs. When we work together to protect vulnerable children, it saves lives while also reducing the impact on already stretched government and non-profit agencies.

We all have a role to play. What will yours be?

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Cynthia Druley is Executive Director of CASA of Santa Cruz County, 813 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville, CA 96076 (831) 761-2956, www.casaofsantacruz.org.