Columbus-based Advocates for Children is serving a growing number of children who are in the court system because of parental abuse or neglect — often the result of drug addiction. Last year that number grew 5 percent, to 456 in Bartholomew County.
At the same time, the supply of trained Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers the agency uses to look out for the best interests of the children in court in Bartholomew, Decatur and Jennings counties cannot keep pace with the demand for their services. The number of children in these three counties on a waiting list for representation grew more than 14 percent, to 349, from 2016 to 2017.
That’s 349 children too many who are victims of abuse or neglect, who have been removed from their homes for their own safety. They are emotionally vulnerable and do not have someone from within their own family to look out for their best interests. That’s where Advocated for Children and its team of trained advocates comes into play.
Providing advocates for children in need is critical — and many more are needed. In Bartholomew County alone as of last year, there were 85 active CASAs, with 29 newly trained ones. The number of active CASAs in Bartholomew County is down from 100 in 2013, when the challenges were not as high.
The CASA program needs more community residents to help by volunteering to become a CASA volunteer. All it takes is a willingness to help and an ability to donate some time each week and month.
More information about becoming a CASA volunteer can be found online at apowerfulvoice.org.
This is an opportunity for people in the community to make a difference in a child’s life, and lend a hand in the possible reunification of families. That’s a goal worth working toward.
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