Letter to the Editor: Turning awareness into action for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Dear editor,

If you’ve noticed an abundance of blue shirts in Springfield this month or have seen the news about the Go Blue Community Kickoff held on April 9, you’ve seen a community uniting for a vital cause. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and while the color blue is a powerful symbol, the real work happens when that awareness turns into action.

In Greene, Christian and Taney counties, the statistics can feel overwhelming. Every day, children are removed from their homes due to safety concerns. Southwest Missouri has one of the highest concentrations of children in foster care: 18.57 children per 1,000, far above the state average of 12.94, according to a Missouri Department of Social Services report.

The financial cost of foster care is immense. Missouri spends approximately $25,000 annually per child in foster care. With almost 18,000 children in foster care, the state’s annual expenditure approaches $450 million. That figure does not account for the downstream costs of untreated trauma: health care, lost productivity and involvement in the criminal justice system.

This is why Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri is so critical. A CASA volunteer is more than a volunteer – they are an advocate. They spend time with the child, talk to teachers and meet with those invested in the child’s life to ensure the judge has the information needed to make the best possible decision for that child’s future. In southwest Missouri, children served by a CASA volunteer spend less time in foster care, achieve better outcomes in school and are less likely to re-enter foster care due to repeated abuse. CASA volunteers create positive outcomes for children and offer a cost savings for our state.

So, what can you do to make an impact this April? Wearing a blue shirt or attending the Go Blue Community Kickoff is a wonderful start. It shows our children that our community sees them. But we can do more. We currently have almost 100 more children in need of advocacy than we have volunteers to serve them.

You don't need a background in law or social work to make a difference. CASA provides the training and the support; you just provide the commitment. As we "Go Blue" this April, I hope you will consider taking the next step by visiting CASASWMO.org to see how you can change a child’s story.

—Laura Farmer, executive director of CASA of Southwest Missouri