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BASTROP COUNTY — April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and local youth advocates are calling for more volunteer support.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Bastrop, Fayette & Lee Counties is raising awareness to help end child abuse and neglect. The organization, which supports children in foster care by providing a consistent, reliable adult presence during difficult times, served 131 children last year—and the need for volunteers continues to grow, according to Kristi Bauer, executive director of the local CASA chapter.
“Our volunteers’ priority is to keep families together whenever safe and possible,” Bauer said. “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 a child or sibling group, learning about their unique situations by engaging with parents, foster parents, caseworkers, teachers and therapists.
When reunification is not an option, volunteers help identify relatives, friends or other caring adults who can provide a positive, stable environment.
“There is always a need for more CASA volunteers,” Bauer said. “By becoming a volunteer, you can take your efforts beyond just awareness and help support children and families in crisis right here in our community.”
Local advocates emphasized that the ultimate goal is to ensure every child has a safe, permanent home. Until that goal is met, CASA continues to seek more community members willing to step into advocacy roles.
For more information on volunteering with CASA, visit BecomeaCASA.org or call 512-303-2272.
The next volunteer training session is scheduled to run through May and includes eight in-person sessions and three hours of court observation.
“Together, we can ensure every child has a voice and a brighter future,” Bauer said.
Residents are encouraged to report abuse by calling 1-800-252-5400 or visiting txabusehotline.org.
