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Monday, April 8, 2013

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Every child has the right to be safe. Sadly, on any given day in Dallas County, more than 2,000 abused and neglected children are living in foster care because they have been hurt by the very people who were supposed to protect them.

Join Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to help keep our children safe from abuse and neglect.

CASA is an organization of volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts and in the community. CASA volunteers complete a 30-hour training program and are then appointed to cases involving abused and neglected children. Volunteer advocates gather information about the children’s lives so they can make informed and objective recommendations to judges about each child’s best interests.

“Dallas CASA volunteers are everyday heroes who give abused and neglected children a powerful voice in court and a better chance of having safe, permanent homes where they are healthy, loved and protected,” said Beverly Levy, Dallas CASA’s Executive Director and President.

Children like Nasa M. are among those who have benefitted from the voice of a caring CASA volunteer. At the age of 10, Nasa and her siblings came under the protective care of the courts because of severe neglect resulting from their mother’s drug abuse. Child Protective Services placed the children in a foster home to keep them safe from further harm. Tim, a CASA volunteer, was appointed to help Nasa and her siblings find a safe, loving home. The children were adopted by their grandmother and continue to keep in touch with Tim.

“He was almost like a father figure to me,” Nasa said of Tim, who is now helping her prepare for college and encouraging her aspirations of becoming a restaurant owner. “He was just always there for us. He made sure we were safe and protected no matter what.”

When kids can’t speak for themselves, CASA can. We envision a day when every child in foster care has a powerful voice in court and in the community. Sadly, however, only two out of five abused or neglected children in Dallas County have CASA volunteers to speak for their best interests in court. More volunteers are needed to make a critical impact on the lives of abused children who need help and hope.

Dallas CASA information sessions describe the volunteer program and the process to become a volunteer advocate. You will learn more about the agency, the volunteer role and the training program.

Upcoming Information Sessions:
Wednesday, April 10, 12-1pm
Thursday, April 18, 6-7pm
Friday, April 26, 12-1pm
Thursday, May 2, 6-7pm

Learn how to volunteer with Dallas CASA by visiting

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