Get Involved During National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April)

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Maryland CASA Association is raising awareness about child abuse and neglect and the need for more citizens within our communities to step forward and help make a difference.When a child is placed in the foster care system due to abuse or neglect, they are often removed from their home and placed in state care – sometimes far away from their family, loved ones and community. CASA volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are everyday people from all walks of life who are recruited and specially trained to advocate for these children and provide a consistent, reliable adult presence for them during a difficult time in their life.CASA volunteers are assigned to one child or sibling group to advocate for their best interest in court, in school and in other settings. They get to know the child and everyone involved in their life, such as family members, foster parents, therapists and teachers, in order to develop a realistic picture of the child’s unique situation. They make recommendations to the judge overseeing the child’s case, with the goal of ensuring that the child is safe and has the resources needed to heal.According to the Maryland Department of Human Services, there were 57,364 reports of suspected abuse or neglect in 2017, and a total of 22,265 of those reports resulted in findings of abuse or neglect. Today in Maryland, there are roughly 4,700 children and youth who have been removed from their homes and placed into the foster care system.Maryland CASA Association invites you to get involved during Child Abuse Prevention Month in the following ways:[su_list icon="icon: chevron-right" icon_color="#FF0000"]

• Consider becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate – or CASA Volunteer. Sign up to receive more information on the role here.
• Make a one-time gift of $30, $1 per day in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Lace up your running (or walking) shoes and sign-up to join Team CASA at the Baltimore Running Festival and help to raise critical funds and awareness for abused & neglected children.
• Join Maryland CASA’s Champions for Children Giving Club, an elite group of monthly donors who provide our organization the funds we need to continue offering our programs and services.
• Connect and engage with us on Facebook and Twitter! We will be posting great content relating to child abuse, neglect, and how our community can come together to make a difference. You may also start your own Child Abuse Prevention Month fundraiser on Facebook. More details on that here.
• Tell 3 people you know about our organization! With over 4,700 children and youth in foster care throughout our state, we are in dire need of more child advocates. Direct friends, family members, and co-workers here to learn more about how they can make a difference.

[/su_list][video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://marylandcasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Become-a-Court-Appointed-Special-Advocate-CASA.mp4"][/video]Now and throughout the year, if you see abuse, Maryland CASA urges you to report it to your local department of social services. If a child’s life is in danger, call 911.