It is just right for everyone, sometime in life, to have a soapbox moment. For many of us, those moments come a little more often than others. Tonight is the night I am seizing one of those moments.
As most of you know, I am blessed to be the Co-Executive Director ay CASA of Southwest Missouri. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. Our mission, simply put, is to give a voice to children who otherwise would not have one. (that is not the ACTUAL mission STATEMENT, but my paraphrase)
Child abuse and neglect is not a socio-economic issue, it crosses all types of race, income, and status. However, it is often characterized to be an issue of those who are economically-challenged; living in poverty. This can be attributed to a number of rationales: drug use, generational neglect and/or abuse, culture, etc. It can also be explained by the lack of opportunity. I say this because if you think about it, if those who are at a higher-socio economic level are faced with an abusive relationship, it is often easier (not that it is in ANY way EASY), but easier to remove oneself or ones family from the abuse. These options are not always available to those at a lower socio-economic level, or if they are, those living in these situations are not aware of the opportunities.
I write all of this to say that abuse and neglect occurs on the north side of town, on the other side of the tracks, those places we 'don't go.' It also occurs just down the street. We are not shielded from these atrocities just because we do not see them. See no evil is not an excuse to not acknowledge its existence. Children are not privied to 'see no evil.' They are many times the victims of abuse and neglect that we, as 'outsiders' refuse to see.
Fortunately, that is where our organization comes in, with the cooperation of people who's jobs are to provide for the best interests of our community's children, our neighbor's children, OUR children. We partner with the Juvenile Justice System, Children's Services, the Child Advocacy Center, the Foster Care Providers, the schools, law enforcement, health officials, and the entire gambit of individuals and groups who take time to care and watch out for the children.
This Sunday, there was a phenomenal story in the Springfield News-Leader about one of our own CASA advocates, Mrs. Jodi Childress-Bowman, who I consider a wonderful individual and friend. It also included a story about a child named Zoe who also had a CASA. These stories were testaments to the work our volunteers and partners do EVERY SINGLE DAY! These volunteers are just people trying to make a difference. These are volunteers who strive daily TO make a difference. That is WHAT THEY DO.
At United Way presentations with Mrs. Autumn Porter, I have shared about a child who was represented by a CASA. They were very young and were in dire need of dental care. The court had ordered that the dental care be received. Upon follow-up, the CASA discovered the care was not received...not because the family or the officers did not care, but there is so much to do on a daily basis to take care of each child that some times things just slip through the cracks. That is NOT how a CASA works. The CASA brought it to the attention of the team and the child's dental needs were met immediately. Without the CASA, the child would have waited longer to receive the needed care, and that is not acceptable in any case. A child who has been abused and/or neglected does not need to be in any more pain than that they have already suffered.
Our system is overwhelmed in Greene County, and that is an understatement. Last September, the number of children in the foster care system reached over 1130! 1130. That is more than half the population of my hometown. That is larger than the size of many high schools in our state...more than many SCHOOL systems. And...to make this a larger reaching problem, there are not enough homes to place our children in our own county. Therefore, there are children from Greene County living across our state. Yes, whether you live in Monett, Willow Springs, Dixon, Greenfield, Houston, Nevada, or Taneyville, you may have a child served by our CASA in your hometown, in your neighborhood, on your street.
Think for a moment. If the number of children in our foster care system numbers 1130, that means that one out of approximately every 200 people in one place in Springfield are victims of REPORTED abuse (not that which goes unreported). So, whether you work at a restaurant, a grocery store, a hospital, or a bank, YOU have seen a victim of child abuse EVERY day, and you probably never knew it. These are our community members, the smallest and most fragile of all. You see them at Target, Macy's, TJMaxx, Michael's, Harter House, Sam's, Casey's, Wal-Mart, the Movie Theatre. We are not immune to this problem. We just don't have it blatantly placed in front of our noses every day.
Maybe we should. Putting it off on someone else, making it someone else's problem allows us to become removed from the problem itself. I have been that person. It was never my issue. It was always for someone else to take care of. Well, frankly, that was a cop out. If nothing else, I should have put my money where my mouth is. I didn't. I allowed others to make the difference that I did not have the time, nor the care to make.
Thank God that time goes by and things change. My eyes have been opened to the sadness that children incur. It is not the happy childhood that I grew up knowing. It was not the Andy Griffith family and community I was blessed to have. It is hell on earth. For those who believe that hell is so much worse than what can be received on earth, that is fine. Just know that the gnashing of teeth and fires of hell for just a moment might be a reprieve from the physical, psychological, and emotional damage and pain that a child can go through on a daily, and sometimes constant basis. I know it is not hell, but that destruction of a childhood is not something of God.
With all of this said, I am so thankful to know that we have so many in our community who constantly reach out to support these children in need. We have some of the best staff, board, and donors in the world at CASA of Southwest Missouri, and I know that our volunteers cannot be matched by anyone else. THAT...I would bet ANY politician $10,000 on (and Lord knows I don't have it to lose...so it is a very safe and sound bet!).
In closing, over the next year, our organization will be campaigning for volunteers and supporters. We will do this by showing "A Year Without CASA." Highlighting what life would be like for a child without and with a CASA. It DOES make a difference.
Over this year, we will have opportunities for you to give of yourself to the children in our community. I know that very few of us have a lot to give, and I will never ask for more of you than you can responsibly do. The amount of money or time is not the point. It is the giving of yourself to others in need. Whether that be through CASA or another worthy cause, just make the difference.
With all of this said, I will share my request for you. Throughout April, CASA will be raising awareness in conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month by our "Change for Children - Raising One Million Pennies." This opportunity is to raise awareness for this very real and disturbing issue. The change WE believe in starts with each and every one of us. In addition, we are going to have our annual Run for a Child, which you have probably viewed numerous times on my Facebook page, on April 14th. No, you don't have to run (or walk), though I would LOVE it if you could!
So, two things I do request of you. These are not HUGE commitments, I promise.
First, during April, if you can dig out the CHANGE (or dollars) you find in your couch cushions, in your dresser or junk drawers, in your console, and your pockets...please collect it and bring it to our office...or cash it in at the bank or local store and send a check (it could be for $0.57...it IS the thought that counts). Help us reach our goal of ONE MILLION PENNIES. We are welcoming churches, banks, organizations, schools, and anyone else who is interested to collect their change to help be agents for change. Those pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, bills, checks, and credit cards add up! Everyone can do this! Just send you change to CASA of Southwest Missouri, PO Box 14364, Springfield, MO 65814 ATTN: Change for Children.
Secondly, my personal plea is for the Run for a Child. I am personally fundraising for this as well. My goal is to raise $2000 before the 14th of April. I know it is a lofty goal. But...with 718 friends on Facebook, I am hoping that it is not that lofty. Therefore, I am asking for this. Please consider that for $4.80 a week you can help provide all of the training materials for a CASA volunteer. For $19.23 a week you can provide a CASA for a child...in their entirety! So...I am not asking you to make a year commitment. I am not even asking for a month. Just consider a week. If you can donate $4.80 and we have 51 friends who do that as well...we have provided training materials for a CASA volunteer. If you can donate $19.23 and we can get 51 people to do that as well...that would be ONE NEW CASA to help abused and neglected children. If you can do more, that is wonderful and I thank you in advance...but EVERY dollar counts and each contribution no matter WHAT the amount helps us make a difference.
You don't have to make a donation on your own. Ask your friends, your family to help make a difference. Go to our Run for a Child website at http://www.ozarkraces.com/fundraising/fundraise.aspx?event=10011&fundraiser=4811. Click on Donate now and help us advocate for the children.
I will be posting for the next month and a half and hope that you will find it in your heart and in your pocket to help make a difference, no matter how small, to help the kids! And please, when you are getting out the change, you can TOTALLY keep the pocket lent! :)
Thank you again for each and everyone of your friendships. I am not sure what I would do without such wonderful, compassionate, and caring people in my life. I can only hope that I might be able to make a difference in the lives of others in the way each of you do in mine.
God bless.
Peace.
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