April 24 at Academy Park a local non-profit called CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, held an event called Light of Hope for National Child Abuse Prevention Month in order to raise awareness. Lagniappe Montessori was there providing a musical performance and Ashlee Drake, representing the mayor’s office, read a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in the City of Minden.
The proclamation read, “Whereas, April marks the start of Child Abuse Awareness Month for a memorial for all the children who have suffered from some form of abuse and neglect this past year; and whereas, Volunteers for Youth Justice Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), in association with the National CASA Association, speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children who are involved in the juvenile courts; and whereas, in an effort to increase awareness of child abuse and aid in its prevention, CASA is hosting its annual “Light of Hope” event…
Now, therefore, I, Nicholas A. Cox, mayor of the City of Minden, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as “Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month” in the City of Minden. In doing so, I urge all citizens to join in a national effort to raise awareness for and help prevent child abuse and neglect.”
Sandra Samuel, CASA supervisor, explained the role that CASA plays in the cases of abused or neglected children. “I work for a program under the Volunteers for Youth Justice called CASA. We are court appointed special advocates. In Webster Parish whenever a child is neglected or abused and removed from their home, the court system assigns our program,” said Samuel.
“We’re a second set of eyes and ears. We go into the home that they are placed in and we check on them every month and we write a report to the judge to let them know if there is anything they need or whatever else is going on in the home.”
The event was held not only to raise awareness for child abuse prevention, but also to raise awareness for the CASA program and its need for volunteers. Samuel stated that, in Webster Parish alone, there are currently 27 cases that encompass 57 children. With only eleven volunteers currently, this can stretch their numbers a little thin, so the more volunteers the program can muster, the easier it will be for the program as a whole to ensure that children are in healthy environments.
For those who want to take part in CASA’s cause and volunteer, call 318-221-2272 to contact the organization by phone, or visit their website at www.vyjla.org to find more information.