Perspective on Texas Children
05/08/2008
As we watch the story in Texas unfold, it is shocking that in California thousands of children are removed from their homes because of alleged abuse. Further, many of these children do not have parents who contest the allegations or express an interest in their own children. As dependents of the court, these children are part of a legal system that often leaves them frightened, confused and alone. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) trains, recruits and supervises community volunteers who represent the hopes, dreams and best interests of these child victims. As advocates we work to ensure that each child is reunified with his/her family or, if not possible, is provided with an alternative permanent home with a stable, loving family.
CASA volunteers, staff and former foster youth have local stories to tell about their experiences in a confidential judicial system that protects children in our own neighborhoods. Every day in California 70 children who have been abused or neglected join the state's population of 80,000 children in foster care. California is home to nearly one-fifth of all of the children in foster care in the United States. In California there are 4,000 volunteers in 43 county-run CASA programs that have weekly contact with these children, advocating in court for each child's unique needs and bringing a common-sense community perspective to these closed judicial proceedings. But, sadly, there are thousands who do not have a CASA volunteer to speak up for them.
To learn more about how to become involved with abused and neglected children right here in Ventura County please contact CASA, a program of Interface Children Family Services, 1305 Del Norte Road, Ste.130, Camarillo, 93010, 485-6114 ext. 609 or email swhite@icfs.org.
Sandi White
Program Manager
CASA of Ventura County
Camarillo
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