CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County’s Executive Director Ann McAlpin is concerned. With children out of school and families forced to stay home, combined with additional stress and fear, abuse and neglect are more likely. The Texas Tribune reported on March 27th that “hotline tips to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services fell from 11,179 a week to 9,344. But child welfare workers recognize that pattern: They see the same drop in numbers each summer when schools are out and there are fewer teachers and day care workers watching over children and alerting officials to possible abuse.”
Last year, 815 children in Montgomery County were in the care of Child Protective Services (CPS) due to abuse and neglect. Experts are predicting that number will increase due to the pandemic. CASA Advocate volunteers play an important role in the lives of these children – they are there for child.
Even now, under these unique and trying circumstances, CASA’s Advocates are adapting, making sure these children are safe both physically and mentally. Whether it is driving 100 miles round trip to pick up and deliver needed diapers and wipes along with coloring and reading books and crayons or mailing home made cards, Advocates are staying in touch with children who are currently living in a foster care arrangement – either with family members or a licensed foster care family.
The month of May is Foster Care Month and CASA is hosting a Chance for a Child campaign. The goal is to help an additional 30 children in 30 days by providing them with a volunteer advocate on the journey to a permanent and happy home. The cost to do this is $45,000 for the year. You can help make this goal a reality by going to CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County
CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County is a grantee of Montgomery County Community Foundation as well as the annual beneficiary of a fund established to support them in perpetuity by one of their dedicated volunteers.
Montgomery County County Community Foundation creates legacies to support your passion into the future. Like the Bartlows, who created the Dave and Jo Ann Bartlow Fund for CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County to ensure that organization receives funds annually, you can support the nonprofit or area of interest you are most concerned about. Contact Julie Martineau at 281.367.8158 or jmartineau@mccfoundation.org to find out how.