A Flicker of Hope- CASA Ceremony recognizes abused, neglected children
By, Lee B. Weaver, The News Mirror

947
8 ½
363
1 million
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Numbers hardly tell the tale - in the end, it comes down to people helping people. But if knowing the statistics motivates those people into action, perhaps they do bear repeating.

* Nationwide, nearly I million youth are abused or neglected each year.
* In 2006, there were 947 children in the care of local Child Protective Services.
*Across the state of Texas, a child is abused or neglected every 8 1/2 minutes.
* The rate of child abuse and neglect in Wichita and Montague coun¬ties is twice the national rate.
* In 2006, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) served 363 children who were removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse.
* For 24 years, CASA's mission has been to provide a voice for abused and neglected children.

And for one grace-filled hour last week, child advocates, volunteers, court officials, parents - and, of course, children - gathered to honor the young people whose safety and futures depend upon the strength and caring of others.

CASAs "Light of Hope" candle-lighting ceremony - held last Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church - recognized the children in harm's way in our community, as well as the community members who've committed themselves to their protection.

Besides the cruel and too-common cases of intentional abuse visited upon children, many children are victims of parents and caregivers who are simply in over their heads, said featured speaker Dr. Michael Vandehey. "They don't want to hurt their children. They're doing the best they can, but they don't know what to do," said Vandehey. - "How can we help them?"

Child Advocates was founded in 1983 as a non¬profit, tax exempt organization, and was the second Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) organization in Texas. Its mission is to "expedite the process of placing abused and neglected children in a safe, perma¬nent home, by providing trained volunteers to represent the child's interests in the courts and the child protec¬tive services system:"

Child Advocates has been serving abused and neg¬lected children in our community for 24 years, ensuring each child's best interests are represented in the over burdened child welfare system. To learn more about CASA's services or to become a CASA volunteer, call their offices at 940-766-0552 or visit their web site at www.casawf.org.