Protecting Our Children
Children are incredibly important. As a father and a grandfather, I can attest they fill your life with joy and wonder. They’re also our future. We want them to succeed and live long, happy lives. Unfortunately, some children don’t receive the love and support they need to reach their full potential. Sometimes a child, through no fault of their own, can suddenly find themselves in the unfortunate and horrible position of being abused or neglected. For instance, right here in Missouri, the Department of Social Services substantiated cases of abuse and neglect involving 5,600 children during the 2018 fiscal year. This abuse can understandably cause a great deal of disruption in these children’s lives. Fortunately, there are those willing to lend a hand to help these children.
For the past 10 years, Capital City CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has been assisting abused and neglected children in our community as they traverse the often complicated court process. Beginning in 2009 under the Kiwanis Club of Jefferson City, the organization furthered the Kiwanis Club’s mission of serving children and youth in the area. Just a few years later, CASA moved out from the Kiwanis Club and became a non-profit in its own right. Today, Capital City CASA trains volunteers to be a voice for the children they work with and provide informed recommendations to the juvenile court on what is in the best interest for the child.
At the heart of CASA’s important work is the desire to see these children find a brighter future through care and compassion. These volunteers are one of the few constants for a child who may be separated from their family and are being moved through courtrooms and foster homes. These volunteers stay with a case until it resolves, often in excess of a year. This takes extraordinary dedication to these children. Over the years, Capital City CASA has trained and recruited over 130 volunteer advocates and put in over 20,000 hours of volunteer work. Assisting in these efforts is Olive, the court room therapy dog, who provides children with a sense of calm and safety during court proceedings. In 2019 alone, the organization served more than 180 children throughout Cole County.
On August 22, I had the opportunity to recognize Capital City CASA for its work to help our community’s kids. I presented Capital City CASA with a Senate resolution recognizing the organization for all their hard work in helping children in our community. They do great work, and I know they’ll keep it up for the future.
If you would like more information about Capital City CASA or ways you can help children in need in our community, please contact 573-893- CASA (2272). Additionally, if you suspect a case of child abuse, neglect or exploitation, confidential reports can be made toll-free to the Missouri’s Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline Unit (CANHU) at 1-800-392-3738.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.