19 Apr Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties Awarded $30,000 Grant from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City to support their Youngest Victims programs.
Jackson County CASA started the Youngest Victims program in 2011 to focus on children from birth to age five after CASA Volunteers and Case Managers saw that young children need special focus because of their age. Children this age often have limited communication skills, and a limited ability to actively participate in their own recovery from abuse and neglect. They are too young to request medical or mental health services, and often have no positive adult presence in their lives other than the CASA Volunteer. To address this, CASA started the Youngest Victims program to give additional training and support to CASA Volunteers working with these young children. Well over 100 volunteers have received specialized training in matters pertaining to young children, including training in reactive attachment disorder, child development from birth to age five, Trauma Informed Care, and other topics. During the 12-month grant period covered by this new request, the two CASA agencies will serve more than 600 children ages five or younger.
Child abuse is a very real and present public health problem in the Kansas City area. Each year, thousands of children in our community suffer from abuse or neglect and are placed under the protection of the Family Court system. The number of children entering the court system due to abuse and neglect continues to grow on both sides of the state line, increasing the need for advocates to safeguard these children’s best interests.
Jackson County CASA and CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties train and support volunteers to advocate in Family Court for abused and neglected children living in foster homes, with biological relatives, or other residential placements. CASA Volunteers are the only volunteers appointed by a judge and empowered to stand up for an abused and neglected child in court. They advocate for access to mental health, physical health, and other services; cultivate a child’s resilience; and advocate for a safe, permanent home.