Letter: Learn how to help abused children

Every day in this country, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect, and four of them will die. Every day. Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children is a network of 951 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Volunteer advocates — empowered directly by the courts — offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care.

Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in loving, permanent homes. For many abused children, a Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.

The 9th Judicial District is fortunate to have one of these programs in place, and we need our community’s support to improve the lives of more than 60 children in our district whose lives are impacted by abuse and neglect.

Our board of directors’ goal is to raise funds and awareness to have every case served in our district by 2016.

Please join us at our CASA at the Grind fundraiser and community-awareness event Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at 720 Grand Ave. in Glenwood Springs to learn more about how you can join our movement and be a part of shaping the lives of some of our at-risk youth.

To learn more about Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of the 9th and/or this event, please go to our website at http://www.casaoftheninth.org or call us at 970-987-4332.

Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children is one place where a single individual — you — can make all the difference!

Soledad Lowe

Vice president, CASA of the 9th board of directors