CASA Spreads the Word During Child Abuse Awareness Month

One in four girls is sexually abused before the age of 18, and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults, including assaults on adults, occur to children 17 and year, according to CAPstone of Western Nebraska, a child advocacy center.

Child abuse by definition is not limited to sexual assaults. It is neglect. It is emotional assaults. It is mistreatment that threatens the person mentally, emotionally and physically. According to the Child Welfare League of America, Nebraska had 32,605 total referrals for child abuse in 2016. Of that number, 11,806 were referred for investigation.

In 2018, there were 25 children referred to CASA, 22 children served by an advocate, 37 total open cases monitored by staff, and 22 closed cases. So far in 2019, there has been 19 open cases and 17 of those children with an advocate.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month and CASA is helping to spread the word. For the second year, PlainsWest CASA, a volunteer-based organization that speaks for children who've been abused or neglected will be planting pinwheel gardens and holding events in the community to raise awareness of the prevalence of child abuse.

National Child Abuse Prevention month was commissioned by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to help communities rededicate themselves to being supportive of families and play an active role in preventing child abuse and neglect as well as taking positive action to promote child and family well-being. In 2008, blue pinwheels were introduced as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention. By its very nature, the pinwheel displays whimsy and childlike notions and have come to serve as the physical reminder of the great childhoods we want for all children.

CASA kicked off the month by planting pinwheel gardens and participating in Wear Blue Day on April 5 in support for preventing child abuse and neglect. CASA staff and volunteers planted pinwheels in the three counties served by Plains West CASA: Cheyenne, Deuel, and Kimball counties. Locations of the pinwheels include: Deuel County Courthouse, Kimball County Courthouse, Cheyenne County Courthouse, Sidney Police Department, Highway 30 Welcome Signs, Sidney Regional Medical Center, Sidney High School, and at the Dalton Community Garden Plot off of Highway 385.

"We appreciate the opportunity to partner with our area organizations and are proud of our team members that are involved with helping share the CASA mission,' said Sidney Regional Medical Center CEO Jason Petik.

On April 27, CASA will also be holding a Superhero 5K Run and Villain Chase Kid's Fun Run in Sidney. Superhero runs are held nationwide by CASA organizations as an upbeat way to share the importance of CASA volunteers and encourage others to be a superhero for children who've been abused or neglected. This is the first year that PlainsWest CASA has held this event. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as a superhero, there will be prizes for top costumes. The race will begin at the Legion Park Shelter House and will end back at the Shelter House with informational vendors present to share resources of community non-profits with attendees. The cost of the 5K is $40 and the Villain Chase is $25; both fees include a race t-shirt. For more information, visits http://www.plainswestcasa.org or http://www.getmeregistered.com and search Sidney CASA Superhero.

PlainsWest CASA will be holding its next New Volunteer Training in June. Interested individuals should complete an application found on the Plains West CASA website http://www.plainswestcasa.org, and email it to [email protected] or turn it in at the office, 1021 10th Ave. in Sidney. Volunteers must be 21 or older and pass a background check.

PlainsWest CASA is a member of the National CASA Association, a network of more than 900 CASA programs serving children in 49 states and Washington DC, and the Nebraska CASA Organization.