Go Blue on Friday

April is Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month all across America and the first Friday in April, April 6, is Go BLUE Day when people wear blue ribbons as a sign of awareness and pray for victims of abuse and neglect.

Right here in Burnet County three organizations are on the frontline of work toward one goal.

They are the Burnet County Child Welfare Board (BCCWB), the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center (HCCAC) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for the Highland Lakes all are involved with protecting our most vulnerable children, those in the foster care system.

“While each has a specific role in that task, they are often misunderstood,” said Caroline Ragsdill, president of the BCCWB. “But each has a special role.”

BCCWB

The Burnet County Child Welfare Board is a group of volunteers, approved by the county commissioners court, whose mission is to support the Child Protective Services caseworkers as they provide for the needs of abused and neglected children. The board also tries to increase awareness that abuse and neglect does exist and to encourage acceptance and responsibility in the community for caring for these children.

“We furnish a Rainbow Room at the CPS office in Burnet, with clothes from infant to teens, toiletries, books, blankets, stuffed animals and toys,” said Ragsdill. “When a child is removed from their home, the caseworker can take one of the blue duffle bags we provide and fill it with clothes and supplies for several days until the child is settled into a foster home or relative home.

“We send each child a birthday gift card and also provide, upon request from the caseworker, beds and bedding, help with graduation expenses, college scholarships, driver's ed fees and help with camp or other school fees.”

BCCWB members, with CASA, hosts a Christmas party for all children in foster care in surrounding counties, as well as shopping for Christmas gifts from the wish list of each Burnet county child.

“Our requests are varied but it is all with the welfare of the child in mind—to help them feel like any other child, despite the circumstances life has dealt them,” said Ragsdill.

She added that the area has too few foster homes to cover the need. Because of that, if relatives cannot take children, they often must be placed in foster homes outside this area. They not only leave their home, but friends, schools and teachers.

“If you have ever considered becoming a foster parent or would like more information about it, contact Shelby Rosenquist 512 834-4705,” Ragsdill said. “To report child abuse and/or neglect, please call 1-800-252-5400. You can remain anonymous. To find out more about the Burnet County Child Welfare Board, please call 512 755-5776.”

HCCAC

Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center (HCCAC) also is known as Sunshine House. It is place and a process where abused children can feel safe, justice is served, and healing begins.

“The essence of our work involves a front-line approach of multidisciplinary team professionals such as law enforcement, CPS, medical professionals and attorneys,” said executive director Kelly Forister. “Efforts of these professionals are coordinated at the beginning of when a child needs the comfort to tell what’s happened.”

Those efforts continue into family advocacy, medical attention, counseling and community support.

“An interview with the child, provided by a forensic interviewer, is recorded for all professionals involved in the case,” explained Forister. “This provides a safe place for the child to tell what happened without having to tell it over and over. “We also have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE nurse) to provide a medical exam if the child is a victim of sexual abuse.”

HCCAC Services continue through the legal process and beyond to provide hope and healing for the child.

CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for the Highland Lakes Area is founded on the belief that every child who's been abused or neglected deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in court, at school and in our community.

“To accomplish this, CASA educates and empowers diverse community volunteers who ensure each child's needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system,” said CASA executive director Shannon Heep. “When the state steps in to protect a child's safety because the people responsible for protecting them have not, a judge appoints a trained CASA volunteer to make independent and informed recommendations and help the judge decide what's best for the child.”

CASA volunteers come from every walk of life and share a commitment to improving children’s lives, a willingness to learn, and an open mind towards life experiences different from their own. Volunteers complete an interview, background checks and a 30-hour intensive training program including courtroom observation.

After being sworn in by a judge, volunteers are appointed to a child or family of children and spend an average of 15-20 hours a month advocating for these children for the lifetime of a case. (Usually 12-18months.) They get to know the child while also gathering information from the child’s family, teachers, doctors, therapists, caregivers and anyone else involved in the child’s life.

“Judges highly value CASA’s recommendations which help them make informed decisions in the child’s best interest,” said Heep.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area serves five counties: Burnet, Blanco, Llano, Lampasas and San Saba. “Unlike most CASA programs, we proudly serve 100 percent of children removed from their homes in our area,” said Heep. “We are passionate about ensuring that no kid falls through the cracks while they are experiencing the most vulnerable time in their lives.

“Due to the methamphetamine crisis, there has been an incredible increase in the number of children removed from their homes. In 2010, the program served 222 children. In 2017 that number had risen to 444 children. A 100 increase increase in just the past seven years.”

For more information about CASA or about becoming an advocate, call 325-388-3440 and visit the website, www.highlandlakescasa.com.