April brings a lot of things each year. Warmer weather. Busy schedules. And, for many in the area, a reminder to pay attention to something that often goes unseen.
Child abuse prevention.
Laura Farmer, executive director of CASA of Southwest Missouri, said April is a time when local groups try to bring that issue into the open.
“It’s a month where we really shine a light on child abuse in our community,” Farmer said. “Every child deserves a safe, healthy childhood.”
That’s the goal behind the “Go Blue” campaign that many people see this time of year. Folks wearing blue. Blue pinwheels are popping up around town.
There’s meaning behind it.
Blue has become the color tied to Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels, Farmer said, are meant to represent what childhood should look like — safe, happy, and full of life.
“They also remind us that it takes action,” she said. “It takes a community working together.”
That message kicked off locally on April 9, when community leaders and organizations gathered for a “Go Blue” event. The mayor issued a proclamation, and several agencies shared information about what’s happening behind the scenes.
Because, as Farmer put it, people can’t help fix a problem they don’t know exists.
And the numbers are hard to ignore.
In Greene County alone, around 800 children are in foster care. Across Missouri, that number climbs to nearly 18,000.
There’s also a cost. About $25,000 per child each year, adding up to hundreds of millions statewide. But Farmer said the real focus isn’t the money. It’s the kids.
“It’s about keeping children safe,” she said.
That’s where CASA comes in.
The organization trains volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. These aren’t professionals with years of experience. Most are everyday people who simply want to help.
Each volunteer is matched with a child. They visit regularly. They show up. They learn that child’s story.
Then they bring that information back to the court, helping judges make decisions with the child’s best interest in mind.
Right now, CASA has about 250 volunteers serving around 500 children in southwest Missouri. But more kids are waiting.
“We always need more volunteers,” Farmer said.
For those looking to help, the first step is simple. Reach out. Learn more. Decide if it’s something you can commit to.
Because in the end, Farmer said, preventing abuse and helping kids heal isn’t something one group can do alone.
It takes a whole community paying attention.
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