April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Lone Star CASA is
raising awareness for the need to end child abuse and neglect in Kaufman and Rockwall
counties. The organization is gathering with other partners at several events throughout the
month to call attention to the growing problem in our area.
Just last year, Lone star CASA served 214 children in need of an advocate as they navigated
foster care and the legal system across our community. CASAs (court-appointed special
advocate) are everyday citizens recruited and trained to advocate for children in the child welfare
system. Volunteer advocates provide a consistent dependable sense of normalcy for children
while they go through this uncertain time with their families.
“Our volunteers’ first priority is to keep families together whenever safe and possible,” said
Lauren Rowe, Executive Director of Lone Star CASA. “Foster care is only a temporary solution
to the problems at hand. We need to create long term support networks and continue to work
with community partners to care for families, make reunification a possibility, and help break the
cycle of abuse for the next generation.”
Lone Star CASA is partnering with other child welfare organizations such as the Kaufman
County Child Welfare Board, Children’s Advocacy Center of Kaufman, The Norville Center
Children’s Shelter, R.E.A.C.H Agency, Bikers Against Child Abuse, and EMPOWER. Together,
the group asks their community to consider attending our Kaufman County Proclamation Event
at 11:30 am on Thursday, April 28 at the Kaufman County Justice Center, County Court at
Law. Below is a list of additional proclamations in Kaufman County the community is invited to
attend:
• April 1, 2025, Kaufman County Commissioners Court, 9:00 AM
• April 1, 2025, Scurry City Hall, 6:00 PM
• April 1, 2025, Forney City Hall, 6:30 PM
• April 7, 2025, Crandall, Police & Municipal Court Building, 6:30 PM
• April 8, 2025, Kemp City Hall, 7:00 PM
• April 22, 2025, Terrell City Hall, 6:00 PM
• April 28, 2025, Kaufman County Justice Center, 11:30 AM
• April 28, 2025, Kaufman City Hall, 6:00 PM
“We at Lone Star CASA always hope for the day when we no longer need a national month
dedicated to child abuse prevention because all children are growing up in a safe and healthy
family,” said Rowe. “Until then, we will continue to seek more members of the community to
join our growing movement so that we can provide a CASA volunteer for every child who needs
one.”
As a reminder, you too can make a difference in preventing child abuse. If you see abuse, report
it to 1(800)252-5400 or go to www.txabusehotline.org. If a child’s life is in immediate danger,
call 911. For more information about how you can make a positive impact in the life of
vulnerable children in our community, please visit www.lonestarcasa.org
