April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Lone Star CASA is raising awareness for the need to end child abuse and neglect in Rockwall and Kaufman 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 advocates) 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 asks their community to consider supporting CASA and other child welfare organizations such as the Rockwall Child Advocacy Center and The Rockwall Rainbow Room by attending one of the following proclamation events in the community:
· March 25, 2025, Royse City Proclamation, Police & Courts Building, 7:00 PM
· April 1, 2025, Historic Rockwall County Court House, 5:00 PM
· April 7, 2025, Rockwall City Hall, 6:00 PM
· April 8, 2025, McLendon Chisholm City Hall, 6:30 PM
· April 8, 2025, Heath City Hall, 6:30 PM
· April 8, 2025, Rockwall Historic Courthouse, 8:45 AM
· April 14, 2025, Fate City Hall, 6:00 PM
· April 15, 2025, Murphy Municipal Court, 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. 
