April is National Child Abuse Month in Garfield County, Oklahoma. Years ago, my husband was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and we still support them. Our community has come together to make wooden children representing abused or neglected children in our county. Each hand painted child is available for $35 and you can display it on the courthouse lawn for all to see. Each child is dressed and marked with a tag for their supporter. It raises awareness about the number of abused and neglected children in the district. There are nearly 240 in Garfield County alone and that does not count the ones who were not reported. You can follow their work on Facebook at (1) Facebook.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and The CARE Campus’ Fourth Judicial District CASA Program is reaching out to the community to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect in our county. Throughout the month of April, we will feature a display of wooden children on the courthouse lawn to spark conversation and highlight this important cause.

The Fourth Judicial District CASA Program is a nonprofit organization funded by grants, donations, and fundraising efforts. We serve Woodward, Kingfisher, Major, Blaine, Grant, and Garfield Counties. Our dedicated volunteers advocate for children in foster care by being a voice for them in court. Volunteers visit children in the system each month, meeting with parents, foster parents, case workers, teachers, counselors, doctors, psychologists, and other key individuals to make informed decisions in the child’s best interest.

My husband and I adopted a wooden child this week. We dressed her and gave her a stuffed toy for comfort and next Friday we will display her on the courthouse lawn. I am once again proud to be a part of a great community effort to keep the children of our district safe.

What are you reading, writing, supporting, or creating this week?