Make a difference in the life of a child

By Shelby Kaura

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Last week's observance of national Youth Violence Prevention Week focused a much-needed spotlight on emotional and physical violence committed by and against our country's children. Unfortunately, the many factors that put a child at risk of either acting out violently or becoming a victim of violence require constant attention.

The Centers for Disease Control has identified four categories of risk factors for youth violence. Not surprisingly, a child's home life plays a significant role in determining his or her risk for becoming or being victimized by violence. Those with permanent, safe and loving homes are far less likely to engage in violent activities.

In an ideal world, a permanent, safe and loving home would be every child's birthright. In this world, however, some 5,000 Iowa children are in foster care on any given day. Some will go back to their families; some will be adopted; some, unfortunately, will “age out” of the system without ever finding a permanent, safe and loving home.

Court Appointed Special Advocates in Iowa and across the United States provide essential advocacy for foster children and other at-risk youth. Iowa Citizen Foster Care Review Boards provide oversight to ensure that children in foster care receive the appropriate services. These volunteers donate their time and talents to help ensure that every child's best interests are served.

Their hard work pays off. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a safe, permanent home. CASA children spend less time in foster care, are half as likely to re-enter foster care, and receive more needed services than children without a CASA volunteer.

But these volunteers can't do their work alone. They need your help. If you can't volunteer your time, you can make a monetary donation to support the CASA and foster care review board volunteers in your community. Go to www.childadvocacy.iowa.gov to learn how you can help.

By working together, we can all make a difference in the life of a child.

l Shelby Kaura, assistant professor of Human Services at Upper Iowa University-Des Moines Center, is president of Friends of Iowa CASA and Iowa Citizen Foster Care Review Boards, which supports CASA and foster care review boards by promoting public awareness of our mission and raising funds for the training, education, recruitment and retention of volunteers. Comments: kauras@uiu.edu