SEATTLE – During the Jena Six controversy, people from across the country joined together for a common cause – to question whether racism was really “dead” and to evaluate the fairness of our justice system. Whether they were a part of the thousands who traveled to the small Louisiana town of Jena to show their support in person and advocate for the six young men involved in the case or not, many people, for the first time in a while, were not apathetic. Impressively, people wanted to get involved to ensure fair justice, and were collectively concerned about the lives and futures of these young men.
While we were and should all have been concerned about the lives of these six young men, as a community, we should be just as concerned with the more than 500,000 children who are currently in the child welfare system as a result of abuse and or neglect – over 30 percent of whom are African-American. Not only should we be concerned, we should be moved to act, get involved and help make a difference.
At one time or another, we have all watched the news reports about the abuse and neglect of children in our community with concern and a ready opinion. No one wants to see or hear the stories of families being torn apart, lives disrupted or futures cut short as a result of abuse and neglect. But somewhere in between our outrage and action, we often lose sight of the goals we need to accomplish for our children. If we don't act, we let these young lives fall victim to our own apathy, calling it “their problem” or simply not acknowledging the growing crisis in our community. Our thinking says that by not addressing the issue it will not affect us. However, the exact opposite rings true.
As a concerned adult and child advocate, I ask that you take time to absorb the reality and consider a workable solution to this issue. According to FightCrime.org, the statistics facing abused and neglected children are sobering. Take a look at this snapshot of the lives of these children and families in our community:
- Nearly one-third of abused and neglected children are more likely to be arrested for violent crimes later in life.
- Programs targeted to adults that address parenting skills, substance abuse and mental illnesses have proven effective with families. Yet, many of the most high-risk families are not receiving these needed services.
- Prevent Child Abuse America offers research showing that child abuse costs taxpayers at least $94 billion per year.
- Total spending was $20 billion in 2000 by the federal, state and local governments on child welfare payments for foster care and services that cover adoption, child protection, and treatment for children and families. Addressing abuse and neglect among children begins to solve the problem.
These statistics are just a few that show how being concerned without taking action can worsen the social issues affecting the abused and neglected children in our community. But, we should also consider the intangible costs of doing nothing – the lack of social, family and emotional development – that also weigh heavily on these children.
Without a steady voice or even an adequate role model, many children turn to their peers as authority figures. Children who lack basic social skills grow into adults who pass along those same habits to their own children. The family structure that is already at risk with these children has less chance of improving without ongoing support from responsible and stable adults. They simply do not learn the importance of interacting and being successful within a family unit. As children continue to feel as if they are the cause of their situation, they tend to act out their aggression on the people around them. It is a cycle that repeats itself time and time again.
Just as the Jena Six issue was extremely important to our community, the issue of abused and neglected children is also important and far-reaching, yet we can offer solutions to this problem today. One solution is to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer or CASA. Becoming a CASA volunteer (or volunteer Guardian ad Litem as it is called in some states) is a great way to impact the lives of the children who need you most. As a voice for foster youth in the court system, your work will ensure that the needs of our children remain a priority at vulnerable points in their lives. CASA volunteers are “everyday heroes” who are appointed by judges to serve as the eyes and ears of a child or family of children in the court system and help ensure decisions are made in the best interests of the child/children. CASAs are not only child advocates, but active mentors and role models as well. In fact, the benefits that CASA volunteers provide foster children throughout this country have been well documented. A recent audit conducted by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General demonstrates that once a CASA volunteer is assigned, approximately:
- 95% of children do not languish in long-term foster care.
- 90% of children do not reenter the child welfare system.
These statistics are a far cry from the other alarming statistics that so many of our children in the system become a factor of without a caring adult in their lives. The costs of inaction and not serving our children are too great to let this opportunity slip away. It is time that our community gives our children what they all deserve – a chance at stability and an opportunity for a better future.
To learn more about CASA or how you can make a difference in a child's life, contact a CASA or Guardian ad Litem programin your community. You can call (888) 805-8457 for more information or visit the African-American Outreach section of the National CASA Association online at www.nationalcasa.org/aao.
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D. “Dee” Horn serves as Chair of the African-American Advisory Committee of the National CASA Association and is a volunteer with the Fulton County (GA) CASA program. He is employed with Delta Air Lines and has received numerous leadership awards for his community involvement including “Alpha Man of the Year” given by the Pi Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Horn lives in Atlanta, GA.