“Alone We Can Do So Little; Together We Can Do So Much.”

Dear friends,

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is recognized throughout the month of October in an effort to end domestic violence. During this month, survivors of abuse, victim advocates, allied professionals and vested community members come together to take action and raise awareness by sharing personal stories, resources and ways to help. Texas CASA understands and acknowledges the significant trauma that children experience when they are in an environment where intimate partner violence (domestic violence) is occurring. We also recognize that domestic violence impacts many families involved in the child welfare system, and this is an area where CASA volunteers can make a powerful impact through informed recommendations about appropriate services, resources and supports.

As part of the Pre-Service Curriculum, CASA volunteers learn all about domestic violence, including the different types of abuse, the warning signs, the causes, the legal system response, barriers to leaving a violent relationship and more. Understanding domestic violence is crucial for CASA volunteers, but it is also important for us all to be well-educated on this dangerous social crisis and know where to get help when needed. Here are a few resources to help advocate for families affected by domestic violence: 

• In this episode of CASA on the Go, Claire Sudolsky from the Texas Council on Family Violence shares her expertise and discusses best practices around evidence-based services for abusive partners, ways to support survivors and things to keep in mind as we advocate for safety and healing. 
• These five children’s books to help with conversations about domestic violence aim to make difficult conversations a little bit easier for CASA volunteers, parents, foster parents and caregivers to have with children and youth who have been exposed to domestic violence. 
• The Texas Health & Human Services Family Violence Program promotes safety, self-sufficiency and long-term independence of adult and child survivors of family violence and survivors of dating violence. Through a network of trauma-informed service providers, the program provides emergency shelter and supportive services to survivors and their children, educates the public, provides training and offers prevention support to various organizations across Texas. 

October is also recognized as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. In recognition of this important month, we aim to increase public awareness of the overrepresentation of children with disabilities in the foster care system and how they are at a greater risk for abuse, neglect, exploitation and violation of legal and human rights. Did you know children with disabilities are at least three times more likely to be abused or neglected than their peers without disabilities, and that they are more likely to be seriously injured or harmed by maltreatment? We encourage you to read about the Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities to learn more. CASA volunteers can also check out an important CASA on the Go podcast episode about Advocating for Youth with Disabilities featuring Heidi Lersch, Educator and Training Coordinator, and Rashid Amrani-Khaldi, Community Engagement Specialist, with SAFE Disability Services. 

Learning about these topics and knowing where to get resources prepares us all for providing the very best advocacy for children and families in the child welfare system. Thank you for all that you do.  

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Warmly,