According to local nonprofit SCAN of Northern Virginia (Stop Child Abuse Now), “Child Abuse Prevention Month is about recognizing the importance of families and communities coming together to build resiliency, take action, and stand with child advocates. Child abuse cuts across all boundaries of race, education levels, and income brackets.”
Through AUUC’s February outreach collection, we deepened our partnership with Fairfax CASA, another local nonprofit supporting abused and neglected children referred by Fairfax County Courts. In addition to sending them our $1,374 donation, we listened to Fairfax CASA Executive Director Darcy Hubbard describe the alarming increase in the number of children on their waiting list. Fairfax CASA recruits, screens, trains, and professionally supervises volunteers (CASAs) dedicated to advocating for their children, making sure they have what they need to heal from the abuse they’ve experienced and help to find them safe and loving homes.
What actions can we take?
- Enjoy AUUC’s blue pinwheels in front of the church, planted in our nearly native garden
- Plant a pinwheel garden in your yard this month to create awareness
- Consider becoming a CASA. Learn more and to find the next online training sessions. There’s one April 18, 7 – 8:30 pm
- Run The Greenway @Loudon Station benefitting Fairfax CASA is on May 4, 2024…. Visit their race page (link above) to sign up to run, walk or donate on behalf of Fairfax CASA
Posted April 9, 2024