CASA of Maricopa County Focuses on Advocating for Children During National Child Abuse Prevention Month

PHOENIX (April 5, 2022) – April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and CASA of Maricopa County is seeking more dedicated members of the community to become CASA volunteers, to help end child abuse and neglect through supporting children and their families.

CASA volunteers, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, are everyday people who are recruited, screened and specially trained to advocate for children living in the foster care system and provide a consistent and safe adult presence for them during a difficult time in their life.

“A CASA volunteer’s priority is to support keeping families together whenever it is safe to do so,” said Lisa Hitchens, development coordinator for CASA of Maricopa County, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. “Foster care should only be a temporary solution for a child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. As a volunteer, you have an opportunity to advocate for the best interest of a child so they can grow up in a nurturing environment and lead full and productive lives.”

Child Abuse Prevention Month is also an opportunity to educate families, colleagues and neighbors about child abuse and neglect, and how we individually and collectively can help prevent it in our community.

To learn more about volunteering with the CASA of Maricopa County, consider attending a virtual CASA Information Session from noon to 1 p.m. on April 7 by registering here: https://voicesforcasachildren.org/events.

“The need for more CASA volunteers is great,” Hitchens said. “By becoming a child advocate, you can take your efforts beyond just awareness to help support children and families in crisis.”

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. If you see abuse, report it to the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445). If a child’s life is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

For information, visit www.maricopacasa.org.

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The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is comprised of Superior Court, Adult Probation and Juvenile Probation, which includes juvenile detention. The Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is the fourth largest trial court system in the nation and, along with its 3,100 employees, is dedicated to providing a safe, fair and impartial forum for resolving disputes, enhancing access to services, and providing innovative, evidence-based practices that improve the safety of the community and ensure the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch.