Imagine the Life of an Abused Child

 

 

Imagine the Life of an Abused Child

Imagine being 12 years old and not having a mother, father or any family member.

Imagine there is a school recital and you’re the only one who hasn’t the resources to purchase the required dress.

Imagine being a teenager and not having any money to buy a Coke, much less go shopping.

Imagine having $60.00 every three months to buy shoes and clothing. Imagine wondering what you would do when you turn 18 and now you are out on your own with no family to turn to for support.

Imagine being scared and alone and crying all night – and having no father or mother to comfort you.

Imagine going to strangers’ homes for the holidays because you have no where else to go.

Imagine trying to fit into a home that is not your own and having “Uncle Andy” correct you when you call him uncle, because you are a foster child.

Imagine moving two or three times or more times each year to a new school.

Imagine having adults making all these decisions about your life, and you have no say.

Imagine all your clothes come from garage sales or church donations, while all the other children receive new clothes because they are “real children” to their families.

Imagine living in a group home with delinquent kids, and your only crime is you have no one to care for you.

It is hard for most of us to imagine the life of an abused child. But the situations above are real, and the children described above are living here (in Tri-County). These antidotes are in their own words. Fortunately, we have great Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) who have stepped up to help our community’s abused children. They help abused and neglected children – one child at a time – bringing some hope into the lives of each child. More adult male volunteers are especially needed to mentor-advocate for male youths.

AVA - Tri-County-CASA is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization (www.casaforchildren.org.) organization that recruits and trains community volunteers, who are appointed to be independent fact finders and mentors and to speak up for the best interests of abused children, in our community and everywhere.

You can help by becoming a CASA volunteer, or by supporting the AVA-Tri-County-CASA program by providing a service, a product or by making a donation.