When I played college basketball, I would train year round with the hopes of winning a national championship. I sacrificed family time and friendships with the goal of being the best. It was a goal that we all wanted: being number one.
As much as one may want to be known for being the best, there are certain places where number one is not an enviable position. That place is in the area of child abuse. Poverty, substance abuse and mental health problems continue to be key contributing factors in Kentucky’s number one ranking in child abuse for the third year in a row. This is a position that no one ever strives to become.
I see abused children of all races and colors. Unfortunately, I see an increase in the number of children of color that need help. This heartbreaking reality illuminates the need for more people to step up to the plate and make time for children that look like them.
The only way I can make an informed decision on what is in that child’s best interest is to
have individuals on the frontline taking an active role in the lives of these young people. We need more volunteers of color to help them become the best representations of themselves. More importantly, they need to see someone who looks like them that cares.
So if you are a person of color wanting to make a difference in a child’s life, look no further than CASA. It will be the best decision of your life. And you will be a solution to a problem that has plagued the Commonwealth for too long.
To learn more, join us for a virtual information session, www.casarr. org/casa101.