Close to 10,000 children in Arizona are currently in out-of-home care due to abuse or neglect. To raise awareness of this alarming statistic, the Arizona CASA Program, a volunteer-based organization that trains community volunteers to speak up for abused & neglected children in court, announced a campaign to bring attention to child abuse prevention this April. Go BLUE with CASA is a grassroots awareness effort designed to educate Arizona's residents about child abuse prevention & the work CASA is doing on behalf of children.
This April, the campaign, Go BLUE with CASA will help kick off National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In observance of this national recognition, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has proclaimed April 20th - 26th, 2008 as Go BLUE with CASA for Child Abuse Awareness Week. As part of this special week, Arizona CASA will encourage community members to join together & celebrate the hope for abused children everywhere by going BLUE.
"This is an easy way for every person to become involved in raising awareness about child abuse," said Bonnie Marcus, Program Manager, Arizona CASA Program. "You don't have to work in the child welfare field to have an impact-wear blue, wear a ribbon, wear a button! During April, let's show that Arizona understands the seriousness & scope of this issue."
Want to Go BLUE? Put a Go Blue with CASA window cling in your car during April or wear a CASA button. Go to the Arizona CASA website, azcasa.org, to learn more about the advocacy work this organization is doing in your community & download a flyer to distribute at work, school, or church. Ask your favorite restaurant to GO BLUE by posting CASA flyers, displaying CASA table tents, or using CASA placemats. Or, simply tell your family & friends about the work CASA is doing to fight child abuse. For more information about how you can GO BLUE with CASA visit azcasa.org, & click on the link for Go BLUE, or call (602) 452-3683.