Annual free CASA Ray of Hope lunch is Wednesday
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 8 years, 8 months AGO
CASA of North Idaho is holding its annual awareness event, the Ray of Hope lunch Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Lunch and parking are free. The program will feature the testimony of a former CASA child.
“While this brave young lady will forever maintain the imprint of her difficult past, her strength and resilience are already leading her toward a future of reducing the cycle of abuse,” CASA Kootenai County supervisor Erin Cunningham said in a press release.
The event will also feature many community partners working with children to prevent or recover from child abuse.
In 2016, CASA served 400 North Idaho children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect last year. In Kootenai County, this was a 35 percent increase from the year before.
“In a small community, such as that of Coeur d’Alene, chances are these families are neighbors, co-workers, or have children who are friends with yours,” explains KJ Torgerson, CEO for CASA. “These families are not unknown. They are suffering and the innocent child victims need a voice and support.”
CASA provides Court-Appointed Special Advocates for child victims removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
CASA Advocates investigate the circumstances of the child’s case, prepare reports to the courts, and make recommendations to the judge for needed services. They serve as the child’s voice in court and ultimately, help them find a safe and permanent homes. CASA’s vision is to ensure that every child in the five northern counties of Idaho lives in a safe, healthy and nurturing family environment.
For more information, please contact CASA at 667-9165. To RSVP for the lunch, visit www.NorthIdahoCASA.com/ 2017roh or call the office.