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.Child Abuse is heart breaking. Unfortunately, ending abuse in a child's life is only the first battle a child must undertake. Imagine a child's anxiety as he or she must then navigate a judicial system meant for grown-ups, knowing the outcome will decide his or her future.
"Will somebody listen to me?"
Who will make sure this small, frightened voice is heard? East Texas Child Advocates provides three specialized programs to meet the needs of abused and neglected children every step of the way.
.A Court Appointed Special Advocate is an adult who stands up for an abused or neglected child. A CASA is appointed by the judge to provide factual information on behalf of a child caught in a difficult legal process. In a court system challenged by increasing caseloads, a CASA can make the single greatest difference in the child's new life.
Every year, the state of Texas removes thousands of children from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Currently East Texas CASA serves children in Gregg, Rusk, Upshur, Marion, and Panola counties. We are currently helping 248 children in 122 open cases. These children have been drawn into an overburdened child welfare system that is charged with addressing each child's individual needs.
Judges must weigh all the evidence in order to make important decisions that impact these children's lives. When there is a CASA on the case, the judge is afforded an accurate, comprehensive picture of the child's situation, needs, and best potential outcome.
.The Children's Advocacy Center of East Texas reduces emotional trauma to children by providing a neutral, child-friendly environment in which child victims feel safe talking about what has happened to them.
Forensic interviews are conducted using rhetorical strategies designed to find out the truth about what a child has experienced. Interviews are videotaped, reducing the number of times a child has to tell his or her story.
CAC staff team up with
to serve children in crisis by helping ensure justice and healing for child abuse victims and their families.
.Getting Together Safely offers supervised visitation to assure that a child can have safe contact with an absent parent without being in the middle of parents' conflicts or other problems. Children can anticipate the visits without worrying and enjoy their time in a safe, comfortable environment.
The courts recognize the importance of children's contact with both of their parents. However, in some divorce or custody cases, it becomes necessary to guard the safety of the children, particularly if allegations of physical, sexual, emotional, or substance abuse arise. Occasionally, supervised visitation can be necessitated by inadequate parenting skills, kidnapping, domestic violence, and/or physical or mental limitations. Under any of these circumstances, the courts may order supervised visitations for children and their non-custodial parents.
Getting Together Safely contracts with the Parenting Resource Center of East Texas and Special Health Resources to provide parenting classes for clients. Parents seperately attend classes equivalent to one hour per month of participation in the program.
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Last Updated February 11, 2008. Questions or comments about this site? Please email cacetkaty@sbcglobal.net
