Home is supposed to be a SAFE place.

Reflecting today on the violence that goes on in our cities; it is heartbreaking. This morning I read the news about a shooting in Harvey, Louisiana, which left five people injured, including three children under the age of three. What a tragedy that these children were harmed at home in their sleep. Isn’t home the place where children are supposed to feel safe? That’s not the case for many children in our cities. Violence is the biggest challenge we face as a society. Insofar as we are unable to resolve this problem, we have failed ourselves.

Today I go for another four hour training session with CASA and I am beginning to make so many connections with the work I will be doing as an advocate for abused and neglected children. What happened in Harvey is a good example of how many children live in unsafe homes and how many parents/guardians expose their kids to abuse, neglect, and violence. With no further information as to the details of the shooting, I am left wondering about the involvement of the adults living in the house and why such violence made its way inside their home.

As a CASA advocate, I will be working with children who would have already been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. The Court gives these children the option to be placed back into their homes. I will advocate for the child’s best interest (not her or his wishes), and will have to determine how safe or unsafe the home is and, if unsafe, then the next step is to help find a foster home that is safe and or a permanent safe home.  Much investigation and writing of reports is involved in convincing the Court about what I think is best for the child. The more I read about violence, abuse and neglect, the more I realize the serious ramifications of the work I am committing to do.

Please God, keep all children safe from harm, terror, and violence: ‘tis my prayer this day. Amen.