From left are Kathy Park, executive director of CASA of Chautauqua; Bob Rogers, CASA board member; Kelly Fiorella, fund development coordinator of CASA of Chautauqua.

  MAYVILLE — During National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, CASA of Chautauqua challenges residents of Chautauqua County to stand against child abuse and take action to support children who have been abused or neglected.

At any given time, there are nearly 90 children in foster care in Chautauqua County. These children come into the child welfare system through no fault of their own. Substance abuse and the socioeconomic environment is changing the demographic of children coming into care and placing a burden across the United States including Chautauqua County. These issues impact a child’s emotional well-being, educational achievement, brain development and mental health, and later employment. Trends have shown that more foster youth are aging out of the foster care system without finding safe and permanent homes and the skills needed to succeed. The demands for advocacy for these children exponentially increase in an overburdened and complex child welfare system.

CASA of Chautauqua County recruits, trains and supports volunteers who get to know children and the adults around them, and who advocate for the needs of those children in court and in the community. Our volunteers are simply everyday people who care deeply about children and are ready to make a child’s life better. They are part of a national network of over 93,000 volunteers who are doing this work.

Throughout the month of April, CASA of Chautauqua is calling on members of the community to help the program serve more of Chautauqua County’s most vulnerable children. The public is invited to join the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national awareness campaign created by Prevent Child Abuse America urging people to act to prevent childhood abuse and neglect by transforming awareness into action.

Join CASA of Chautauqua staff, volunteers and board members, and other community partners at the Mayville pinwheel planting ceremony on Monday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Town of Chautauqua Municipal Building front lawn, located at 2 Academy Street in Mayville. Attendees will learn about how child abuse and neglect affect our communities and what can be done to support children and families through the crisis.

Look for the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign at area financial institutions, convenience stores, markets, restaurants, gas stations, liquor stores, libraries and more. Visit any participating business to purchase a pinwheel for $2 or a pinwheel card for $1. For a complete list of business participants visit ChautauquaCASA.com. To join the campaign and host pinwheel sales at your organization, contact Kelly Fiorella at kfiorellacasa@gmail.com.

Without intervention and the help of a CASA volunteer, the odds are stacked against children in foster care. A child with a CASA volunteer spends 20 percent less time in foster care, on average, compared to a child without a CASA volunteer. Studies show children with a CASA volunteer receive more services that are critical to their well-being and are four times more likely to find a permanent home.

“CASA volunteers are a constant for the child in a time of chaos,” said Kathy Park, executive director of CASA of Chautauqua County. “A child may have multiple social workers, attorneys, therapists and foster placements throughout the life of the case but only one CASA volunteer, which can make all the difference for the child’s future.”

All monies raised from CASA’s Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign are used to fulfill CASA’s mission of supporting volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in Chautauqua County. If you would like to support the mission of CASA, a tax-deductible donation can be made by sending a check to CASA of Chautauqua Co., Inc. at 2 Academy Street, Suite 5, Mayville, NY 14757.