CASA seeks volunteers as abuse, neglect cases rise
Published on -3/15/2010, 7:49 AM
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri and Kansas need more Court Appointed Special Advocates because child abuse and neglect cases are on the rise in both states.
Johnson County, Kan., experienced an especially dramatic increase: a 35 percent jump in the number of filings in Johnson County District Court last year.
The Johnson County "child in need of care" docket increased to 451 new filings last year, which was up from 334 filings in 2008.
Such cases in Wyandotte County increased 7.9 percent, and Jackson County cases increased 6.8 percent.
CASA officials in both states say the heavier caseload had created even more need for volunteers and now there are waiting lists for children to get CASA workers.
