Representing the needs of vulnerable children and serving as a stable role model in the chaotic lives of many foster children are just two of the many ways the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Coos County fight on the frontlines in the battle against child abuse. In recognition of April as Child Abuse Awareness Month, Oregon Coast Community Action and CASA of Coos County, a program in its 15th year, will honor children with several activities in April to support CASA.

CASA of Coos County and Community Action will host the Lights of Hope: Have a Heart for a Child event at 7 tonight at the Coos Bay Boardwalk. The evening will include a candlelight ceremony, guest speakers Sen. Joanne Verger, a performance by the South Coast Peace Choir and Judge Richard Barron will swear in five new CASA volunteers.

In addition, Oregon Coast Community Action is proud to announce CASA of Coos County was selected as a training chapter for the Southern Oregon region — one of only two training programs in the state. CASA of Coos County will be available to provide training support to CASA programs in Lane, Douglas, Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties. Applications were solicited from all the CASA programs in the state and CASA of Coos County’s successful history, dedication to vulnerable children and standards of excellence helped to earn the program this most recent distinction.

According to the release, last year, 389 children in Coos County were wards of the court due to child abuse and neglect. CASA of Coos County, affiliated with the National CASA Association, is an organization that trains community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. However, despite the extraordinary efforts of dedicated volunteers and staff members, CASA of Coos County can only serve 40 percent of the children in need in this county. Oregon Coast Community Action and CASA of Coos County encourage the generous communities of Coos County to join the fight child abuse.

CASA of Coos County is a program of Oregon Coast Community Action and receives major financial support from the Coos County Commission on Children and Families. For more information or to volunteer for this life-changing program, those interested can call 396-1074.