Save Jane

Save Jane

T E X A R K A N A M O N T H LY

CASA & TCAC Save Jane Event

FACES & PLACES

TOP: Breanne Bradshaw, Savannah Quinn, Carly Rhyne, Emily Green, Haley Roeser. MIDDLE: Ana Willis, Brandy Eldridge, Executive Director. BOTTOM: Kristi Kirkwood, Maureen Fletcher, Ceci Cade.

From www.casatexarkana.org … The mission of CASA is to… “provide hope, healing, and justice by advocating for abused and neglected children through comprehensive services at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center and Court-Appointed Special Advocates.” CASA provides another layer of accountability in child abuse related legal proceedings and for the protection of children in foster care. “CASA is the only volunteer organization invited into the court to provide advocacy for these children.” TEXARKANA CASA IS IN NEED OF 37 VOLUNTEERS! Any adult willing to give their time can become a volunteer. A CASA volunteer is a dedicated member of the community who is appointed by district courts… “to ensure that the needs of a child who may have been neglected or abused are met. In order to do this, CASA must investigate the facts of the case, recommend a course of action to the court, facilitate the resolution of the presenting problems, and monitor progress toward established goals. Ultimately, this helps determine the best place for a child to have a safe and happy home.” The Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center and CASA, along with volunteers, serve abused children in the following Arkansas and Texas counties: Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Bowie, and Cass. Training is available in each of those counties. Please call (903) 792- 1030 or email: [email protected] for more information about volunteering. You can make a difference!

COVER PHOTO… Breanne Bradshaw and Ana Willis

More than 1,200 children received services through The Children’s Advocacy Center of Texarkana in 2019. The inaugural Texarkana Save Jane virtual event, held August 13, endeavored to take those unspeakable acts against the innocent children of our city, and give voice to them, one name at a time. The Save Jane child abuse awareness event was launched by Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center in 2019 with the goal of spreading awareness about the magnitude of child abuse, and about the organizations working in the field. Texarkana volunteers and leaders came together through Facebook Live, to read the names and ages of each of the 1,200 children affected by abuse and neglect in our local area. “The Children’s Advocacy Center and CASA hope that through Save Jane, Texarkana and the surrounding areas we serve will recognize the absolute magnitude and prevalence of child abuse. It is everywhere you look,” said Brandy Eldridge, Executive Director. To protect these minors, “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” were used in place of their actual identities, but behind each of those names is a real child who has suffered unimaginable pain, right here in our community. It took “over an hour of non-stop reading to name each child that came through our center last year. That is simply unacceptable. We will never stop fighting for these kids.”

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F A C E S & P L A C E S

T E X A R K A N A M O N T H LY

CASA & TCAC Save Jane Event

FACES & PLACES

Liz Flippo

Jayme DeHaan

David Magness

Courtney Shelton

Debra Moore and Sara Weber

Craig Jenkins and Rashad Thrower

Matt Graves and Josh Gibson

Judge Jack and Joan Carter

Ruby and Kaleigh Dodson

Deidra Phillips and Ceci Cade

Bennie Raney and Robin Hickerson

Jordan Miller and Layla Hazin

Doug Bowers and Kelley Crisp

Ceci Cade, Bianca Jones, Marlene Magallon

Trudy Lambert and Judy Overton

Rush and Kristie Crane, Virginia Ann Prazak, Rix Crane

Dr. Jason Smith and Nash, Texas Mayor, Robert Bunch

Cynthia Henderson, Brandy Eldridge, Gaylon Foster

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F A C E S & P L A C E S