Springfield Child Abuse and Neglect. Collaborative hosting event for lawmakers

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – The Community Partnership of the Ozarks’ local Child Abuse and Neglect Collaborative is hosting an event to educate lawmakers on the state of child welfare in Greene County.

The partnership consists of approximately fifty organizations. The event is for local and state lawmakers to learn more about what is being done here locally to combat child abuse.

“Unfortunately, child abuse and neglect has been identified as an alarming problem in Greene County over the past two decades, so it is critical that we engage with legislators and those in power,” said Laura Farmer, executive director of CASA of Southwest Missouri. .

Farmer says more than 650 children are in foster care here in Greene County due to abuse or neglect.

“If child abuse and neglect is identified, so that they can correct any problems, they can get the support that is vital to them, such as substance abuse treatment, parenting skills, things like that, so that we can hopefully bring families back together and help them heal from all that trauma,” Farmer said.

On Thursday, lawmakers will be presented with a variety of items to educate them on the state of child welfare.

“They’ll walk away with more information so they feel informed about what the real statistics show in Greene County, how we compare to the state average, and things like that. But then they will also hear from organizations that are leading the way, so they can hear the innovative ways our community is coming together,” Farmer said.

Farmer says this is crucial because lawmakers can make a difference in child abuse and neglect.

“Local and state legislators really make a difference when it comes to our children in the foster care system or even prevention services that are available to families because they really set the tone with many of the policies and procedures that are adopted,” Farmer said. “Hopefully we can help those you know, those influential legislators, make good decisions that will hopefully benefit children who are at risk of entering foster care, as well as the children who are currently in foster care.”

Farmer hopes this event will make connections to improve child welfare statistics in Greene County.

“This event is really designed to make that connection so that our legislators, local and state representatives, understand that there is a community resource available to them if they have questions or ideas about how they can best impact families and children and those who can provide both prevention services and intervention services,” said Farmer.

The event will take place at the Council of Churches on Thursday, October 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

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