My Thoughts Exactly

As someone who works every day to protect children from child abuse and neglect, I struggled to express what I felt about the case and verdict against Casey Anthony. A blog post, Saving Everyone's Baby, put to words what I feel about our society's sporadic response to child abuse:

"If we carry on one more day about how outraged and angry we are about the jury verdict, about all the vengeful thoughts we have against Casey Anthony, about how God is going to bring down justice on the killer and on and on and on…………we are part of why this child is gone and we lose one more day to save children like her. And if you do not know, you need to research and know and understand one thing: There are thousands of Caylees in this country right now."

You see, I couldn't help but imagine how awesome it would be if the throngs of people milling around outside of the court room, instead, show up to places like Children, Youth and Family Services or other non-profits working to prevent child abuse and care for victims. I imagine what it would be like if the signs they carried condemning Casey Anthony instead read: "How Can I Help?" I imagine how great it would be if reporters were to do stories on the volunteers, social workers and therapists saving children and families every day and, thereby, encouraging more to do the same.

Because we DO need help. We need parent mentors, we need foster families, we need adults who are stewards of children, we need advocates for law and policy that protect children, we need volunteers who will read a book to a child, take a walk with a teenager or listen to a parent who is at her breaking point.

Hold your signs and shake your fists if you must. I understand that we all need to release the emotions of anger and helplessness. However, I am here to tell you that once you are ready to put your signs down, we need you. There is a lot of work to be done.

For information and resources on how you can help, visit Prevent Child Abuse America by clicking on the picture below: