Since 2004, churches across the country have showed their commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations in their communities through Stand Sunday—a globally recognized day of prayer for children and families involved in foster care. This year, like previous years, CASA in the Heart of Texas is joining alongside them. Stand Sunday is on Sunday, November 10th, 2024, a tradition over twenty years old. In 2002 Stand Sunday was founded locally by Bishop Aaron Blake, Sr. in Brownwood, Texas asking his church to stand-up to care for children and families impacted by the child welfare system.
“It takes a community to care for children, and that’s what these places of worship are – a community,” said Beth Loftis, Executive Director of CASA in the Heart of Texas. “Our hope is to inform all the diverse faith organizations in our area on ways they can make a difference for the children in foster care in Comanche, Brown and Mills County.”
In the last year, there were approximately 185 children in the child welfare system here in our community that CASA in the Heart of Texas serves. Children come into foster care when their families are in crisis and are sometimes placed in foster homes far away from everyone and everything they know and love. Through no fault of their own, they face the risk of negative outcomes like homelessness, substance use and incarceration.
“Every one of these children, whatever their current circumstances, deserves every possible chance to succeed in life,” said Loftis.
In addition to praying for these children and their families on Stand Sunday, Loftis explained that faith organizations can make a difference by partnering with CASA in the Heart of Texas and encouraging members to become CASA Advocates (volunteers).
CASA Advocates are everyday citizens from the community who are screened and trained and appointed by a judge to advocate for these children’s best interests. Advocates are designated to serve one child or sibling group and evaluate their well-being by getting to know them and speaking with all relevant contacts in their lives, including their parents, foster parents, family of origin, teachers, therapists and more. Their first priority is reunifying the child with their parents, whenever safe and possible. When this is not an option, they advocate for the child to live with other family members or a loving adoptive family. Whatever the case, they provide a consistent presence for the child throughout their time in foster care, and ensure they’re connected with a lifetime network of support that will help them succeed.
While Stand Sunday is sponsored by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), CASA in the Heart of Texas encourages all people and groups to get involved in supporting these children and families.
“Whether you’re religious or not, and whether you practice prayer or not, we hope you will think of children in foster care on Stand Sunday,” Loftis said. “We also hope you’ll consider ways you can support these children and their families, like becoming a CASA volunteer.”
To learn more about becoming a CASA Advocate volunteer or donating, visit www.casabrownwood.org or join us at our next information session is at 10 AM Thursday, November 7th Virtually for “Coffee with CASA”.