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Child Enrichment appeals for volunteers as local child abuse and trafficking cases rise
Summary
Child Enrichment told the commission that the nonprofit served 504 children last year and 617 this year, and that the county has seen a high number of child-trafficking cases. The group asked for continued community partnership and volunteers for its CASA program.
Child Enrichment, the Richmond County nonprofit that operates a child advocacy center, CASA (court-appointed special advocates) program and prevention services, updated the Augusta Commission on local child-abuse and trafficking caseloads and asked for continued community support and volunteers.
Director Carrie Veil Labrook told commissioners the agency served 504 children in Richmond County last year and 617 in the most recent year, noting a marked increase in demand. She described three core programs: CASA (volunteer court advocates for children in foster care), the child advocacy center (for forensic interviews and services), and a new prevention program. Labrook said CASA volunteers shorten foster-care stays and reduce recidivism for children in care.
Labrook also said Richmond County historically has had a large number of child-trafficking cases and that the Georgia Attorney General's office recently added a local human-trafficking unit that will place two investigators and one prosecutor in Richmond County.
Why it matters: The organization said it has more children in foster care than available CASA volunteers and asked commissioners and the public to help recruit and refer volunteers.
Quotes: "Each of those numbers…represent a child's story," Labrook said, adding that the agency provides hope and healing and needs community partners and volunteers to meet growing needs.
No formal action was required or taken; commissioners thanked Child Enrichment and encouraged public support and volunteer recruitment.
