September 9 Abigails Program featuring CASA and Park Place Outreach

Living Past Christmas

Julie Wade, E.D. of Park Place Outreach and Kate Blair, E.D. of CASA

This program, kicks off the year with a focus on youth poverty in Chatham County. The presenters lead organizations that provide critical services to youth who have experienced neglect, abuse, and homelessness. They ask the critical questions related to at risk youth. How do local youth end up homeless or in foster care? What are the systemic barriers they face? What kinds of investments are needed to change the long-term outcomes for the young people CASA and Park Place serve? As a community how can we support their mission?

CASA advocates for the best interests of young people in foster care because of the neglect and abuse they have experienced at home. CASA takes a holistic approach to meet the psychological, physical, educational and social needs of the child while working to reduce the time they spend apart from their families. Park Place provides emergency shelter and support services for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth. The goal of Park Place is to stabilize young people in crisis, increase their ability to function in social and educational settings, and reunify families whenever possible.