SACC discusses upcoming events
The South Arkansas Children’s Coalition has a number of events coming up including a softball tournament and their annual Razorback give-away fundraiser.
Robin Krneta, executive director of SACC, said the coalition oversees two child welfare programs: the 13th South Judicial District CASA and the Children’s Advocacy Center of South Arkansas.
The CASA program was formed in Union County in 1996. In 2015, Krneta said they decided to start working on opening up the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and in January 2016, opened up the coalition, offering assistance to both programs.
For the CASA program, Krneta said they advocate for children in foster care. “We usually say we’re their voice in the court,” she added.
Volunteers with CASA get to know the child and they investigate the case to make sure that the child has everything they need.
“If there is a service that the child, or even the family may need, but they’re not getting, if we recognize it, we will bring it up in court,” she said.
Krneta added that the program is always needing volunteers. To be a volunteer for CASA, no special education or skill set is required. “You just have to be able to pass an extensive background check, and you have to go through a required 30-hour training,” Krneta said. “And really have a heart for these children.”
To fill out an application to be a CASA volunteer, visit their website at 13southcasa.com.
Krneta said the CAC uses a multidisciplinary approach for child abuse cases. The center sees children who have endured sexual abuse, physical abuse and who have been a witness to a violent crime.
The CAC works with professionals from a variety of agencies including child protection workers, law enforcement officers, mental health providers, advocates and prosecutors, who “join forces to ensure child victims are receiving the essential services, referrals, as well as tracking the progress of the criminal case,” their website states.
The center currently does forensic interviews and provides advocacy for the victim child and their non-offending caregivers.
Upcoming events The coalition is hosting a double elimination co-ed softball tournament Sept. 29 at the Union County Recreation Complex.
The tournament, called Strike Out Child Abuse, will be $250 per team, with a co-ed requirement of a 6-to-4 ratio of men and women. General admission will be $5. Krneta said they would like to have at least 10 teams participate in the tournament.
All of the money raised will go to support SACC and the children of Union County.
“This is our first one and we’re hoping to make it an annual event,” Krneta said. “We are hoping that it will grow and that the community will really get involved.”
For more information on the tournament, contact Keith Smith at 870-310-4033 or Kensel Spivey at 870-918-7674. Krneta said registration forms could also be picked up at SACC’s office.
The coalition is also currently selling tickets for their annual Razorback giveaway. The coalition sells raffle tickets for a chance to win two tickets to a Razorback game. This year’s winners will win a package to the Oct. 13 game where Arkansas will take on Ole Miss. The package includes two tickets to the game, a one night hotel stay, steak dinner for two and a $50 gas card.
Raffle tickets are $2 per ticket and $5 for three tickets. The drawing will be held Sept. 28. Tickets are available at SACC and at Simmons Bank branches, including the branch in Strong.
Krneta added that in April, SACC will be hosting their first blue tie event, and has “more information to come.”
SACC is located at 1130 East Main Street in El Dorado. To contact the coalition, call 870862-2272. Their website is www.southarkchildren.com.