BOZEMAN, Mont. – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month across the nation, and as of Tuesday, commissioners officially recognized the month in Gallatin County as well.
In 2018, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program served 142 children within the county.
The program put 142 blue pinwheels on the lawn of the Gallatin County Courthouse to represent each child.
The number of children that CASA serves has gone up over the years due to population growth and a decline in mental health services.
“The reality of it is we actually have more neglect cases than physical abuse cases here. Most of our cases and the children that come to us have been experiencing neglect due to drug use by their parents,” Executive Director of CASA Glenda Noyes said.
As of Wednesday, CASA has served 100 children in Gallatin County in 2019.
