04/10/2026
CAPITAL DOME TO BE LIT BLUE TO SHINE LIGHT ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
“By working together to promote awareness, safety, and early prevention, we can help build a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.” – Governor Kehoe
— The Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (Missouri CASA) is excited to announce that Governor Kehoe has ordered the Capitol dome to be lighted blue in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The dome will be blue from
sunset on Friday, April 10th to sunrise on Saturday, April 11th.
“We sincerely appreciate the Governor’s willingness to help bring awareness to this very critical issue, as well as the work of Gina Clement (Executive Director of Capital City CASA in Jefferson City) for her work with the Governor’s Office to make this a reality. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA ® ) staff and volunteers are acutely aware of the issues victims of child abuse and neglect
experience, both in their immediate lives and the future”, says Alana Hickman, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator for Missouri CASA. “As CASA works hard to advocate for and support children who have been abused and neglected, we look forward to the day when the numbers of children in foster care are significantly reduced because prevention efforts have been successful.”
Missouri has twenty-four local CASA programs around the state that recruit, screen, train, and support community volunteers who provide best-interest advocacy for children in the foster care
system who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA programs ensure that these children have a consistent support during their journey in foster care while amplifying the voice of the child.
CASA volunteers primarily work with one child or sibling group, visit with people in the child’s life, and learn key information about the child. This information, the child's wishes, and recommendations regarding the child’s best interest are submitted to the juvenile court judge via written court report.
Recommendations to the judge are vital to the case and the child’s well-being, often leading to more resources for the child and impacting placement when there are safety concerns. These reports also help the child reach permanency as quickly and safely as possible.
To learn more about CASA in your community and how you can support our efforts, please visit
mocasa.org/15thcircuit or contact Joan Blackburn at [email protected].
In 2025, CASA programs around the state served over 5,000 abused and neglected children with
nearly over 1,800 volunteer advocates and staff, but programs still need your help. To learn more or to volunteer with a local CASA program, visit mocasa.org/volunteer.
