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Missouri's Voting Restrictions | Escaping Abusive Childhood

A young blonde-haired girl looks directly at the camera over the railing in the courtroom.  Behind her adults are at the bench talking with a judge.
Marc Carter
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Courtesy of Jackson County CASA
Since 1983, the Jackson County, Missouri, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program has been providing guardian ad litem (legal advocacy) services for abused and neglected children and youth, birth to age 21 who enter the Jackson County Family Court system.

Missouri is just one of 47 states considering changes to their voting laws; and a Kansas City woman's story reveals the effect caring adults can have on an abused and neglected child.

Segment 1, beginning at 1:00: The Republican Party this year has been proposing, and passing, sweeping new laws to restrict voting access.

In the wake of the record voter turnout in the 2020 general election, a number of Republican-led statehouses are working to put new restrictions on voting. We look at what is behind the movement and if the laws being passed will stand up to judicial scrutiny.

Segment 2, beginning at 28:46: Debbie Bass hopes her story will inspire others to support or become advocates for children in conditions like those she experienced.

Bass survived her childhood due to her own determination and the help she got from adults outside of her family. She vowed that if she survived she would become a foster parent, volunteer and donate to causes to help other children. She's done that, partly through her longtime association with theJackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program.

  • Debbie Bass, vice president of development for the National World War I Museum and Memorial

Debbie Bass will be the featured speaker at the "Light of Hope" virtual breakfast on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 7:30 a.m. to benefit Jackson County CASA. More details and reservation information are available at the CASA website.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.