Scott Airman provides voices for children Published April 23, 2008 By Monte Miller 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Sometimes the smallest voices are the hardest to hear but have the most to say. One Scott Air Force Base Airman is hoping to make a difference to let those small voices be heard. First Lt. Stephen Pak is donating his time and efforts to Voices for Children; a St. Louis based not for profit organization that speaks for children that have been exposed to abuse. "These are kids that have been pulled out of their homes because of abuse or neglect," Lieutenant Pak explained. "Our volunteers act as a special advocate and speak on their behalf in court." Another role the volunteers play is to act as big brothers and big sisters. Lieutenant Pak explained that another major role the advocates play in the children's lives is to help get them placed in permanent homes. There are currently 2,000 children in foster care in the St. Louis area. One thousand of which are represented by Voices for Children. Lieutenant Pak, who recently came to Scott from Washington D.C., has been working with Voices for Children for about a month and a half. Because he is going to be deployed in the very near future, he has not been assigned as a special advocate, but is still doing his part to help by raising funds and awareness. "Wherever I PCS, I try to find an organization that speaks to me," Lieutenant Pak said. "I've always worked with children and I found this organization on the web and wanted to be involved." This is not Pak's first time helping those who can't help themselves. In the past he has worked with church groups and took part in building an orphanage in Honduras. "I guess I have a heart for protecting children," he said. "This has nothing to do with the military or my job. You see in the news that bad things happen to children all the time. They are truly the innocent victims. We provide them a voice." He added that once a child has been assigned a special advocate, they stick with them through all of the processes and even after they are placed in their permanent new homes. "It's really a worthwhile cause and we need volunteers," Lieutenant Pak said. "Our goal is to raise awareness. This is something I do two times a week and I average not more than 15 hours a month. We need more men and women to dedicate their time to this." The average length of stay in foster care for a St. Louis City child is 42 months. Eighty two percent of children with a Voices for Children special advocate are in a permanent home within 18 months. There are currently 300 plus Voices for Children volunteers. To get involved with Voices for Children, visit their web-site at www.voicesforchildrenstl.org or call their St. Louis office at (314) 552-2352.