Volunteers needed to advocate for children in Kane County
CASA Kane County, a local nonprofit that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court, has seen a dramatic increase in cases since the pandemic. The rise has been so great that for the first time in the organization's history, CASA does not have enough volunteers to serve every foster child in the system.
CASA is inviting individuals who might be interested in becoming a CASA volunteer to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the role.
The victims CASA serves come from every economic and cultural background in Kane County and CASA volunteers work to be the child's advocate in and outside of the courtroom walls. CASA volunteers visit with the child, talk to the parents, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals and prepare objective reports that are submitted to a judge before every court hearing.
The reports help the judge make the most difficult decisions regarding the child's placement and future home. The goal of CASA Kane County is to ensure the best interests of the children are met, so they can be placed in a safe and permanent home in the quickest amount of time — free from future abuse in an environment that will allow the child to thrive.
Research proves that CASA advocacy works. Studies reveal that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers are significantly less likely to spend time in long-term foster care. A child with a CASA volunteer is also more likely to do better in school, have better conduct, and more likely to find a permanent home. Children with a CASA have greater access to doctors, dentists and other medical and mental health professionals for ongoing well-being. The presence of a CASA volunteer improves the lives of foster children.
To attend a virtual general information meeting to find out if CASA might be a good fit for you, contact Sandie Cross at sandiec@casakanecounty.org or (630) 444-3131.
The next informational meeting is at noon on Wednesday, April 14, online. Additional online sessions will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 27; 3 p.m. Thursday, April 29; and 11 a.m. Saturday, May 22.
For more information about the CASA program, visit www.casakanecounty.org.
To report suspected abuse or neglect, call (800) 252-2873.