CASA of McHenry County seeks volunteers
CASA of McHenry County is hosting information sessions about the volunteer role of a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
Volunteers give a voice to abused and neglected children by being a consistent, stable adult in the child's life and by providing the court with needed information regarding the child's well-being. Information sessions will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 18, at the CASA office, 630 N. Route 31, Suite 101, Crystal Lake.
There are currently over 255 abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court in McHenry County. Many of these children are in foster homes and might remain in the system for years before achieving a permanent home. Every child deserves to live in a safe, loving, forever home, and our CASA volunteers help to make that happen. Evidence shows that children with a CASA volunteer achieve permanency more quickly and with a more sustainable outcome.
CASA of McHenry County has over 100 active volunteers serving more than 115 children in the juvenile court system. But there are many more children who do not have a CASA volunteer. A CASA volunteer is assigned to a case and stays with that case until it closes in court, providing a consistent, stable adult presence for the child.
The foster care system is filled with compassionate caseworkers, attorneys, foster families, and therapists. However, everyone has huge caseloads and time commitments. CASA volunteers take on a single case to dedicate time to collecting the information the judge needs to make decisions in each child's best interests. Presiding Judge Christopher Harmon says, "CASA provides dedication and service in protecting the interests and promoting the well-being of our children. The children truly are our future. CASA's continued work and efforts are and will continue to be incredibly important and vital in ensuring a better tomorrow for our future generations."
CASA of McHenry County's next training class begins at the end of September. Volunteers must apply and interview prior to enrolling in the class. Additional information is available via the website www.casamchenrycounty.org or by attending one of the information sessions.