Who do I contact with more questions?
You can reach CASA of Cook County at 312.433.4928 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Why haven’t I ever heard of CASA of Cook County?
Because children are involved in CASA volunteer cases, strict confidentiality must be maintained by all parties involved. Relative anonymity is necessary to protect the children and thus our efforts aren’t always publicized.
How is CASA of Cook County funded?
CASA of Cook County gets its funding from a variety of sources. Very little funding comes from the county, state or federal government. Instead, we seek financial support from various outside means including foundations, special events, individual giving, places of worship, associations, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving.
We face the challenge of re-raising our budget every year because very few donors commit to multi-year gifts. Therefore we are always looking for new funding opportunities and fresh ideas so that we can continue to provide our services to children.
How can I help CASA of Cook County?
You can help by volunteering or by making a donation.
How effective is CASA?
The long-term benefit of CASA of Cook County’s Child Advocacy Program is that children grow up in safe, permanent homes and do not suffer additional abuse or neglect. National studies confirmed that children assigned a CASA volunteer receive more services than those without and are 95 percent less likely to reenter the child welfare system. As a result, these children’s chances for leading happy, healthy and productive lives as contributing members of society are increased.
The simple investment of providing a caring CASA volunteer to a child can help break the cycle of child abuse and neglect. In addition, according to Congress, for every $1 invested in the prevention of child abuse and neglect can save up to $5 in social service costs. Both of these outcomes benefit not only the child, but also the community.
What is the history of CASA?
In 1976, juvenile court judge David Soukup of Seattle, WA, saw a recurring problem in his courtroom. Though he was receiving information from social workers, lawyers, teachers and other professionals, their opinions and recommendations were limited in scope. Soukup was frustrated that he couldn’t see the whole picture of the child’s life, and thus couldn’t make a satisfying judgment for the child’s placement.
He initiated a program of community volunteers who would be sworn in as officers of the court and would then be responsible for investigating all aspects of the child’s life and reporting their findings to the court. This one-on-one interaction would allow for a thorough more complete picture of the child’s needs and help the judge make a more-informed decision.
CASA of Cook County was established in 1986 as the first CASA program in Illinois, as a program of Illinois Action for Children (not the same IAFC as exists today). In 2001, CASA of Cook County became an independent not-for-profit organization and today continues its mission to advocate for our most vulnerable citizens, our children.
How do I become an Advocate?
One of the greatest gifts we can provide to the children we serve is consistency. Thus, it is important that Advocates understand the dedication necessary to fulfill our mission. We know that everyone has busy lives, but we ask our volunteers to dedicate 12 months of service, with an average of 10 hours spent on the case per month.
There are a number of qualifications that must be met to be considered as an Advocate. After applying and passing a background check, the potential volunteer must be able to fully complete the comprehensive Advocate training program. Secondly, we ask that volunteers be 21 or older. Finally, we stress that volunteers be able to relate in a positive, objective manner to children, families, and other professionals.
The first step to becoming a CASA volunteer is to fill out an application form.
What do CASA Advocates do?
CASA volunteers are trained to act as first-hand experts on the individual needs of abused and neglected children in foster care, giving them the best possible chance at a hopeful future.
As an appointed member of the court, a CASA volunteer assumes the following core responsibilities:
Judges typically assign CASA volunteers to the more difficult or complex cases involving physical or sexual abuse or neglect. Several other factors are also considered in making this decision:
Who can be a CASA volunteer?
Why is CASA of Cook County Needed?
CASA of Cook County is needed because there are over 6,000 abused and neglected children in foster care in Cook County. The system is overwhelmed and drastically under-resourced. Without a helping hand like the one that CASA of Cook County provides, abused and neglected children in the foster care system might simply fall through the cracks and never be given an opportunity to reach their full potential.
There are three main factors that separate our Advocates from the other professionals involved with a child’s case. One, they look at the case with an strictly objective eye, acting as in independent observer for the court and speaking up for the best interest of the children. Second, CASA volunteers are assigned to only one case at a time and are able to give each child the focused attention they deserve. Finally, in a system with too much turnover, CASA volunteers are consistently a part of the child’s life during the duration of the case. In the end, and judges have agreed, it is often the work of CASA of Cook County that ultimately leads to a child being placed in a safe, permanent home.
What is CASA?
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.
For nearly 25 years, CASA of Cook County has been training diligent, committed everyday citizens to stand up for abused and neglected children. Volunteers are taught how to advocate for the best interest of foster children who are under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Juvenile Court by no fault of their own. By getting involved, volunteers can help break the cycle of child abuse. Being a CASA volunteer is an opportunity, which offers the ability to impact multiple generations in the future.