CASA of Cook County speaks up in court for abused and neglected children and ensures that children live in safe, permanent homes. CASA of Cook County’s trained volunteers research cases and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on this additional information to make the best decisions about children’s futures. CASA dedicates one volunteer advocate to champion one child; ensuring that the child's voice is present in court even if the child is not.
CASA of Cook County’s vision is to protect abused and neglected children by providing them a voice in court, a safe and permanent home, and an opportunity to grow, learn and thrive. Through caring and dedicated volunteers, CASA will advocate for all children in need, will generate awareness of their plight, and will cultivate strong partnerships with individuals and organizations committed to bettering the lives of abused and neglected children. We will do this with integrity, compassion and devotion to our children.
In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge named David Soukup was concerned about trying to make decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information. So he decided to appoint volunteers to gather information about each case and serve as a communications link between the court and the child. And the CASA movement began. Today, CASA of Cook County is proud to be among more than 900 CASA programs with over 70,000 volunteers nationwide.