Looking for a way to make 2016 just a little more meaningful? How about becoming a champion for abused and neglected children?

CASA Kane County is offering several chances in January to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate or to simply learn more about the organization.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate is an everyday citizen, specially trained by CASA Kane County, who is appointed by the Juvenile Court Judge to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who are victims of abuse and neglect.

CASA volunteers are appointed as Guardians ad Litem for children under age 21 and act as the eyes and ears of the judge by documenting each child’s circumstances and making recommendations for services and permanency. The ultimate goal of the CASA/GAL is to help ensure that every child lives in a safe and permanent home. This could mean reunification with their parents, placement with relatives, or adoption by a loving family.

Learn about the requirements to become a CASA/GAL volunteer:

1. Read the requirements below
2. Listen to CASA Podcast #1 – General Information for Prospective CASA Volunteers (scroll down the page to Podcast 1, and click on the “play” button).
3. Attend one of our General Information Meetings held in various locations in the Kane County community.  Please click here to view the schedule of upcoming meetings.

What are the requirements to be a CASA/GAL?

• Demonstrates emotional maturity
• Is objective and flexible
• Exhibits self assurance and assertiveness
• Has the ability to make decisions and set goals
• Is willing to commit to the program for a minimum of 24 months
• Demonstrates the ability to write and speak clearly and concisely

What is CASA?

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate and the organization recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused, neglected and private guardianship minors under the age of 21.

Who are the children CASA Kane County serves?

We serve 600 children in abuse/neglect and probate court (private guardianship) in Kane County. These children range in age from birth to 21. They have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. They leave everything familiar behind—home, family, friends, and school—and find themselves in a world filled with social workers, lawyers, judges and courtrooms where life-altering decisions are being made on their behalf. The majority of children are placed outside of their homes with relatives, in foster homes, shelters or residential facilities.

Why is CASA so important?

In court proceedings involving abused and neglected children, CASA Kane County provides an unbiased, child-focused point of view that is vital to help determine what situations will allow a child to thrive. In most cases, the children represented by CASA have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. In these cases, a judge must decide if a child can safely return home to his or her family or if a permanent home must be arranged to keep a child healthy and safe. When considering the actions of parents or child welfare agencies, it’s the child who has the most at stake and their needs can often be overlooked. The CASA and organization is there to act as the voice for each child and to ensure their best interests are in the forefront.

What is the role of the National CASA Association and other organizations?

The National CASA Association is a nonprofit organization that represents and serves local CASA programs. All CASA programs must pass a comprehensive quality assessment in order to retain their membership status with the national organization. There are more than 1,000 programs throughout the United States and 34 programs within the State of Illinois. Illinois CASA and the National CASA Association are supportive of local programs and provide valuable information regarding marketing, training and public awareness.