Speaking up for Abused & Neglected Children in LaSalle County, Illinois
Speaking up for Abused & Neglected Children in LaSalle County, Illinois
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer advocate for LaSalle County CASA, please read through the information below. Applications are accepted online, by mail or email at any time, and our 30-hour National CASA training course is offered periodically throughout the year.
Fall Preservice Training Series: All in-person classes at IVCC Oglesby Tues 09/12 6-9pm Thur 09/14 6-9pm Sat 09/16 9am-3pm Tues 09/19 6-9pm Thur 09/21 6-9pm Sat 09/23 9am-3pm Tues 09/26 6-9pm Swearing In anticipated date: October 4, 9:30am Please contact us with conflicts and options for makeup class dates.
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained volunteer who is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child, or children, in foster care. A CASA is an independent voice for the child’s best interests throughout the time the child is in care (usually about 2 years). CASA duties fall into the following four areas:
Investigation: The CASA conducts an independent investigation of the child’s and family’s situation and circumstances;
Facilitation: The CASA communicates with all parties and encourages cooperation and collaboration so that the child’s case moves as quickly as possible to a good conclusion.
Advocacy: The CASA speaks up for the child and advocates for services, decisions and plans that are in the child’s best interests. The CASA advocates in team meetings, with schools, families caregivers, on the record in court and through reports to the court.
Monitoring: The CASA is directed to monitor the court orders for compliance and to bring to the court’s attention and changes that should be made to the orders. This means the CASA is in regular contact with all parties (the child, parents, foster parents or relatives, social worker, attorneys, and so on) so that fact-based recommendations can be made to the court on the child’s behalf.
The goal for every child in a Dependency Proceeding is to find a permanent, safe home as quickly as possible; that is often found in a return to the parents, but sometimes it means adoption by family or others.
Volunteer candidates selected as advocates shall be recruited and screened by the Executive Director and provided appropriate training prior to working with clients.
Sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter, The CASA Chronicle.